A recent monogram etched beer mug with the initial B.
In my personal opinion, monogram etched glasses are one of the coolest gifts. This post may give you some great ideas if you etch glass for fun or to sell items.
Monogrammed items are actually fairly popular and in demand items for gifts but I don’t see a lot of people etching them.
But to take it even farther, I wanted to show you an etched beer mug that I made for a friend. This design is by far the more decorative and creative I have seen.
The Monogram Design
This cool idea takes the initial of their first or last name (you can use either) and places it in an awesome decorative font. Then through the lower part of the initial, it says their full name. I think this idea could be a big hit!
It is far better than the simple monogram idea with their first, last and sometime middle initial with a simple font. However, my latest project shown here is made from a custom cut stencil and can’t be reused. If you do prefer a simpler monogram design though, you can use our reusable stencil sheets shown here or on Amazon with the free CD here.
Cutting the Monogram Stencil
As discussed in our membership area, I used my favorite method to cut the stencil with a vinyl cutter. The monogram stencil can be seen cut out and placed on the glass below. I also etched the opposite side of the glass with another stencil. Since I cut out the stencil from a thick sandmask and the details were intricate, I had to use my hobby knife to clean up some edges.
Etching the Backside of the Beer Mug
If you have seen some of my other beer mug projects and posts, you may have noticed I like to etch the backside, as well as the front. This gives the mug some extra little flavor and character that matches the person. This gift was for a nurse friend, so I put together a nurse heart with the saying “Safety First, Drink with a Nurse”.
I hope you all liked these ideas and gave you some creative projects to do. Have any of your done these monogrammed etchings? Please leave a comment and/or questions below. Thank you!
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Eric,
As always you’re in point to describe how it works out for you. What type of vinyl printer do you use? Thank you
Thanks Jeff. I use the Creation brand but I don’t believe the company is making them anymore
How did you get the letters to sit up or look thick?
@Deloris, they are actually etched fairly deep in the glass with the sandblasting process if that is what you are referring too. It might be hard to see with the picture. The outside of the letters sit up.
I love these mugs. 2 years ago i made personalize mugs for everyone in my entire family as gifts for christmas. Lots of hours working on these but they came out awesome. Great video
Eric – Excellent work. I ♡ the design. I save everything you send me & come back to review at intervals.Thanx for all you do./ jm
How do you get that clean, almost white finish to your designs? I’ve tried multiple different pressure settings, and it is still a very faded look. Once you fill it with a liquid, it doesn’t really show up. Thoughts?
@ John Grimes, this goes back to the idea I was discussing with courser grit shown here https://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/sandblasting-glass-fine-vs-course-abrasive/ . However, the edges look rougher with this course of a grit so maybe something about 120 grit would be best.
In addition to a courser grit, a deep etch should show up whiter. I don’t fill most of my work with liquid or sealers also.
What grit do you using?
@ Eric,
I guess I missed that post. I’m using 180 grit currently, and feel like I get a deep etch. I just wish it stood out more. Maybe coarser is the way to go. When I said ‘fill it with liquid,’ I meant when I fill the inside of the drinking glass. It seems to kind of fade away. In the book you sell, you mention a technique that you use with acid etching. Do you like using that with blasting as well?
@John, it’s just another technique that folks can experiment with. It won’t necessarily make it stand out more.
I don’t use it much but is an interesting idea to give different shadows and contrasts like that of shade blasting.