Display your special note or card
in style with this etched-glass frame.

• Clear-glass frame with a clip-on back
• White vinegar
• Paper
• Ruler
• 1/4-inch-wide masking tape
• Con-Tact paper
• Crafts knife
• Heart stickers, if desired
• Spoon for burnishing
• Paint pen (usually used for fabric, available in crafts, discount, and fabric stores)
• Rubber gloves
• Etching cream
• Paintbrush
• Colored paper or foam sheet (available at crafts and discount stores)

1. Clean the glass portion of frame with hot water and white vinegar. Important: Do not get any fingerprints on areas to be etched.

2. From a piece of paper, cut the desired mat size and divide the sides into equal sections. Place this paper under the glass and use 1/4-inch-wide masking tape to tape diagonal lines in each section.

 

Step 4

3. Draw heart patterns onto the Con-Tact paper and cut out using a crafts knife, or use heart stickers. Peel the backing from the Con-Tact paper or stickers and center the hearts as desired in taped-off areas on the glass. Some of the edges might need to be clipped to enable the Con-Tact paper to lie flat. Burnish (rub down) all of the edges of the Con-Tact paper with a spoon, avoiding putting fingerprints on the glass.

 

Step 5

4. Add dots around the hearts in the outside corners with the paint pen. Allow to thoroughly dry before etching.

5. Wearing rubber gloves, paint etching cream over tape and Con-Tact paper according to manufacturer's instructions. Leave on for about 5 minutes.

 

Step 6

6. Rinse the glass thoroughly and remove the tape, paint, and Con-Tact paper. Center the card or message on colored paper or sheet of foam. Assemble the frame.

• Using vinyl stick-on letters, etch a name or sentimental message onto the frame.
• Because you can customize your frame, this technique works great to capture the theme of a photograph or treasured greeting card.