I still remember waiting for my very first Cricut Explore to arrive in the mail. As someone who loves Pinterest I had been seeing the awesome projects that people were creating with their Cricuts and I was positive it would quickly become a craft room staple for me. As I counted down the days, waiting for my Fed Ex lady to make the delivery, I took to YouTube, researching how to use the machine and techniques for making different kinds of projects. I wanted to make ALL THE THINGS but one of the ideas that stuck out the most to me was glass etching. I remember telling my mom “I can make etched glass projects once my Cricut arrives!” My Cricut arrived at the beginning of August 2014 (you can see my very first Cricut project for the site here) and while I’d guess that I use my Cricut pretty much on a weekly basis I never did get around to etching glass until now! I don’t know why I waited so long!!! It’s so much fun!
Today’s project was inspired by summer bbq’s and potlucks. Summer is the perfect time to get together for a bit of backyard fun with friends– Turn on the sprinkler for the kids, crank up some good tunes, and share some delicious nibblies and drinks!
Whenever I head to a potluck I think twice about the dishes and utensils that I’m bringing with me. I’ve lost several serving spoons and dishes after bringing them to group gatherings. I love a good Pyrex dish, but they all look the same! I wanted a way to make mine stand out and ensure that I could find it at the end of a good shindig!
Customized etched glass makes AMAZING gifts. Hello wedding and housewarming presents?!?!? But I warn you… once you learn this craft skill you’ll never want to stop!
I thought long and hard about what I wanted my dish to say, and finally decided on the simple saying “Eat, Drink, Be Merry”, because really isn’t that what summer celebrations are all about?
I have a ton of fun fonts on my computer from The Hungry Jpeg. You can use any font on your computer in Cricut Design Space (along with a ton of fonts that Cricut provides), but for fancier handlettering fonts I prefer to make my image outside of Cricut, save it as a jpg and import it into Cricut Design Space. Which brings me to this month’s Cricut Question Of The Month!
Question: Can I upload my own images with Cricut?
Answer: Absolutely! Here is the image that I created for my Pyrex baking dish! Read on and I’ll share with you how to upload your image directly into Cricut Design Space to use for all your projects! You can also add images from Cricut Access to your design file (that’s what I did with the spoon and the fork in my project) to create a completely custom look!
Want to use this image? Right click on the image below and choose save image to save it to your computer!
DIY Etched Glass Casserole Dish Made With The Cricut
Materials:
–Cricut Explore, Cricut Explore Air or Cricut Explore Air 2
–Cricut Cutting Mat
–Cricut Stencil Vinyl (you can use any kind of Cricut Vinyl, but I find the stencil vinyl to be perfect for this job. I love that it is see through and has lines right on the vinyl so that you can line it up straight)
–Transfer Tape
–Glass Baking Dish
–Glass Etching Cream (I used the Martha Stewart Glass Etching Cream, it came with a brush to apply it. If yours doesn’t you will need a brush to apply the cream)
–Cricut Weeding Tool and Scraper (I love my Cricut tools and use them all the time for all kinds of crafting projects. I found that I was misplacing them and recently started keeping them in one of these Cricut Accessory Pouches! I love that all my tools are in one place and it makes it so easy to take my tools with me when I’m crafting with friends.)
–Rubber gloves
Note: This tutorial is 17 steps long! I know… that’s a lot of steps. However I wanted to break this project down for you, step by step, with photos along the way so that it was easy for anyone to do, whether it’s the first time you used a Cricut or the millionth time. Please don’t let the steps intimidate you. This project is easy and fun! It takes approximately 30 minutes of active crafting time and 30 minutes of inactive time while the etching cream works it’s wonders! Have fun!
Instructions:
Step 1: Open Cricut Design Space. Click the Upload button in the bottom left hand toolbar. Click Upload Image and then choose the image from your computer that you would like to upload.
Step 2: Select Simple. Click on the screen in all of the white spaces that need to be cut. When you click the area will fill with blue and white check boxes. One click will fill in the whole area outside of the letters, then you will need to go in and click inside all of the loops and hoops (inside the A, D, R, the loops in the B, E, etc.) You can see below that the outside has been clicked and the inside of the D but the other areas still need to be clicked.
Once you are done clicking on each area click continue.
Step 3: Select whether you would like the image file to be saved as a print and cut file (to use when you are printing something on your home printer and then having the Cricut cut around it) or as a cut file. In this case we want a cut file. Name the file and click Save.
Step 4: Select the image (or images) you would like to use that you have uploaded and click Insert Images.
Step 5: Click the Shapes button in the left hand toolbar. Select the square. Size the square to be slightly larger than your Eat Drink Be Merry. If you click on the square you can click the lock button so that you can change your square into a rectangle.
Step 6: Lay your quote on top of the square.
Step 7: Holding down your control button, click on your quote and then the square to select them both. Then click on the Slice button in the lower right hand toolbar.
Step 8: When you click on your file and drag it, you will be left with 3 cut files. You will want to keep the one that is in the center below, with the quote cut out of the square. You can click on the other 2 options and delete them.
Step 9: Measure your baking dish and size your quote stencil accordingly. You can click on the lock button to unlock the proportions and make the file longer and thinner if you need to.
Step 10: Once you have the correct sizing, click the Flip button in the top toolbar and select horizontal. You will be etching the bottom of the baking dish so you will want your stencil mirrored so it shows up the correct way when you are looking through the baking dish.
Step 11: If you would like to add elements from Cricut Access to your project you can do it now by clicking Images and searching for the images you are looking for. I decided to add a fork and a spoon to my dish. I used Fork #MEF963 and Spoon #MEF967.
Step 12: Click the Make It button in the upper right hand corner and turn the dial of your Cricut to Custom. Space your fork and spoon an inch apart from each other and your quote so that you have room to cut a rectangle around them to use as a stencil. Select Stencil Vinyl from the list of materials, load your cutting mat with the stencil vinyl, stencil side up and cut!
Step 13: Remove your stencil from the cutting mat, and using your weeding tool, weed away the letters, leaving behind the box with the letters cut out. I’m loving my new Cricut BrightPad for making weeding easier. It has 3 light settings which help to illuminate where your cuts are!
Step 14: Once you are done weeding, carefully lay a piece of transfer tape on top of your stencil. Use your scraper tool to make sure that the stencil is firmly adhered to the transfer tape. Pay special attention to the small pieces in the center of the letters. Using the transfer tape peel the stencil off of the stencil backing.
Step 15: Position the transfer tape on top of the bottom of your baking dish with the sticky side of the stencil facing down. I used a measuring tape and a dry erase marker to mark the center of the dish and the center of my design and then lined up the lines. Use your scraper tool again to press down all over the design to make sure it’s firmly adhered to the dish. Peel away the transfer tape leaving the stencil behind. Check all over your stencil to make sure that around all of the letters is firmly adhered to the dish, otherwise your etching cream will get under the stencil and you won’t get crisp lines (ask me how I know this… blah).
Step 16: Read the directions on your glass etching cream. Put on rubber gloves and then apply the glass etching cream to all of the holes in the stencil. Leave on for as long as your etching cream directs. Because of the placement of where I wanted my fork and spoon I decided to etch my quote first and then do the utensils after.
Step 17: Once you have left the glass etching cream on for the desired amount of time, put on rubber gloves again and rinse etching cream off of the baking dish. I did this in the kitchen sink and used a paper towel to help get all of the etching cream off. Remove the stencil and admire your handy work! Repeat with fork and spoon.
Viola! You have a gorgeous etched baking dish! Now that you have this crafting skill, the possibilities are endless of what you could make!
Pin me for later!
Like this post? Make sure to see all my Cricut projects here!
Check out some fun Cricut Projects from my friends!
PMQ for two // Lemon Thistle // BrooklynBerry Designs // Woman In Real Life // The Learner Observer // Love Create Celebrate
Dislosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
I would like to make some xmas decorations.
I would make some cat themed products and donate it to a cat rescue group I am involved with
I would definitely love to have a cricut but haven’t been able to make the jump yet, maybe this will be my lucky week!
I just bought some stencil vinyl and I can’t wait to use it. This is such a fun project for it!
I’d love to make Christmas cards to send out this year.
I would love to own this Cricut Explore Air 2 to make personal cards for all seasons !
I’d love to try this new cutter!
This is so cute as a gift idea too! I have three children under four at home and crafting has become a bit of a stress reliever. A cricut would really amp up my game!?
I’m so excited for Halloween!! Can’t wait to make cards, decor and other fun stuff!!
I’d love to decorate dishes and mugs for gifts with my favorite quotes!
Agh! I would love a cricuit to try and etch dishes- make cute mugs for gifts and put cute sayings on pillows!
Would love to try the glass etching but very interested in working with the heat vinyl.
Oh I love this idea! I’m an art journaler, so I’d love to make my own collage elements and stickers to use in my work 🙂
I would love to try the glass etching on glasses if I had the Cricut Explore Air 2.
The etched glass is really neat! I would love to try that and making homemade cards for family.
What a great idea! I’ve never thought of using it to etch something onto glass
I’d use it for homeschooling projects 🙂
My daughter would probably want to use it first and create some stuff for her cosplay costumes. FYI on rafflecopter you can use the pinterest entry or add your own entry options and you can have it so the Pinterest entries are actually linked so people can just click on them to go and follow instead of copying and pasting the link 🙂
I would make some vinyl prints!
I am a first-year teacher who loves to craft. I would use this awesome machine not only to help make my classroom an awesome place to be but also to make crafts at home too! This project would be great for teacher gifts for my coworkers!
I usually make baskets of backed goods for Christmas. With this I would get plates and personalize them
What a great idea!
I could really use this machine to bring my scrapbooking up a level
What an awesome idea of etching onto glass. I’ve always loved glass projects and this would be amazing.
Would help reupholster my sofa
Do a scrapbook for my brides wedding!
I would like to make personal cards for all occasions
So many things! First I want to make fun htv cutouts to go on my kiddos plain shirts!
I would love to make greeting cards
Greeting cards would be great. And I can’t help but want to etch glass now
I have been researching between the cricut and silhouette. I have a cricut and want to upgrade. I’m saving up my amazon money from quizzes to buy one. I really wanted to get it this summer since I have free time and really be able to work on it and figure it out! Would so love to win the bundle. Thank you!
I have a new granddaughter due this fall. I could make some wonderful presents for her and her older brothers!
Thank you for the step by step guidelines!
Oh my..!! This would be great for personalizing gifts.
I would pass to my wife as she usses a larger pro type machine and this would be much easier and more compact
I have a few signs that I would like to make for my kids’ rooms.
I am not sure what I would do first. I have so many ideas running through my head right now.
I’d give it to my youngest daughter who is a 4th grade teacher. She has a great need for one!
I would etch some of the glass in our house.. maybe the front door.
I would etch some glass and make personal cards.
This would be an excellent tool to customize some of my tea tins for teas I always have on hand: Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong.
I’m a small events decorator and I would have so many uses for this. Customised decor, table numbers, escort cards, personalised glasses, invitations. There is no end to the list
I would make greeting cards for my friends and family!
I love to go all out with my daughter’s birthday parties but a Cricut would take them to whole another level with beautiful invitations/cards, party decorations, customized table linens, gift tags… the list goes on! Thank you for the chance!
I would love to start using a Cricut. A few of my friends have them and love them. My first project would be a few personalized military theme items for my soldier son. Thanks for the chance!
I would try to repair our couch with the Cricut Explore Air 2
I would love to be able to make things for my family!!
I want to make foil embossed cards. They cost $5 to $7 each when I buy them from Papyrus as they’re made in Europe or Israel. Thanks!
Would love to win!!
I make lots of cakes and pastries, so I would love to personalize some cute plates and serving ware. I would also love to do some fun crafts with my nephew.
Decor for my house
There are so many beautiful things to create. But the first thing I would do is create gifts for family and friends for the holidays.
this would enhance my Scrapbooking to the top! I’d love to try making cards also.
I would use it for heat press vinyl for shirts and bags.
I make floral arrangements for gifts. I would use this to personalize glass vases with etching. It looks awesome.
The question isn’t what would I do–but what WOULDN’T I do! I think I’d probably go monogram nuts! On everything!! LOL.
this would be great to make some christmas cards and ornaments
I would use this Cricut to complete my never ending scrapbooking pages. I would also love to do some wall decor in vinyl.
I would use it to make Christmas cards.
If I won would make make some many many things all kinds of cards , scrapbook in items, cats with my kids , school projects , decorative things the list could go on and on . Thanks for the chance to win.
I love the idea of using the Cricut Explore Air 2 to create airwork for the walls.
This looks so neat!
I’d like to make some
signs with vinyl.
Carla from Utah
i’d etch a mirror
I’ve wanted a Cricut forever – there are so many things I would love to make! Wooden signs for our house (and to give as gifts) with lettering that I printed from the Cricut, custom vinyl lettering for t-shirts, kids birthday decorations, and I might have to try out your etching option! The options are endless; beautiful machine!
I would love to make Christmas cards and so much more! Thank you!
What would I do with a new air 2? First I would hide it from my daughter. She took my Machine to make decals for a “special” project she is working on. (Decals to sell to help send kids whose parent hace cancer to summer camp. Then I’d probably pull it out of the box and help her make more decals! 🙂
I would use the Cricut Explore 2 to create personalized throw pillows using iron-on vinyl to give to friends & family this Christmas season!
Wining this would allow me to make some things to sell that would supplement my income. Plus the gifts I could give too! Thank you for this opportunity to win one!
Learn to make stencils.
I would love to win this to make some Christmas crafts and cards. It would be so much fun.
I would love to make some personalized christmas gifts with this!!
OH I can’t afford to purchase a Cricut. I would love to win one.♥️♥️♥️
I have been looking at the cricut and have been debating on the purchase – it is something i really want t o add to my craft room
If I won a Cricut I would step up my crafting skills. I have the original and it is very limited on what it can do. This would be an awesome addition to your craft room!
I need to etch my baking and casserole dishes with my name. They have a tendency to disappear.
I have three girls who always tell me “come see the NEW craft I’m doing” they’re so talented, it’s three against one but this time I’d be the number one crafter.
I would love to make stencils so I can make crates and pillows
LOVE this!! SUCH a good idea!!
I would use this with my son to make different unique cool things. Thank you so much for This giveaway. Good luck all
I would love to own this Cricut Explore Air 2 to make cards for all occasions.It would be an excellent
machine to have to help make wedding cards for the people in my family and friends when they have
wedding invitations to send out.
Oh gosh would I love to own a Cricut! I was diagnosed in 2011 with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. That is the rarest and most aggressive for of MS and the only type of MS that has no treatment.
Before that I ran our family business while raising two of the most wonderful kids! My kids are just now in their 30’s and living lives of their own and I am already disabled. I can no longer work because of pain and slow destruction of my nervous system. I also can no longer drive so I am very isolated. Blogs like yours have inspired me to get crafty to enjoy my time and keep my cognitive skills working. However going from a highly paid job to living on disability is a BIG hit. It does not leave room for fun money. This would be an amazing gift and opportunity for me and I thank you for considering me to have this magic item.
Glenda Shine
I would like to start by making the etched dish!
I would make a great scrapbook for my Granddaughter to hightlight her first year
This Christmas, my family of 70+ members will be having a reunion. This Cricut would enable me to make something memorable for each family member!
I have taken up toille painting and this would be so helpful for lettering!
We love to make homemade cards for friends and family so this would definitely help us make them fancier!! So many way to use a cricut 🙂
i would love to win to use this to make personalized Christmas dishes 🙂
I’d love this to make my wedding invitations and place cards!!!
I have the same problem with similar looking containers–except mine always go missing in the work fridge so my first project will be some sort of pithy saying on my pyrex containers I use for lunch 🙂
I’m thinking custom designs for etching glass vases
I would make personalized cards for all occasions.
Give it to my husband, he is so creative
I really want to do this now! What a great project Crystal! I often bring food to potlucks, etc. and I love your idea of customizing your dish so you can get it back.
I would love to make personalized decals for shirts for my 2 kiddies
I’m southern so I’d monogram everything that isn’t moving!
I would make labels for my jars in my kitchen.
I would make personalized gifts for friends and family.
I looove making signs out of reclaimed wood, and hand-painting fine cursive font is slowly killing my eyesight! I would LOOOVE to use the Cricut to cut out some stencils for my crafts. Annnnd I’d get going on designing my own wedding invites!
I would use it for many things around Christmas time. Start of with cards.
Glasses for Christmas with everyone’s names on them
I would be making Christmas Gifts for my family.
I would love to make my own greeting/holiday cards and some ornaments to use as gifts
My wife has all sorts of ideas for this thing including creating t-shirts, making signs, etc.
I would love to make homemade Christmas cards with my Cricut.
I would love to try making greeting cards with this if I won thanks for everything chance
I’d love to make personalized cards.
I would make cards and postcards.
The sky is the limit. I see cards, T-shirts, quilt motifs for Embroidery, love your casserole, labels for everything.
I would love to make cards
I would like to make Christmas cards and Holiday gifts!
My gf is the creative one in this house. I would give it to her and let her go wild with it. She would make amazing projects of all sorts. As a Christmas holiday lover she would probably start with cards and decorations.
i would love to make stencils to use in conjunction with my gelli plate!
I would use it to make so many different things, I would use it on cups, pillows, to make stencils, to do window decals, I would use this on anything and everything, I love crafts and I’ve always wanted one of these!
Too many possibilities! I think I’d make stencils to start.
I would make personalized wedding gifts for the TONS of wedding we have in our family coming up. Thanks!
I would love to make some labels for vintage bottles, and then I would like to make embellishments for fabric and lace flowers.
There’s so much I could do…
I like making things for birthday parties, so I’d probably design some decorations… Among many many other things. You are only limited by your imagination with these machines. They are capable of so much!
I’d love to make personalized pie dishes for Christmas.
I would use it to make labels for all of my canning projects I have done so far this summer!
Endless possibilities showcasing what I do at the business I run !!
I would make crafts with my kids
I would teach my grandkids about how therapeutic crafting can be.
I haven’t never done this kind of thing before, but I am a crafty person and love learning new crafts.
The possibilities are endless! I’d love to make some bunting with letters of the alphabet that I could switch up to spell out festive things for different celebrations.
I would make cards and crafts
I would definitely enjoy a new craft that I have not tried before! I already have ideas. Thanks for the amazing giveaway opportunity.
I would make vinyl monograms with this.
Adorable! We grow, make and bottle homemade hot sauce, I would love to etch the bottles for an extra-personal touch!
I would like to make some vinyl cutouts that could hang on the wall of my cubicle or maybe the door/windows at home!
I would love to make my own greeting cards.
I would love to make my own cards and use it for scrap booking as well!
I’d love to make custom appliqués with the Cricut, which I’d iron onto t-shirts. 🙂 SOOO many ideas!
I would give it to my sister-in-law who is super artsy and would use it a lot. I love the idea of adding a personal touch to a practical gift like this pan!
Would love to make personalized gifts with it!
I would use it to make personalized Christmas gifts.
I would do a bunch of different crafts
I would love to make custom wine glasses for my girlfriends
I would make some cute baby shower favours!
I LOVE THIS!! What an amazing idea for wedding and housewarming gifts! If I win, I will definitely be playing copy cat. Scrapbooking and making decorations for all of the holidays would be a must as well. 🙂
I would love to try the glass etching!
So many crafts and projects that my family and I could do with this! thank you for the opportunity to win!
i would personalize my canning, body scrub jars thank you for your generosity
I would do small mirrors with different quotes
id make greeting cards and place cards
I’d love to etch some candle holders.
I would love to win this giveaway and be able to make such cool items for gifts.
I would love to make personalized dishes for Christmas.
I have wanted one of these since they came out. I haven’t seen the etched glass before though. This would be great for Christmas presents. I try to make my kiddos something homemade every Christmas. Teacher gifts would be fun for this too.
The possibilities are endless! All of my creative gifting needs in a machine!
I would LOVE to win this! There are so many things that I would enjoy creating like t-shirts and cards. Fingers crossed!
So many things I’d like to make! Etched glass would definitely be up there!
I would make etched kitchen glasses with fruit designs on them.
I would love to win so I can start making etched glass gifts!
I would love to make personalized ornaments for each of my family members. Thanks for the chance to win.
If I won a cricut I would be so excited! I would use it for so many things. One of the first things I would do is design some shirts for my family. I love your etching idea! I etched some things before but they don’t look as nice as this does!
i would make a scrapbook
I would use it to make some handmade cards for baby showers and birthdays!
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I would make vinyl monograms for everything my kids own!
WOW UNLIMITED IDEAS…BUT I WOULD START BY MAKING TSHIRTS FOR THE FAMILY
I make personal cards for holidays and events this would be so great to have!
Be creative with Granddaughter- she used one at school and has been asking me to get one!
I never knew you could etch glass using Cricut, thanks for teaching me something new. Amazing! I would love to try etching some of my vases and glass cookware. Thanks so much for the chance.
I don’t have a cricut. All my friends have one and I’ve seen some pretty cool things you can make with it. This is a first time seeing etched glass. Awesome giveaway!
So much I could do with a Cricut! I would make some canvas art and other home decor.
I would totally do so many crafts with this machine, make t-shirts for my kiddos, home decor, the possibilities are endless. 🙂
I would make everything I could! But especially vinyl car stickers.
The first thing that comes to mind is that I could really create some amazing personalized gifts for my bridal party!
I would probably etch some wine glasses!
I’d love to make some personalized cups!
I would love to use this for making lots of cool Halloween decorations
After seeing how nice your etched glass turned out I think I would try my hand at it too! After that I have about 100 other things that I want to make too!
this would be great for so many crafts
I’d love to make customized plates and glass etchings – what a neat idea!
Everything in the house would use a little customizing and decorating. How about we start with the cooler so when we bring it to picnics, we know it is ours.
I would make vinyl car decals if I won the cricut.
I would use it for craft projects that I make with my kids. We’re always up to some project.
I’d make my own cards
I would make signs.
id make some fun wineglasses
I would love to be able to craft all my Christmas gifts this year!
I would make personalized gifts and cards!
I’m not familiar enough with what this Cruct can do, but I’ve long wanted to try and reproduce some retro-ish greeting cards.
I love etching glass! Monogrammed coasters or wine glasses make great housewarming or wedding gifts. Also like to etch a glass picture frame with baby’s name and date of birth as a baby shower/new baby gift. Great idea with the Pyrex dish!
I would love to have this to make personalized gifts for my daughters teachers at school and at after school activities. I would alos love to make personalized cards to go with them.
Crafts for my students
I would mostly use the Cricut on projects with my girls to decorate their rooms and for homemade Christmas gifts.
I would like to make some home decor and gift items for my family for Christmas gifts.
My head is about to explode with all of the ideas i’m getting from the blog posts through this giveaway! Now I really need (want 😉 ) a circuit! Thanks for the detailed instructions! Learning something new seems to take so much longer when you have little ones at your heels!
I want to design some signs and cute door decorations for my classroom.
Such a cute idea! Hmm… I’ve been thinking about getting a Cricut…
What a cool giveaway! I have so many ideas now! I’ve had a jewelry business for a few years and have wanted to make stickers and gift boxes 🙂
I would use this to make Christmas cards and gifts for my family!
Would love to use the cricut to personalize christmas, birthday cards etc.
It’s never too soon to start working on my holiday gifts! I would love to make some custom edged beer and wine glasses as gifts this Christmas.
Well, the possibilities are endless, but I would definitely start with some Christmas decorations and gifts!
I love this craft idea! I can’t imagine all the things I would make! I could see making custom plastic binder covers and a cutting board. Though, I’m sure of so many more options.
I would craft with my kiddos!
I would make signage for my wedding!
I would totally make personalized Christmas gifts!
What cute idea! Pinned! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
So many things you could do but I would love to create cards and gifts with it
I would like to try to make some wine glasses to showcase out “wild grape”wine
I would love to use it to customize all our kitchen bins and organize the pantry!
I would love to make some decals for my car!
I would make glasses.
It would be neat to make different designs in glass.
Never knew glass could be etched : ) Would like to make some fun designs for glass jars
Wedding invitations!!!
I would love to make some cards
What a great idea! I have had my Cricut for about a year and had not thought of using it like this!
This is something new and innovative! creating etched glass through circuit. Can not wait to participate in this contest, is it still open?
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