Sunday, March 02, 2008

Name That Dish

My husband's nephew is getting married in a couple of weeks and yesterday I attended a bridal shower for his soon-to-be wife. Lately I've been making personalized Pyrex baking dishes for my nieces and nephews and they seem to be a big hit. I don't know what it is about seeing your name etched in glass, but it makes brides-to-be very happy! So, here's a little tutorial if you would like to give it a try.
First, gather your supplies. You'll need to purchase some glass etching cream and clear contact paper. If you don't have an Xacto knife, an el cheap-o paint brush, rubbing alcohol and cotton balls, you'd better pick those up while you're out. You'll also need to print out the name onto a piece of paper, using a large, cute font. Unless you're a glutton for punishment, keep the font simple.
Of course, you'll also need a glass dish. Lately, I've been buying a double pack of covered Pyrex dishes at Walmart for under $15.
Tape the paper to the window (or a light box, if you have one). Make sure that it is placed so that the back of the paper is facing you. You're going to trace the letters so that they are reversed or backward. I'm sure you get the idea from the picture. Use a Sharpie to trace the letters onto the clear side of the contact paper. I'll admit that I've made the mistake of writing on the paper side of the conact paper. Take it from me, that doesn't work very well. LOL!
Clean the backside of the dish using the rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. Once dry, peel and apply the contact paper to the back of the dish. Rub well, making sure that there are no air bubbles. Use extra care in those areas where there is raised lettering on the back of the dish.
Use the Xacto knife to cut and remove the lettering, making your stencil. On a sunny day I do this outside on my porch, making it easier to see where I have cut. Yesterday I did it under the light in my kitchen.
Shake the jar of etching cream well and use the brush to paint the cream onto the stencil. Be generous...this stuff goes a long way. Be careful to not get any of the etching cream on your skin or clothing and make sure that your work surface is covered with paper.
Allow the etching cream to remain on the stencil for 20 minutes or so. I'm kind of the impatient type and don't really enjoy watching etching cream dry, so I "help it along" by continually moving the cream around with the paint brush during the 20 minutes.
Now rinse the etching cream from the dish using lots of warm water. Remove the stencil then wash and dry the dish.
Ta dumm! Wasn't that easy?! But wait...you're not finished yet.
I also included the recipe and most of the ingredients for Grandma's lemon cake. This is a great way to pass down a favorite family recipe!
Put it all together, add a bow and tag and your gift is ready to give!

Of course, you don't have to limit yourself to putting names on your dishes. I've seen them done with simple flowers and other designs, too. I'm thinking about doing a quilt block...maybe an Ohio Star. Be creative and have some FUN!!!

Note: You can pick up the etching cream at most craft stores. If you live near a store that gives 40% coupons, make sure you take one. A large jar costs around $20, but unless you're considering going into business, a small jar will do. I bought a large jar and have made well over two dozen dishes. I've probably only used half the of etching cream.

Here's another note: Xina said that her etching didn't show up very well and was wondering why. I honestly don't know, but my friend used my etching cream one time and had the same problem. When I asked her if she shook the contents of the bottle first she said that she had not. I always do and have always had pretty good success. Hope this helps!

Xina...I hope you come back to read this because I could not reply to your email. To get replies to your questions you need to change your profile and check the box that says "show email address" or something like that.

43 comments:

  1. What a terrific idea...hmm, I bought some fabric at the quilt show yesterday with pies on it - intended to make the napkins that were on Nicoles' Sisters Choice blog before the holidays. Thought the napkins and a homemade pie would make a nice gift - but a pie in a personalized pie plate would be even better!!! Thanks!

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  2. Thanks Nicole!! What a great idea for a personalized gift.

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  3. What a wonderful idea! Thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  4. What a great idea! At clean-up after a church potluck all those pyrex dishes look alike and it can be hard to know whose is whose. But not if yours had your name on it. What a great gift idea! Thank you!

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  5. Neat Idea! Thanks for the tutorial.

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  6. That is a great idea, it would be a good one for homemaking night. (OOPS! Family home and personal enrichment night)

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  7. Great idea - particularly handing down the recipe - too many good recipes are lost because they were never written and passed along *s*

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  8. Oh my goodness Kairle - this is the best idea ever! Thank you so much for sharing, I'm inspired to go and label all my own pyrex dishes now.
    *hugs*
    Tazzie
    :-)

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  9. Great idea, Kairle! And what a great way to keep track of your own dishes too since they all tend to look the same! LOL!

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  10. Oh, how much fun is that!! I've etched mirrors, drinking glasses and coffee mugs but never thought to do a casserole dish....Christmas will be easy this year...pie plates!

    Great idea!

    Pam@
    www.pamgwillim.com

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  11. What a great tutorial and great gift giving idea. Also like what others have said...if you go to a potluck there's your name right on the dish. Thanks!!!

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  12. What a wonderful idea and tutorial, Kairle! You are such a clever girl!! Thank you so much!

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  13. This a fantastic!! I can't wait to give it a try. I bet you could do a platter or plates too. If I give it a try I will send you a link!!

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  14. What a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing it.

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  15. Oh, thank you, thank you for posting this idea! I saw it last year and filed it away to do for my bride-to-be but I forgot about it -- you've reminded me again and just in time for the showers just around the corner.

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  16. Nicely done! Now I'm not afraid to try it on my own after seeing your samples before. ((hugs))

    Also, James can see what-the-heck I'm trying to describe

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  17. But wait! Aren't you going to share Grandma's Lemon Cake recipe? Sounds yummy....

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  18. HEEEAAALLLP!! LOL! I so loved this idea and took it upon myself to do this today as a trial to get ready for Christmas 2008. I left the cream on for 20 minutes....and my letters are VERY LIGHT. Can only see them when hold them up to the light just right. What can I do to make it more 'Dense' for lack of better word.

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  19. Thank you so much for your reply! I am still new at this blogging thing so I went and changed my profile so others can email me. I experiemented with a glass dish from IKEA...left the stuff on for 30 minutes...didn't even make a DENT! So just ya'll know...IKEA dishes are STUBBORN! *smile*

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  20. Very clever, Kairle! Bet you won't get your casserole dishes messed up at the church potluck or family reunion either. Oh wait, family reunions might be more problematic if a lot of share the same surname, LOL.

    I love the idea of including the ingredients for a family recipe to go along with the gift. Would consider sharing that with us too?

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  21. I tried glass etching two IKEA casserole dishes, and it didn't work either time. I tried an IKEA bowl, however, and it worked just fine. What is the deal with the IKEA casserole dishes? What brand of casserole dish doesn't have an embossed logo stamped on the bottom? Every brand I've looked at--Anchor Hocking, Pyrex, etc.-- has their company's embossed logo on the bottom of the dish (except the IKEA ones...which don't work!) Has anyone done this with the stamped logo on the bottom...and how does it work?

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  22. I love the idea ! Can you tell me the size font you use for the dish.

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  23. great job on the etching and thanks sooooo much for the tutorial!! i'm going to do it this week with a girlfriend. instead of cutting the contact paper we are going to use her vinyl cutter so we don't have to trace/cut the contact paper. this is a great idea, thanks so much.
    brigette

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  24. I really love this idea. With all the babies being born in my circle of friends this year (and thus all the dinners being brought to new mamas), having my name on my own baking dishes seems very practical. And what a great gift! I know what my sisters will be getting for Christmas this year. :) Thank you for the tutorial!

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  25. PLEASE HELP!!! I am in charge of this project for Super Saturday! I tried to do this tonight. The bottle said to wait 5 minutes, but I know that I waited longer. Anyways, I did read (after I bought it) that it said "some Pyrex" Mine must be in that category.. . because it did NOT work. How are you getting it to work on Pyrex? I did it on another "glass dish" and it did work. Please help. Yours turned out really well. Thank you in advance for your help!! Mindy
    mindygube@yahoo.com

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  26. Pyrex composition has changed. The old Pyrex made by Corning is a different glass, than the Pyrex you buy now. The European Pyrex glass is also a different. We started on a project and the older dishes did not etch, but the newer ones were OK.
    The Pyrex brand is becoming generic.

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  27. Hello! I am about to embark upon your adventure. You had no trouble etching newly purchased pyrex, correct? I did see where the Armor Etch indicated that it won't work on Pyrex, but I see it worked fine for you. Let me know. Thanks!
    ghburk@yahoo.com

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  28. I love it!! I have a few that are so cute. I'm a little more girlie so I add little embellishments!! thanks for this.

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  29. I think I may try this project. Maybe start out with just and initial. Long last names like mine make it hard.
    Thanks for the great idea.

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  30. Hey, I found your site from a friend of a friend. I just wanted to tell you that I do this etching as a hobby. And have learned that if you use the etching cream, it will wear off over time and will react with the heat of your oven. So if you do not plan on washing it in your dishwasher, or baking with it in the oven, then the cream will work just fine. If you want a more permant etch, you need to sandlbast it. It does not cost any more than the cream, you just have to find someone who does it. I sandblast all mine and have had no issues with it. Just thought I would let you know. You did a great job on it though, it looks really nice! If you have any other questions, my email is wall_em @ hotmail dot com. If not no worries!

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  31. I love this tutorial! I bought a pan just like this right after I got married and spent $35. I am so excited to try this out!

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  32. I'm bummed! I just tried this for my mother-in-law on a Marinex dish and it totally didn't work... didn't even leave a dent! I left the Armour Etch on for 40 minutes even, and shook the bottle hard before applying. I guess it really depends on the type of glass. The only marks on the bottom of the pan are the outline of her name from my utility knife! :) I'll have to try this again on a Pyrex dish for sure. Thanks for the idea.

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  33. i loved carin's comment form last year that said:

    "That is a great idea, it would be a good one for homemaking night. (OOPS! Family home and personal enrichment night)"

    it made me laugh, since i'm waiting to hear what i'm supposed to call my class after what the rs general presidency announced at conference!

    thanks for the tutorial.

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  34. I'm panicking--I offered this as a class for our next no-longer-called-Enrichment-Night. All the orders are in. I have the names cut out of vinyl (42). The class is this next Tuesday. I just did a test run (shook the bottle, let it sit for 40 minutes to be safe) and.....not a mark on the glass. I'm scrambling to figure out what I'm going to tell everyone...

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  35. Jenny -
    Are you using a new Pyrex? Our ward did this and people who brought their "used" dishes did not have any luck, but those with "new" did. I've been told that you should not use one that's been washed. Who knows why? But, maybe that's the problem? Try it out on a small "new" bowl and see what happens. Good Luck! Jen

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  37. Jenny
    I have not had any problem with Pyrex or Anchor brand dishes, new or used.

    Question? Did you say you already had the letters cut out? Curious how that will work since I've always cut the letters with the vinyl on the glass.

    Best wishes!!!

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  38. I'm so excited to have and make my own etched glass, because I won't take time to think what kind of gift should I need to give, with this simple art I know I could give smile for those whom received it.

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  39. I am bummed that I hadn't read this before buying a bunch of Ikea glass bakeware. It really didn't budge. I've successfully etched wine glasses and beer bottles and thought this would be a no brainer -- and in unique sizes and so cheap. But alas, no etch, even after 45 min. :-(

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  40. We just attempted this for a Super Saturday at church. I had a bunch of IKEA dishes and it didn't work on them. After about 2.5 hours, the cream indented the name and design, but didn't etch it. So the name was there - but wasn't etched. After 15 hours it finally worked really well and etched.

    So this WILL work on IKEA bakeware. Just be prepared for it to take a while.

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  41. We found out that if you let the etching cream dry it worked better. However, we were using stick on mailing labels and the adhesive would lift sometimes causing a break or slight lessening of the etch. Since we were doing informal things we were happy anyway!
    Nina

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