- Hello, everybody. Jennifer Maker here. It's a beautiful day to
learn how to color engraving. I've done several engraving
projects over the years and I love how they turn out, so I thought why not add some color to
make them even more beautiful? But there are so many
choices when it comes to adding colors as it turns out. There's lots of different
paints and inks that we can use. There's Rub 'n Buff, which is one of my favorites as you know,
but which one works the best? That's the question. Well, you know, I love to
experiment when it comes to crafting, so that's exactly what I did and today I'm going to share my findings with you so you can use them too. So let's head over to the craft
table and we'll get started. (lively music) When it comes to crafting, I really like to test things out. Today I'm testing
different ways to add color to acrylic and metal plaques. I engrave my designs with
both a Cricut cutting machine and a Glowforge laser cutter. And then I tested all different
kinds of ways to add color. Just look at all the
choices that we have here. Some of these really
made the projects pop, while others were a big old flop. But before I share my favorites, let's take a look at everything
I used for this project. Now, like I mentioned,
I engrave my designs on both metal and acrylic. To make sure the color would
hold on the Cricut engravings, I added hatch fills with
a Cricut engraving tool. I will explain more
about that in just a bit. You'll also need a purple
StrongGrip machine mat for this project if you're
doing the Cricut version. And then I tested out
all these different types of color options. We've got enamel paint,
acrylic ink, Rub 'n Buff. I also used metallic wax, paint pens, even some dry erase markers. I used paintbrushes, painter's tape and some soft cloths to add the colors along with these other materials and supplies to help with cleanup. Before we get started,
I did want to mention that due to the hatch fill and the size of the finished designs, each of the files will take a little over an hour to engrave on the Cricut. So make sure that you're prepared by ensuring you have a
good internet connection and that you turn off any auto sleep or screensaver functions on your computer 'cause these functions will
stop the engraving process and then you'll need to
start all over again, which is a big bummer. It's also a good idea to
connect your machine directly to your computer with USB rather than use a Bluetooth connection. If you're using a Glowforge
to engrave acrylic or anodized aluminum, it's just about 30
minutes for these designs so it still takes a while. So either way, be prepared
to spend some time engraving. So let me show you where to
find our free practice designs and then we will engrave
and color them in together. Step one, get my free engraving files. Go to jennifermaker.com/453 and look for Libraries in
the red bar at the top. Then either click Get a Password if you don't yet have one
or click Enter the Library. You can find the designs by searching for number 453 and then click
it to download a ZIP file. You can trace the PDFs or use the DXF or SVGs
with a cutting machine. I'll show you how to use the SVGs with a Cricut cutting machine. Then add the color by hand. I have three different designs
for you to choose from: Home Sweet Home, All You Need Is Love and
Coffee, and Love Grows Here. Upload the one you want to Cricut Design Space
and add it to your canvas. If you're not sure how to do this, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs
to learn how to unzip and upload vials. I'll show you how to prepare
the coffee design, my favorite. You can use the same steps to
create the whole collection or color in the engraving on
something entirely different. Step two, prepare your engraving design. Here's how the design looks on my canvas. If you zoom in really close, it looks like there is a tiny
diamond pattern inside parts of the design and letters. Sort of like an argyle design without the extra lines. We're going to transform those into something really
important in just a moment. If you zoom back out, you'll
also see there's a rectangle around the design. That will help us position everything on the map for the best result. It will engrave a light line on your machine mat, but it won't hurt. If you'd prefer, you can delete this layer and just take more time
to align the design. I'm going to keep it. If you're using the same acrylic blanks as I am, it's almost ready to go. My design is six by eight inches, which fits nicely on the
five by seven inch blank. With the design selected, click Operation and select Engrave. Here's that transformation
I just mentioned. If you zoom back in on the design, you'll see that the
diamond pattern changed into lots of crisscrossed diagonal lines. This is called hatch fill
and the Cricut will engrave along the lines to make sure
the whole design stands out, not just engrave the outline so those parts will look filled in. The overlapping lines will
be easy to add color to. If you'd like to learn
more about hatch fill, check out my tutorial called
How to Put Handwriting into a Cricut Project over on my blog at
jennifermaker.com/handwriting-to-cricut-projects. I walk you through the
process step by step. Next, click Attach at the bottom of the layers panel, and
that's all on the canvas. Make sure you have the
right machine selected and click Make It. On the prepare screen, center the image on the mat,
just click and hold your mouse and use the rectangle
outline to help align it with the grid. You want two squares or inches
above and below the outline and three squares or
inches to either side. The outline is a bit larger than the blank so don't worry, the
edges won't get engraved. Then click continue. On the make screen, we'll
select our material. You will notice that most, if not all of the
favorites are grayed out. That's because none of them
are compatible with engraving. For the metal plaque, click Browse All Materials
and search for aluminum. You specifically want anodized aluminum. For the others, search for acrylic and select thick acrylic, two millimeter. Then click done. Either way, change the pressure to more to get a deeper engraving, which is better for coloring. You will see the engraved tool listed under Tools with instructions
to place it in clamp B. I'm using an acrylic blank
for the coffee design but the steps are mostly
the same for the metal. Make sure your plaque is no more than two millimeters or
1/16 of an inch thick or it might not fit under your
cutting machine's rollers. Next, use the weeding tool or your fingers to take off the plastic
covering on one side of the acrylic plaque. Then to make sure your
acrylic plaque is ready for engraving, put it on a
purple StrongGrip machine mat and get painters tape to
stick around the edges of the acrylic plaque to ensure
the plaque is secured well to the mat. Put your engraving tool in clamp B and move the star wheels
all the way to the right. Load your prepared mat and hit the flashing button
to begin the engraving. Now, these big designs can
take over an hour to engrave. Remember, don't let your computer go to sleep during the engraving process. You'll want to check it often
in case any issues arise. If you look back at your design space screen
when the engraving begins, you'll see this pop up. Don't worry, that's supposed to be there. It's just letting you know that
when the engraved tool lifts and spins that it is doing
what it's supposed to do. When it's done, unload the
machine mat and admire your work. Isn't that just so cool? Now use a soft cloth
to brush off the debris and the machine tool. To remove the plaque from the mat, first, peel off the tape. Remove the acrylic plaque
from the machine mat. Take off the back protective
film if it's there, and then brush off any more debris. You'll also want to
clean the engraving tool after each design. Here's what all three designs look like. They really are so pretty just like this but let's make them even more spectacular. Step three, color your engraved design. Now for the fun part, the coloring. I'll show you the methods one by one. Keep your work surface
covered with butcher paper and wear some gloves to
keep your hands clean. (twinkling music)
(screen whooshing) Rub 'n Buff works the same
way on acrylic and metal. You'll need a dry cloth
that you can get messy, rubbing alcohol and painter's tape. I'll use Ebony, which
is black, and Gold Leaf. Let's start with the black. Use the tape to cover any
areas you want to make gold. Squeeze the open tube
and apply a tiny amount of Rub 'n Buff onto a
spot that will be black. A little goes a long way. Small areas work best,
like a letter or two. Buff it into the engraved
areas with the cloth. Paper towels get torn up
by the engraving lines. It's really not fun. Ask me how I know. (Jennifer chuckling) When you finish a section wipe the excess off the plain surface. The wax dries quickly, so you
may need to dampen the cloth with water or rubbing alcohol to help. Keep going through the small sections until the first color is done. If any spot should be darker, add another layer before moving on. Now for the gold. Remove the tape and clean off
any wax that snuck underneath. Let the black dry for a few minutes. Then put tape on the finished
area so they don't mix. Apply the gold Rub 'n Buff
to the rest of your design. Remember, just a few letters at a time. Now remove the tape, wipe
off any remaining Rub 'n Buff from the plain surface and let it dry. Here's how my finished gold
and black plaque looks. Isn't it just so pretty? Rub 'n Buff is permanent so
you don't need to seal it. I also tried this on a piece of acrylic that I engraved
on my Glowforge laser cutter and here's how they look side by side. The Cricut engraved plaque is on the left and the Glowforge engraved
plaque is on the right. (twinkling music)
(screen whooshing) Now let's try enamel paints. I'll use the red, green and black paints on my Home Sweet Home
engraved acrylic plaque. The process works on metal too. You'll need the same supplies as the Rub 'n Buff, plus a paintbrush for each color and the paint thinner that comes in the kit I linked. Open a window to help
with the paint's odor. Again, cover the engraved areas that won't be the first
color with the tape. Shake your first paint
bottle to mix it well. I'll start with green. Open the paint and make
sure it isn't separated. Mixing with the brush can help a lot. Apply a dab of paint to a
small section of your design. Don't worry about
painting within the lines because we'll wipe away
any excess with our cloth. If the paint starts to
dry or is hard to remove, dampening your cloth with
rubbing alcohol will help. Don't get too much alcohol
into the engraved areas though. It can lighten the
color if it's still wet. Plain water won't work on these paints. You can go back to add a second coat if anything is too light. When the first color is done, take off the tape and
remove any paint underneath. Let it all dry for a few minutes. Then cover the colored areas as well as any clear spots that you're
saving for the third color. Set your used paint brush aside and grab the next one for the red paint. Add the next color using the
same steps one at a time. Let it dry. Remove the tape. Remember to protect the
already colored areas and then add the black. Here's the finished plaque. The enamel paints are permanent
once they dry overnight so you don't need a sealer. I also tried this on a piece of acrylic that I
engraved on my Glowforge, and here's how they look side by side. The Cricut engraved plaque is on the left and the Glowforge engraved
plaque is on the right. Cleanup is very important
with enamel paints. Water doesn't work. You need to use paint thinner. Just pour a bit into a disposable cup and swish the brush until it's clean. (twinkling music)
(screen whooshing) Now let's try the acrylic inks. If you want to blend colors
for a watercolor effect, these are the way to go. I'll use the red, blue and yellow inks to make a rainbow look on an aluminum plaque with
my Love Grows Here engraving. The process works on acrylic too. You'll need the same basic
supplies plus a paintbrush for each color, a cup of
water and paper towels. The alcohol inks aren't permanent so we'll seal them with
a clear lacquer spray. To blend colors, you'll
need the two ink colors before moving anything around. I'll have red on the left, yellow in the middle,
and blue on the right. I'll blend to make some orange
and green in the right spots. Starting with the lightest
color is a good idea. Shake the yellow bottle well. Open it and use the
dropper to add a few dots in the middle engraved areas. The ink spreads easily so add just a few drops to start. You can always add more
ink later to make it darker or more vibrant. And now a few drops of red in the left with some
blank space in between. Grab a brush for your yellow and spread it to cover the areas
you want to be just yellow. Don't get it too close to the
red yet, but spread the ink so it covers every nook and
cranny of the engraved areas. Don't worry about staying inside the lines because you can easily
wipe off the excess later. Isn't this fun? To make orange, carefully
spread some of the yellow ink into the areas right
next to the drop of red. The ink colors will naturally
want to mix together when they touch. If you want a lighter orange, add another drop or two of yellow. For a darker, add a drop or two of red. Once all the yellow, orange,
and red areas are covered, use a paper towel to
gently blot up any pools of excess ink, starting with the yellow. Then move on to the orange
and finally, the red. If you pick up a lot of
ink, use a clean paper towel to avoid really changing the next color. After I finished the
left half of my rainbow, I started with a fresh
brush for the other side. First, add a few more drops
of yellow to the center and then blue to the right. Spread and blend the inks like you did on the left
half of your design. Feel free to add a few more drops of one color or another to
get just the right shades. Once you're happy with your colors, use a paper towel to
blot up any excess pools of ink and let the plaque
sit for five to 10 minutes. Letting them dry a bit helps
the ink stick in the engraving. Use a damp cloth to
wipe the smooth surfaces and remove ink around the designs. Don't buff the design but you can gently wipe
over the engraved areas if there's a lot of ink. Press harder in the smooth
areas to remove the ink. If you use too much
pressure and remove some of the ink from an engraved
area, you can just add more ink, let it sit and then wipe
away the excess again. It's very forgiving. Once everything looks good,
let it sit for 24 hours to dry. And just like before, I also tried this on a piece of acrylic that
I engraved on my Glowforge and here's how they look side by side. The Cricut engraved plaque is on the left and the Glowforge engraved
plaque is on the right. I just love all the color
possibilities there are with these paints and these inks. Now, the fun thing about adding color to these engravings with this technique is that every plaque will
look a little bit different, as you can see, making each
one its own unique work of art. It's really cool. Some of the other coloring
methods that I tested were dry erase markers,
metallic oil-based paint pens and India Ink. The dry erase markers and India Ink were very easy to wipe away so not as permanent as I would have liked. The paint pens, on the other
hand, were more permanent but harder to use because the excess was very
difficult to wipe away. So I picked my three favorites because they were the easiest to use, lasted the longest and came
in a wide range of colors. So please let me know if you experiment with any other coloring methods
and find any that you like. Now, during my test, I found that plain anodized
aluminum plaques worked better with my coloring methods than ones with shiny or painted coatings. You can, of course, experiment
with different types of metal to see what works best for you. Now, you can display your
finished plaque on a table, shelf or counter, perhaps right
next to your coffee maker. That would be really cool if you make the Love and Coffee design, and you can use stands like
these wooden ones that I have. They came with the acrylic
plaques in my materials list. You can also use some adhesive or mounting strips to hang your
plaque on a wall or a door. Get creative and have fun. Now, if you have any questions about how to color engrave designs made either with a Cricut or
a Glowforge, let me know. Leave your question below this video or ask over at our Cricut Crafters group at jennifermaker.com/cricutcrafters. I hope this helps you color
lots and lots of fun designs. And that's it for today. Until tomorrow, this is
Jennifer Maker reminding you to craft a life you love. (lively music)
