Tip – Creating Etched Frames and Borders

Framing in a Design

There are multiple benefits to framing in a stencil design, and different ways to go about doing it. I will try to explain some of them to you, but you are the artist so once you get the idea just run with it!

Basic ways to frame in a stencil design:

1. Add a stripe above and/or below a stencil border. Works well on drinking glasses or tops of vases- Example: #20-0476 Roses Border. Use to make stencil look wider or to frame in the etching with a gold or silver pinstripe.
2. Stencil corner designs on the glass pane you desire, then connect with a stripe between them. Add a stencil in the center of the “frame”. The pane of glass will look more sophisticated and help a stencil that is not very big look bigger and more interesting. Works well on gun cabinets, kitchen cabinets, glass paneled doors or windows. Example: Use the Peel N Etch stencils, there are a variety of corner stencil designs, connect them with either your own stripe or use one of the pin stripe tapes we offer (#25-4000 or #25-4100), then add one of the pictured stencil designs (like the deer or roses) in the center of the pane. Plan it out with paper before etching everything!
3. Create a “stenciled window” on a vase, ornament, bottle, or any other 3 dimensional glass object. Cut a circle, oval, square or rectangle out of contact vinyl, apply to glass where you want to keep the “window” clear and rub down so it is tight to the glass. Frost rest of object with Etch Cream (sponge it on, don’t paint it on), Etch Bath or sandblast it. Remove contact vinyl and etch a stencil design in the center. To make an interesting edge on the vinyl, try using pinking shears or decorate edge scissors. (See Project 2- Etched Floral vase in the project corner for an example of this idea) Great project for ornaments, vases, bottles & jars

Materials used to frame in a design:

1. Pinstripe tape-We currently have 2 types: #25-4000 has a wide stripe in the middle with a skinnier stripe on either side of it. #25-4100 has one wide stripe and one skinny stripe (see under “closeouts” on our website www.etchworld.com) The way they work is: you apply the tape to the glass and then peel off the strips of the tape where the stripe will be etched. If you don’t want to use all the stripes, lift off the ones you want to use and leave the strip in the tape you don’t want to use. Cover over the one your not using with masking tape.
2. Masking tape- You can make your own stripes with masking tape. Purchase a width of masking tape you want the stripe to be and then a roll of wider tape to lay down on either side of it. Mark out where you want the stripe to be and lay a strip of masking tape the width you are making the stripe from on those marks.  Then go back an lay down a wider strip of tape on either side of the first one WITHOUT overlapping. Make sure lines of tape are straight with no buckling and that the outer tapes are right up against the edges of the center one. Once all your tape is laid down, go back and remove the pieces of tape where it will be etched. I recommend then adding another layer of masking tape along the outside edge of either side of remaining tape to protect the glass from any etch cream touching the glass (do overlap these edges). Lay a piece of paper over the strips of tape and rub down well with a burnisher or popsicle stick (the paper will prevent accidentally tearing the tape with the tool while burnishing). ** Note: For this method of striping, I strongly recommend you practice on scrap glass similar in shape to the piece you will be etching later. Curved glass especially can sometimes be a challenge and you must learn how to work around it. Use only good quality tape like 3M brand tape that will not stretch when you apply it.
3. Contact vinyl- Cut contact vinyl into a variety of shapes like circles, ovals, rectangles or squares to create a clear “window” to showcase a stencil design. You can even make fancy edges on the shapes if you like, but stick to simple edges like scallops, zig-zags, sawtooths  and the like. Overly fancy edges are hard to cut through vinyl and lay down on the glass because tiny points and curves will be hard to keep straight or keep flat against the glass (especially vulnerable when Etch bathing). Make sure the scissors are sharp or it will stretch the vinyl when you cut it and you won’t get a distinct edge. Remember every flaw will show in the final etching.

Apply your cutouts to the glass in the desired spot, cover with a piece of paper and rub down well with a burnisher or popsicle stick (the paper will prevent accidentally tearing the vinyl pieces with the tool while burnishing). Etch with your preferred method-sponged Etch Cream, or dipped in Etch Bath or by sand blasting. Rinse, then remove the vinyl pieces, dry and then etch the center of the clear spot with your favorite stencil design.