Key Lime Pie by Kathie Camara

 I found this glass container at a local thrift store. It was filled with small green limes, so I thought it might look good with an etched and painted citrus design. As I did last month, I was going to look for an SVG file for my Silhouette cutting machine, but thought, many of you might not have a cutting machine. So, I decided to cut a stencil the old fashioned way, with an Xacto knife.   I Googled free lime images, found a pretty nice one, and downloaded it into my computer and inserted it into a Word document. The small slice of lime was also downloaded, as I thought it might look nice on the base of the glass container.

I printed out both of the design in black & white and taped the onto a piece of Self Adhesive Vinyl Sheet, available on the Etchall site. (I used a glue stick). Starting out with scissors, and finishing with an Xacto knife, I cut around the entire design, weeded out the inside of the design, applied the transfer tape to the vinyl design, and then applied the vinyl design to the thoroughly clean and dry glass. As I always do, I made sure the transfer was securely attached and then I added some extra blue painters tape around the design in case I got the Etchall Cream where I did not want it. 

I made sure that the round glass would not roll from its laying down position, then applied the Etchall etching cream and set my timer for 15 minutes.  

After 15 minutes I used the black plastic squeegee to scrape off the etching cream and put it back in the jar.  (YES, you can reuse this cream over and over, Even if the color has turned from white to Chocolate!)   Then, I removed the outer stencil and wiped the glass off with an unscented baby wipe, polished it with a paper towel and washed any remaining Etchall cream off the surface.   

The Etchall Cream took the glaze off of the glass and gave it some ‘tooth’ for me to apply color. Before I started painting, I taped the black & white design to the inside of the glass so I could outline it onto the etched area.  I outlined the entire design onto the glass using a Sakura Identipen. 

 I again used Google to look for photos of limes, just to have a colored image to follow so I could paint.  The DecoArt Glass Enamels made it easy to add color to the design.  I used 3 or 4 different shades of green and some white, yellow, and brown.  A round brush, a styrofoam plate and a water basin to rinse the brush are the only other supplies needed.    

The DecoArt Glass Paint can be baked in the oven OR just set aside for a couple of days to dry completely hard. I did not bake the paint.  I set it aside and let it cure on its own. I love this paint, as it is so creamy and the colors are so bright.

Since I love making (and eating) Key Lime Pies, I decided to give you a special Do It Yourself this month.  Friends of mine had a key lime tree and would give bags of the little limes to the neighbors.  I had no idea what to do with them.  This recipe was given to me as a very quick and easy way to use the overabundance of key limes that ripen all at the same time.  

This Pie is very easy, and you can use Lime Juice from the Grocery Store if you don’t have fresh limes. And if your don’t have Egg Beaters, substitute with 1 large egg beaten.   ENJOY.

Remember to always use Etchall etching cream in your projects. It was voted the BEST by crafters. 

You can click below to order from the Etchall site and I will get a small stipend that will help me to keep giving you these free tutorials. Thanks.

I hope you enjoy this project. Always remember to “Have A Colorful Day”

Kathie Camara, 

Etchall Designer & Fused Glass Artist