Etched State Art Tutorial & GIVEAWAY!

Hello everyone visiting from Sew Caroline! I’m Brittany. I started my blog as a means of keeping in touch with friends and family back home after I moved 1,409 miles away from my home state. Now I blog about DIY projects, my thrifty finds, décor, organization ideas, and the occasional recipe.

I’ve shared my love of maps and travel-related décor many a time here on my blog, so I thought it’d be fitting to feature a project along those lines in this post. So without further adieu, let me present my etched state print, with the how-to below & giveaway info below!

Isn’t it lovely? And it’s pretty easy to create! Here’s what you’ll need:

• One frame (any size, but I recommend 5x7 or 8x10 for one state and 8x12 or 11 x 14 for two). I like to buy good quality frames at thrift stores; even if they’re a little ugly, a bit of spray paint freshens them right up, and they’re cheaper than buying new ones!
• Digital craft cutting machine (like a Silhouette or Cricut) & vinyl OR a printout of your state of choice, clear contact paper, & an exacto knife
• Etching cream (I use Armour Etch from Michael’s—it costs $12 for 10 oz but you’ll have plenty left over after this project!)
• A foam brush
• Decorative scrapbook paper or fabric (Note: originally I wanted to use a fun fabric to back my etched state, but then the etching didn’t show up! So instead I replaced it with a solid colored scrapbook paper. So, I suggest sticking with a solid paper or fabric.)
• Your cat. (JK, not required, but my cat kept photobombing this shot.)

Start by selecting what state you want to etch. I chose Missouri because it’s my home state and I have a lot of MO pride!

If you’re lucky enough to own a digital cutting machine like the Silhouette or Cricut, at this point you should buy the silhouette of your chosen state to use with your machine. If you don’t have one of those nifty devices, don’t fret—you can still do this by hand! You’ll just need to find a silhouette of your state online. A simple Google Images search will do.

Those of you with the magical machines can now use them to cut your state silhouette onto your vinyl. Use clear or another color that you don’t mind etching over. Make sure you size your state properly so that it fits in the frame with plenty of background glass still around it. (I made mine around 5x7 for my 8x10 frame).

Those of you doing this by hand should copy and paste your state silhouette into Word, size it accordingly, print it out, and, using your exacto knife (or scissors if you’re a good cutter or your state doesn’t have many intricate details), cut out the outline of your state. Now cut a piece of contact paper large enough to fit the state. Take your paper template of the state and trace it onto the contact paper. Cut it out, and you’re done making your vinyl for etching!

Now’s the easy part. Remove the glass from your picture frame, and wash and dry it. Make sure it’s very dry.

Next take the vinyl state you created with your cutting machine or your contact paper and remove the sticky backing. Place it where you want on the frame (I’m a front and center kind of girl, but maybe you want it to be a little asymmetrical?) Press down the edges of the vinyl very firmly—you don’t want any of the etching cream to leak under the state.

Once you’ve firmly placed the vinyl, grab your etching cream and brush it evenly over the frame’s glass.

Wait 15 minutes or as directed according to your etching cream or spray. You want the cream to set enough that you won’t smudge it when pulling up your vinyl. After the allotted time has passed, remove the vinyl and admire the prettiness!

Let your glass set overnight. Then the next day, grab your pretty paper or fabric, measure the glass, and cut the paper or fabric to size. Pop in the glass with the etching cream face up, then place the paper or fabric, then top it off with the back of the frame! Voila! You can now rep your state in a pretty way!

Do you like it? Enough to make one of your own? Well I’m giving you the chance to do just that! That’s right, you have the chance to win your own state (or country) silhouette vinyl so that you can create your own etched print! Note: just the vinyl—you’ll have to grab your own frame & etching cream :)

To enter, visit Caroline HERE and follow the instructions!

And if you're not visiting from Sew Caroline, I encourage you to check her out!

First of all, she and her husband are adorable. She sews adorable things (and just started up an awesome pattern review series!):

She shares delicious recipes:

She DIYs:

And wears the cutest outfits!

And if you are visiting from there, welcome! Here are a few of my favorite projects that you might like to check out :)

I hope you'll stay a while!