T is for Tumblers

We are moving right along in the 2015 Blogging from A to Z in April Challenge. We're at day number 20 and that means that today is letter T.

Today's project? Custom etched barware...which includes Collins glasses, pilsners, and tumblers, my T word for the day. (Technically, if I wanted to stretch it, the tall glasses could also be considered highball glasses, which are effectively tall tumblers. I could also use a thousand commas in one sentence. The closer we get to the end of the alphabet, the more creative I get with my stretching of the terms.)

If you've been here for the entire A to Z thus far, then you'll remember this stuff from letter E's day.

I had so much fun using it once, that it was time to branch out for more possibilities. Good news, it worked!

We did however learn some lessons from this project:

1. Taking pictures of glass is a nightmare.
2. Husband does not take great pictures.
3. Husband should not be allowed to use the fancy camera because he kills the battery and then fails to recharge it, leaving me with a dead camera in terribly inopportune moments.

The point? These pictures were a struggle, so they're not my finest. (They might be husband's finest, so I guess we have that going for us.)

Let's review how it's done and then I'll share the final results. Off we go...

I cut out my designs in adhesive vinyl using my (yes, Tasha...again) Pazzle. I transfered the designs to the glasses using transfer tape.

I peeled the transfer tape off after adhering the vinyl and weeded out to leave negative space.

I pressed down all of the edges to make things as tight to the glass as possible so that I wouldn't have to worry about air bubbles or escaping etch.

We laid the glasses in the sink to keep them horizontal and coated the surfaces thoroughly with the etch using a foam paint brush. We also were very careful to wear protective eyewear and gloves because this stuff is crazy caustic and we value our senses of sight and touch.

We left the etch on for about 30 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly and peeled off the vinyl to reveal our etching.

Ready to see the results? We made quite a few different sets, so I'm giving you a small sampling.

Of course, I love moustaches, so we had to do the old "I (moustache) you a question" glasses. We did one in a pilsner for my brother (the one who didn't get the moustache quilt or the moustache pajama pants) and then a smaller tumbler that you'll see here in a bit for our best friends.

My brother-in-law is in the Air Force, so we did him up one with the Air Force logo.

The eldest of my two brothers graduated from University of Idaho (we try not to hold it against him), so I made him a Vandals glass.

But I couldn't leave the rivalry alone, so we made Boise State Bronco glasses for my dad and my mother-in-law.

Since we like the Broncos better, there were four of those made to the Vandals' one.

Finally...the tumbler set for our best friends...some of my favorites. They got the obligatory moustache glass. They also each got one with their name and a gun on it since they work in the weapons industry. To round out their set, they got the "It's Miller Time" glass to go with their last name. I'm taking all the credit on that idea. Because I can.

Now we just need to make a few fun sets for ourselves!

Coming up tomorrow, a little bit of a cheat post. I'm allowed that...it's been a crap week. But, I will say, for a cheat post it has a completely awesome project. If it wasn't a cheat, it would be up with my top three posts for the year. (It's just a cheat because it wasn't made for this year. You know, bending my own rules and what not.)

Then, on Saturday, letter V brings the last of my favorite three projects for 2015, you know, the one that isn't peg dolls...or...peg dolls. We're going to round out the week strong!

Miss any of my A to Z posts so far this year? Find them below...

1. A is for Anna (Easy Anna Cape)
2. B is for Bath (Appliqued Bath Mat)
3. C is for Child (Children's Growth Ruler)
4. D is for Denim (Denim Bib)
5. E is for Etch (Etched Casserole Dishes)
6. F is for Felt (Felt Hopscotch Mat)
7. G is for Good Night ("Good Night" Envelope Pillows)
8. H is for Hood (Easy Hooded Towel)
9. I is for Insulated (Insulated Beverage Cozies)
10. J is for Jumper (Embroidered Spring Jumper)
11. K is for Know (Know When to Hold 'Em/Fold 'Em Laundry Sign)
12. L is for Loveseat (Envelope Loveseat Pillows)
13. M is for Mittens (Fleece Baby Mittens)
14. N is for Ninja Turtle (Felt Ninja Turtle)
15. O is for Owl (Owl Stuffies)
16. P is for Princess (Princess Peg Dolls)
17. Q is for Quilt (Moustache Quilt)
18. R is for Reading (Appliqued Reading Pillow)
19. S is for Superheroes (Superhero Peg Dolls)

Are you visiting from A to Z?

Be sure to leave me a comment (including your blog link) so I can come over and return the favor!