etchall® Day of the Dead Decorative Mirror

Day of the Dead crafts are growing in popularity - this mirror combines a variety of mixed media for a finished piece which will make a colorful accent to you home.

Materials:

9" Darice Mirror 

etchall® - Etching Cream, Squeegee 

              - etchnet® stencil - Sugar Skull 

Painters tape 

Makin’s Clay® - Red, Yellow, Green 

                        - Leaves Push mold 

Smoothfoam™ Disc 

DecoArt® Americana® Multi-Surface Satin™ - Deep Turqouise 

Beacon® Adhesives Tacky Glue 

Toner Plastics™/The Beadery® Skull Beads  Paintbrush 

Instructions:

This was my first time working with the new etchnet® stencils with etchall® cream - and I’m happy to say that the results were absolutely fantastic - one of the cleanest, crispest etches I’ve ever achieved!

Apply etchnet® sugar skull stencil to left side of mirror.  Use painters tape to securely tape in place, ensuring there are no ripples in the stencil. 

Pour etchall® cream on the side of the stencil - NOT ON THE OPEN AREA - Use squeeegee to pull etching cream over onto open areas of stencil, pressing slightly to ensure the cream is evenly applied though the net of the stencil.  Once you are sure you have a good even application over the open areas of the stencil, apply an additional coat of etchall® over the stencil.  Let set 15 minutes.  Return etching cream to bottle, rinse to remove remaining cream and remove stencil.  Clean any remaining cream from stencil and set aside for later use (etchnet® stencils are re-usable). 

Create multiple roses approximately 1” in size from red and yellow Makin’s Clay®.  There are multiple tutorials online for making roses with polymer clay and/or fondant - it really is quite simple!   

Use leaves push mold and green Makin’s Clay® to create multiple leaves for the roses. 

Use Beacon® Tacky Glue to mount roses and leaves as desired on left edge of mirror, extending above and below the etched skull.   Leaves and flowers can be mounted when the clay is still fresh, or after dry (normally the clay will be dry in 24 hours). 

Use Tacky Glue to mount blue skull beads randomly amongst the flowers.  Let dry.

Paint sides of Smoothfoam™ disc with Turquoise Multi-Surface Satin™ paint.  Let dry. 

Apply liberal amount of Tacky Glue to top of Smoothfoam™ disc and mount mirror.  The disc will give added depth when the mirror is mounted to a wall. 

"BEAUTY" Etched Mirror Dresser Tray featuring etchall® Products

"Beauty is how you feel inside and it reflects in your eyes.” - Sophia Loren  

A friend of ours recently gave me this mirrored dresser tray that belonged to his mother after she passed away.   It was pretty the way it was, but to me it called out for some etched enhancements!   This lovely quote from beauty icon Sophia Loren just seemed like the perfect choice.

I also have to tell you that this project was a test of my patience….  I had a bit of an “etchastrophy” and had to try to think of a creative solution - but sometimes mistakes lead the way to an even better finished project!

Want to try etchall® yourself?  Follow this link and enter the code CINDIBG at checkout to receive 10% off your order! 

Materials:

Mirrored dresser tray 

etchall® - Etching Cream 

              - Designer Tip Kit 

DecoArt® Frost Gloss Enamels - Green 

Plaid® - Martha Stewart Crafts® Adhesive Silkscreens - Bodoni Alphabet 

            - Martha Stewart Crafts® Fair Isle Dots Adhesive Stencils

Loew-Cornell® Simply Art™ Brushes 

Ruler 

Instructions: 

Use ruler to align Bodoni alphabet lettering to spell out BEAUTY on mirror.  

Use Designer Tip Kit to apply etchall® to the open spaces on the lettering silkscreens.  Let set 15 minutes.  Rinse clean, carefully removing silkscreens.  

This is where the “etchastrophy” came in - As you can see in the step-out pictures, I had used small alphabet stencils to spell out the remainder of the quote along the bottom edge of the mirror.  However, I didn’t have enough letters so I had left spaces for the missing letters.  Well, I goofed.  The spaces I left were no where near large enough for the lettering I had to add.  So….. on to plan B.    

Use 1/2” brush to apply etchall® around entire outer edge of mirror.  

Let set 15 minutes, carefully return cream from edge of tray to bottle.  Rinse mirror clean. 

Hand write the remainder of the verse  onto lined paper, cut out.  Use as a guide when using the Designer Tip Kit to write out the remainder of the quote beneath the word BEAUTY.  Let set 15 minutes and rinse clean. 

Working in small sections and allowing to dry between each application, using small leaves

stencil from Fair Isle Dots set, use small paintbrush to apply Green Frost Gloss Enamels around edge of tray at edge of etched area. 

Choose another small dotted image/line stencil from Fair Isle Dots set, use paintbrush to apply Green Frost Gloss Enamels beneath the word “BEAUTY”.  

All-Star Designers Winter Series: Valentine Treat Mason Jars

This week in the WCK All-Star Designer Winter Series I'm sharing three versions of "Valentine Treat Mason Jars featuring products from Makin's Clay®, Etchall®, DecoArt®, Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives, JudiKins, The Buckle Boutique and more.

Customized Etched Hot Chocolate Mug

Materials:

• Glass mug 
• etchall® – Etching Cream 
  • Designer Tip Kit
  • Etchmask® sheets 
• DecoArt® Americana® Gloss Enamels alphabet stencils 
• Spellbinders® 
  • Artisan X-plorer™ Machine
  •  Snowflake dies  

• Chocolate chips, vegetable shortening, plastic spoon, mini marshmallows, plastic wrap, ribbon, blue sugar crystals, instant hot chocolate packet, microwave safe bowl, microwave, scissors, measuring spoons 

Instructions:

 

1. Apply reusable alphabet stencils to mug to spell out name of child and “hot chocolate”. 
2. Fill small bottle from Designer Tip Kit with etchall® creme and apply creme directly over opening in stencils.  Let set 15 minutes, then rinse to remove creme and remove stencils from mug. (Note:  etchall® creme is reusable, it can be returned to the bottle for use another time – due to the small amount used on this project, I didn’t return it to the bottle – but washed it away instead). 
3. Use Artisan X-plorer™ and snowflake dies to cut several snowflakes from etchmask®.  
4. Save your etchmask® snowflakes for another project.  Trim around negative space left from die cut snowflakes and place onto mug. 
5. Use Designer Tip bottle to apply etching cream to open space on snowflakes.  Let set 15 minutes and rinse.  Remove snowflake stencils.  
6. Wash etched mug thoroughly and let dry. 
7. Melt approximately 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and 1/4 tsp vegetable shortening in a microwave safe bowl.
8. Microwave approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute to melt chips.  Stir melted chips and shortening until smooth. 
9. Dip plastic spoon in melted chocolate to coat.  Sprinkle with blue sugar crystals.  Set onto wax paper to cool and harden. 
10. Wrap about 1/4 cup of mini marshmallows in plastic wrap and tie with a decorative ribbon.  Cover chocolate spoon with plastic wrap and tie with ribbon.   Place marshmallows, spoon and package of instant hot chocolate mix into mug and give to your favorite little one to enjoy a warm chocolatey treat on a frosty winter day!  
    

Peace in the Evergreens Etched Glass Votive Holder

When you light a candle in this etched glass votive holder embellished with real evergreens you’ll bring a warm holiday glow to your mantle. I found the original idea of adding evergreens to a candle holder in a Facebook post and decided to give it a try. My version features an etched glass votive with PEACE stenciled in metallic paint to soften the glow of the candle. The original post was just photos – I’ve included stepped-out instructions and some tips on what worked, and what didn’t, to make the process a bit easier for you to recreate.  

 

Materials: 

• Glass votive holder 
• etchall® Etching Cream 
• DecoArt® Dazzling Metallics® paint – Shimmering Silver 
• DecoArt® Americana® Gloss Enamels® Reusable Stick-On Stencils™ – Inspiration 
• Design Master® Tack 2000 Spray Adhesive 
• Westcott® Titanium Bonded Scissors 
• Tea light candle, or battery operated tea light candle 
• Fresh evergreens
• Foam brush, fine paint brush
• Silver ribbon 

 

Instructions: 

1. Coat outside of votive holder with etchall® etching cream. Let set 15 minutes.  
2. Use brush to return most of etching cream to the bottle. Rinse to remove remaining cream. Dry votive holder. 
3. Use stencil to paint “PEACE” with silver paint onto etched votive. Let dry. 
4. Break evergreens into small pieces.  In a well ventilated area, spray with Tack 2000 spray.   
5. Place evergreens around votive surrounding PEACE.  TIP – To help evergreens stick to the votive, I found it helpful to place a piece of parchment paper or a transparency over the evergreens and press with my hand until they stuck. Another word of advice – I thought I’d try using quick grab tacky glue to mount the evergreens – this did not work – the spray adhesive made it much easier. 
6. Trim bottoms of evergreens at base of votive.  Insert candle and watch the peaceful glow among the evergreens. TIP – the fire danger is minimal since the evergreens are on the outside of the glass votive holder, however, if you want to be even safer, use a battery operated tea light candle instead of a real candle.  
7. BUT WAIT…. THERE’S MORE….. SO NOW FOR THE CRAFT FAIL PART…… I lit my candle
   
   and set this pretty votive holder on the mantle.    When I came back half an hour later, the heat from the candle had caused the evergreens to pull away from the glass. Drat!  On to plan B – a pretty piece of silver ribbon wrapped and tied around the evergreens to hold  them in place.  You still get the effect of the evergreens, but no worries about them falling off lol! The moral of the story….. the spray adhesive still makes it easier to hold the evergreens in place while you tie the ribbon – so step 4 is still worthwhile – just add some ribbon as a back-up.
   
   

Celebrate Every Day with Etched Glass Tumblers

Celebrate Every Day with Etched Glass Tumblers 

With etchall® etching cream and a DecoArt® stencil you can easily transform everyday drinking glasses into something special.   These would be a great housewarming gift or keep them to use yourself and remember to celebrate not just the holidays, but every day!

Materials:

etchall® etching cream (www.etchall.com)

DecoArt® Stencil Americana Glass 6"x 8" Inspiration

Glass tumblers 

Fine paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Apply stencil to tumbler.  
2. Use paintbrush to apply etchall® cream to each letter.  You can simply apply the cream to the entire stencil surface, but I prefer the control of using a paintbrush to ensure an even application over each letter, and there is less chance of the cream sliding off the edge of the stencil onto the glass. 
3. Let set 15 minutes.  Use paintbrush to remove cream and return to bottle.  
4. Rinse glass, remove stencil and continue washing to remove all remaining cream residue.

"A View of London" Vintage Window Photo Frame

This month's Designer Craft Connection blog hop theme is "Vacation Memories" - making this a perfect time to share my latest  project - "A View of London" Vintage Window Photo Frame with lettering etched with etchall® etching cream.   Be sure to follow the DCC Blog Connection link in the column on the right to see what other vacation memory projects our designers are sharing!

Materials:

Repurposed window - with loose paint removed and windows cleaned
Photos
Scrapbook paper
Westcott®  TrimAir Premium Titanium Paper Trimmer, 12" wide
etchall® Etching Cream and Designer Tip Kit
DecoArt® Glass Paint Marker™ - white
AdTech® hot glue gun & glue sticks
Paper towels

Instructions:

Step 1:  Measure the panes of your vintage/repurposed window.  Print photos for each pane of the window.   Trim with Westcott® TrimAir Trimmer.

Step 2:  My printer would not allow for printing the photos as large as the window panes, so I layered my photos onto scrapbook paper cut to the exact window size.

Step 3:  Select font for window writing and print in desired size.  Tape to back of window.  Apply etchall® etching cream using etchall® Designer Tip Kit over the letters.

Step 4:  Allow etchall® cream to set 15 minutes, then return cream to jar for later use and clean window.

Step 5:  On back of window, add small lines and dots with white DecoArt® paint pen to highlight each etched letter and number.

Step 6:  Mount photos to back of glass in each pane using AdTech® hot glue to hold in place.

Now every night at dinner we can enjoy our "View of London" and remember the fun we had exploring all it had to offer!

On the Set of When Creativity Knocks All-Star Designers' Summer Series

On Monday, June 30th, Ana Araujo, Scott Pfeiffer, Judi Watanabe, Marisa Pawelko, Elena Lai Etchevery and I taped the WCK All-Star Designers' Summer Series!  We had 11 sponsors this time - and it was a true challenge combining all of their creative product into our projects!  Thanks to Westcott, JudiKins, AdTech, Beacon Adhesives, Makin's Clay, Rowlux, The Buckle Boutique, Etchall, DecoArt, MercArt, and Sizzix!
You are going to be amazed at some of the projects these creative artists have in store for you - and I am amazed, as always, at how Scott Pfeiffer performs the magic of transforming 9 hours of taping into streamlined episodes of the show!   The first episode airs on July 8th so stay tuned!

Glamour Girl Monogram Mirror - Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop

This Glamour Girl Monogram Mirror would make a great gift for any girl who wants to celebrate there inner princess!  Sparkling crystal accents, etched glass fleur-de-lys, a glittered monogram letter, and coordinating ribbons bring it all together.  Be sure to click the Designer Craft Connection Blog button to see what other creative hand-made gifts are being shared today as part of this month's blog hop!

Materials:

12" Round Darice Mirror
Connie Crystal white crystal sheets
DecoArt® Americana® Gloss Enamels® Stick-On Stencils™ - Fleur de lys
etchall® Etching Cream
Chipboard glittered monogram letter
Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip™ Adhesive
Coordinating ribbons, scissors, foam brush
Command™ mounting strip


Instructions:

Place fleur-de-lys stencil onto lower right area of mirror.  Apply etchall® cream and let set 15 minutes.

Remove and place etchall® cream back into bottle for re-use.
Clean and dry mirror.  Repeat with stencil above and to the right of first image, then repeat again to create 3 diagonal images.

Cut three strips of 3 crystals from Connie Crystal sheet.  Use Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip™ to mount to straight area in center of each fleur-de-lys.

Use Quick Grip™ to mount glittered monogram letter centered on fleur-de-lys.

Use Quick Grip™ to mount single strip of crystals around outer edge of mirror.

Cut multiple pieces of coordinating ribbon about 2" long.  Fold each piece in half to create slightly-off centered loops.  Use Quick Grip™  to back edge of mirror to create ruffle around mirror.


For easy mounting anywhere, use a removable mounting strip.

Frosted Cherry Blossom Vase with etchall®

Materials: 

• Square glass vase (Dollar Tree) 
• etchall® Etching Cream
• DecoArt® Glass Paint Markers™ - Brown, Fuchsia 
• DecoArt® Americana® Frost Gloss Enamels® - Pink 
• Foam brush, small flat paintbrush

Instructions: 

1. Use foam brush to apply thick coat of etchall® cream over all sides of vase and let set 15 minutes.  Remove etchall® cream and return to bottle for re-use.  Rinse vase and let dry.
2. Use brown Glass Paint Marker® to draw branch on vase, beginning at bottom right of front and extending upward and around sides.
3. Use small flat paintbrush to make cherry blossoms on each branch tip by painting 5 round petals with pink Frosted Gloss Enamel® paint.  Let dry.
4. Add 5-6 fushcia dots to center of each painted flower using Glass Paint Marker®.  

Per manufacturer instructions, let cure 4 days then bake in 275 degree oven for 30 minutes and let cool in oven.  

Egg-Stravaganza!

http://whencreativityknocks.com/mycraftspace/m/videos/view/All-Star-Designers-Spring-Series-Egg-Stravaganza

The first episode of the WCK All-Star Designers' Spring series is now live!   Hop on over to WCK to see what creative projects Ana Araujo, Laura Bray, Jonathan Fong, Judi Watanabe, and I created featuring products from Westcott, Makin's Clay, Smoothfoam, JudiKins, AdTech, Halcraft, DecoArt, Etchall, and Rit Dye!   This week's episode is a "mash-up" - we've each created something and shared a quick how-to.  In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing individual project episodes with more in-depth instructions on how to create the projects.  We are also choosing a weekly winner from everyone registered on our site to receive our weekly newsletter to receive a prize box full of goodies from our sponsors so don't miss your chance to win some of these fun products!

Trim the Tree with WCK's All-Star Designers' Holiday Series

Another episode of the WCK All-Star Designers' Holiday Series is now live and you'll discover 5 fun ways to add a hand-made touch to your holiday tree!  We start with Jonathan Fong and a clever garland, then Mark Montano shares his "armored" holiday ball, Judi Watanabe brings us a beautiful golden ornament, Ana Araujo makes a fun snow globe, and I create a stuffed cardinal ornament.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIdLiCy2R0s&feature=c4-overview&list=UU43BR4nhkkM43cM73d_X19w

Holiday Tablescape Ideas

The WCK All-Stars' Designer Holiday series continues with an episode full of ideas for using a wide variety of products to create a great holiday tables cape.  We've got a fun centerpiece created by Jonathan Fong, fabulous etched glassware by Mark Montano, beautiful place designed by Judi Watanabe, a tablecloth and matching napkins designed by Ana Araujo, and whimsical star party favor boxes I created for the table.   Products from our sponsors - Spellbinders, Rit Dye, Blumenthal Lansing, Etchall, Makin's Clay, Beacon Adhesives, JudiKins, Smoothfoam and Clearsnap are featured in this video and you are sure to find an idea to inspire you!

Feeling Frosty Winter Home Decor

The When Creativity Knocks All-Stars' Designer Holiday series is rolling along and in this episode I show you how to combine Etchall, Rit Dye, Spellbinders, Makin's Clay, Beacon Adhesives, JudiKins Roxs, and Smoothfoam, Clearsnap Smooch Glitz and more create two home decor pieces for the holidays, and all winter long.   Here's the YouTube link, or follow the direct link to view the episode on WCK's site below.

http://whencreativityknocks.com/mycraftspace/m/videos/view/All-Star-Designers-Holiday-Series-Winter-Decor

Gobble, Gobble with Smoothfoam, Rit & Blumenthal Lansing

The second episode in the WCK All-Star Designers' Holiday Season is now live on the WCK site - Ana Araujo shares her cute idea for a Turkey treat holder  made with Smoothfoam™,  Rit Dye® and Blumenthal Lansing buttons!

http://whencreativityknocks.com/mycraftspace/m/videos/view/Mason-Jar-Turkey-Centerpiece

WCK's All-Star Designers' Holiday Series has Begun!

http://whencreativityknocks.com/mycraftspace/m/videos/view/Glow-In-The-Dark-Ghost-Card

When Creativity Knocks is excited to share the first episode in the All-Star Designers' Holiday Series - This week Judi Watanabe of JudiKins shares here adorable Halloween card featuring a glow-in-the-dark Makin's Clay® accent.   In the coming weeks Judi, Jonathan Fong, Mark Montano, Ana Araujo and I will be sharing many more creative holiday projects.

Special thanks to the great sponsors of this event Rit®, Blumenthal Lansing®, Smoothfoam™, Beacon Adhesives®, Makin's Clay®, Spellbinders®, Etchall®, Clearsnap® and JudiKins®.  If you sign up to receive the Creative Journal Newsletter on the WCK site you are entered to win one of 8 prize packages full of products from our sponsors!

Cindi’s Adventures with Etchall

Etchall® Etching Cream is an amazing product with a long history of use on glass, mirrors, and ceramic glazes.  It's easy to use, and the product is re-usable so there is very little waste.   Be sure to visit http://www.Etchall.com to learn more about their variety of products, for a project gallery, and for how-to videos.   And, of course be sure to follow the Designer Craft Blog Connection post on the left to see what the other participating designers have created with Etchall®!

Those of you who follow my creative work know I tend to be a bit of a mad scientist sometimes when crafting.   When I received my Etchall® for this Designer Craft Blog Connection Hop, I immediately began scheming and dreaming up new things I wanted to try with it. First, I'm going to share my finished project, then I'll share my experiments.....

The Plaid® Martha Stewart stencils I used for these glasses are made of sturdy plastic and therefore would not bend well to mold to the shape of the wine glass.  So I traced the stencil onto Etchall® Etchmask, and used a sharp craft knife to cut out the open areas. 

The finished sticker stencil was mounted to the glass and I followed the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the Etchall® - and it worked wonderfully - I was able to easily create four seaside themed wine glasses.  (*Note... I found when etching a curved surface like this, it was better to apply the cream to small areas at a time, rather than the entire image to eliminate the issue of the cream running off the curved edge on to the area of the glass you don't want etched...)

And even though the different designs would make it easy for those using the to determine which glass was there, I like to be optimistic and think that several sets might be in use at a fabulous beachside party.... causing confusion as to whose glass was whose.    My answer - quick and easy wine glass charms made from gold hoop earrings, 4 different colored Connie Crystal pearls, and some sparkling Connie Crystal accents. 

And now... cue the bubbling vials and beakers of steaming green and brown goo in the laboratory....

First Experiment: 

Polished marble door stop......  I am lucky to have access to some great assorted chunks of gorgeous marble and have been wanting to create something unique with a piece for a while.  

I whipped out my KellyCraft Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square and lined up some Plaid® Martha Stewart alphabet stencils to spell out a favorite verse.   Applied the Etchall® and waited not so patiently for the required time.  When I removed the Etchall®, then the stencils, I discovered...... nothing.   Apparently, the manufacturers are correct in not claiming their product works on polished marble - lol......

Second Experiment: 

(Yes, the inner “Beaker” in me... anybody remember him from The Muppet Show?..... persevered and had to keep on pushing the limits beyond the product’s recommended uses...)

Etched luggage tag......... I love the clear acrylic Mod Podge Acrylic shapes, especially the tags, from Plaid®.   Out came my Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square again and those same Plaid® Martha Stewart stencils..... I spelled out my name and was planning to add my phone number too and a pretty little flower design.  

Guess what?  Apparently, the manufacturer was also correct in not claiming the product would etch plastic.  

Was there a third experiment?  Well of course there was.   I took a sheet of rolled, dried Makin’s Clay®, added a stencil and added some Etchall® just to see what would happen.  I bet you can guess what the result was.

With all of that shared, I want to reiterate that the Etchall® cream was very easy to use, and I had good results, when I followed the manufacturer's instructions and used it for it's intended use!  I'm glad I got a chance to discover this product and I already have ideas on ways to use it for future projects! - Cindi