Stabilizing Glass. Crafting with rounded surfaces can be a challenge. Here is a collection of tried and true methods we use to keep glass supported and still while etching.

Towel. One of the easiest to find and use materials for stabilizing glass is the ordinary, everyday hand towel. Found in kitchens and bathrooms everywhere, they are the perfect size and thickness for supporting projects. Roll up the towel and bend it into a horseshoe shape. If the ends keep separating allowing the glass to sink through, use a rubber band to bind them together.

Tape Rolls. Taping around the stencil with masking tape is a routine step in glass etching making tape rolls and empty tape tubes readily available items. Glass pieces can be leaned into, set in, or placed on top of tape tubes to prevent rolling and give a comfortable working incline.

Foam. High density foam from product packaging makes terrific cradles for glass. Somewhere in the pre-shaped landscape you can usually find a suitable nook or cranny to meet your needs. If not, one can easily be created by contouring a section with a serrated kitchen knife. High density foam blocks can also be purchased from various craft and shipping stores as well as online.

Popsicle Sticks. Popsicle sticks are the crafting workhorse for all ages. If you are working on a flat surface and can't use any of the previous immobilizing methods, such as in overhead photography, simply lay a popsicle stick on either side of the glass. If the stick is not strong enough to keep the object from rolling, consider placing small pieces of tape rolled up and hidden on the underside to help it hold its ground. Always use craft grade popsicle sticks and not ones recycled from food items. Used sticks from food are not uniform, smooth and hard like craft sticks. They splinter easily and can breed bacteria from being in food and mouths.

Glue Dots. Small, clear and super sticky, glue dots hit the spot. Rather than preventing movement by physical boundaries, glue dots adhere a piece directly to the underlying surface. Dots apply easily by pressing the exposed side onto the glass and then pulling away the backing paper. They are great for projects of all sizes, especially small ones, clean off with soapy water and being transparent, they won't cause visual interference when designing. Glue dots are available in most craft stores and readily available online.

Article Posted: 01/22/2022 10:26:04 PM