Etched Glass Window Frame

Hello!  I am back today with another project for my porch gallery wall.  Last time I gave you this project with a quote from my favorite Jane Austen book:

You can read more about that project here.  Today's project uses my Silhouette Portrait once again and actually uses the same contact paper stencil technique as the subway art project.  A few weeks ago I saw the coolest photo frame in the Target ad and knew that I had to have it.

If you want to purchase one of your own you can check it out here.  I love how it looks like an old window. After getting it home I knew almost immediately that it would be going on the porch and that I wouldn't actually be using it as a frame.  I have been wanting to try my hand at glass etching for awhile and this window frame seemed like the perfect opportunity for a project like this.  I made a stencil using a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired shape that I traced with the Silhouette software using an image found on the internet.

Then I cut the image out on contact paper using the adhesive vinyl setting with the blade set to 3 and the thickness set to four.  I actually cut 4, one for each of the panes (however I ruined one while taking it off of the backing which led me to another idea, we'll get to that later).

I made sure to cut the transfer paper to the exact size of the stencil so that it would be easier to center the stencil in the window pane. I cleaned the glass thoroughly before placing the stencils on the panes.

I then applied the etching cream by following the directions on the bottle.  I made sure to wear gloves because this stuff can be nasty.

I wiped the cream off using a rag and water and then removed the contact paper.

It isn't perfect and I like that because the frame itself has a old look to it so the imperfections in the etching really fit.  As I mentioned before, I had a little mishap with the stencil for the 4th pane.  I was ready to cut another when I got an idea.  I thought it would be cool to do another book quote in that fourth pane so I chose a quote from the book Matilda by Roald Dahl.

The e's and o's gave me a little trouble when transferring because the centers wanted to stay with the transfer paper but I made sure to work slowly and carefully.

The etching is subtle so it was hard to get an image that showed all of the design but here is my best one.

I LOVE how this turned out.  I am getting so excited to put up this gallery wall and I am getting close to being done.  It is now summer break so I am looking forward to more frequent posts and projects.  Yay summer!

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