Tis the season!

Well not really...

However I have gotten started on a number of projects that I will be giving as Christmas gifts for this year. I have been trying to simplify my gifts over the last few years and doing the same thing for certain groups of people or couples, last year I did tree ornaments that went over amazingly, so this year I wanted to step it up and do something different but useful. 

I maybe a little ambitious with this but I want to do a "set" for some couples and for some special people. For example I am making a set for my Step Father which will include 4 etched Pint glasses and 4 cork coasters, they will be decorated with a motorcycle theme as he loves motorcycles! So to get started I wanted to try out the coasters. 

Here is how I did them! 

I found a silhouette of a motorcycle that I liked on Google images. 

I printed it out to the size that I need to fit the coaster.

Then I cut it down so that the picture was manageable then I used a pencil to cover the back of the picture completely so when I traced the front of it, it would transfer on to the painters tape I was using as my stencil so that I could cut it out with a utility knife.

I placed it on the cork coaster which I picked up at the dollar store, and I used a stencil brush and a stamp pad that wont run or stain to get the image on the coaster...  

I did 6 of them (which will make two gifts, 4 for my Step Father and 2 for his good friend) and only used one stencil but I would recommend using more than one as the ink started to bleed under the stencil and when I do the etching I will likely make one for each glass...

I will be putting a clear coat over them just to be sure that they wont run or stain a glass if laid on it while wet. I'm not sure which clear coat to use so if you have any advise on which one is best to use leave it in the comments I could defiantly use the advice!