Every year, I struggle with ideas for presents to give to my mom. I like to give nice, homemade presents, but spring tends to be a bit chaotic for intricate DIY projects. These Etched Glasses are a simple, easy craft that mom will love, and it only takes about 10 minutes to make, total! This method uses a caustic solution (I like the Armour Etch brand, $15 at most craft or home improvement stores) to make a permanent, dishwasher safe etching in glass that won’t rub off or fade over time. Before we get started, I want to mention that clean glass is key. I like to use rubbing alcohol to be sure any dust or oil from my hands is off the glass, and the surface is extra clean. With your clean wine glasses and your etching solution, it’s time for the fun part: Designing the shape you want to etch. There are a few different methods you can use to get a great, easy design- and all of them work fabulously. For the artist: If you are good with a paintbrush, you can paint on some Armour Etch in the shape you’d like added to your glass.

Be sure to thoroughly clean (or throw out) your brush after using etching cream, as it is caustic. The easy route: Pre-made, adhesive glass stencils are available. There are a few brands that make these flexible stencils and all you need to do is place it on a wine glass and go! These stencils usually have pretty designs, letters, or phrases and are incredibly easy to use over and over again. I personally love the Martha Stewart brand because they are sturdy and come in great designs. If you’re a non-conformist and want to use a flexible stencil that isn’t specifically made for glass, buy stencil adhesive and seal the area to eliminate leaking. If you’re a DIYer: Create your own stencil! One option is to freehand or print a design onto a sheet of washi tape, duct tape, or vinyl and cut it with an Exacto knife. Most craft stores and even big box stores now carry printable tapes that come in paper-sized sheets. And if you’re lucky enough to own a home die-cut machine, like a Cricut or a Silhouette, you can do what I did, and use it to to all the hard work.

I just uploaded the words “mom” and “pinot” that I wrote out in word, and sized them to 4″ in cricut craft room, pressed cut, and it made a vinyl stencil for me! Then just remove the vinyl outline and adhere to glass. When positioning your stencil, you might have some lumps, but as long as it is flat and sealed where you’ll be adding the etching cream, you don’t need to worry. After positioning your stencil, put on a pair of dishwashing gloves and dab a thick amount of etching cream on the glass. best rose wines 2015 ukTake care not to spill the solution over your stencil’s area.best place to buy wine in san diego Let the etching cream sit for 5-10 minutes (I personally like to wait 10 minutes for a darker etch- but 5 is sufficient).best seafood restaurant wine list

After the 10 minutes, remove the stencil and wash the glass in warm water, rubbing the etching cream off. Have your gloves on while you wash off the etching cream to prevent contact with your skin just like when applying the cream. Wash with dish soap to be sure all etching cream is off, and then your gift is ready! I’m also sharing some easy and delicious goat cheese tarts that make perfect Mothers Day brunch snacks or hors d’oeuvres that look as great as they taste!the best homemade wine recipe Be sure to head to Sweet C’s Designs for the recipe, as well as other delicious Mothers Day wine brunch ideas!beer and wine fest DIY Personalized Painted Wine and Drinking Glassesbest type of wine to go with turkey Hand-painted glasses make neat personalized gifts for your friends and family, but you don't have to buy them.

Here's how to DIY painted wine and drinking glasses on the cheap! Whether you want to show support for your favorite sports team or cartoon character, announce to the world that you are finally of age or just need a fun gift for a new mom, expression glasses are a popular way to do it. Jessenia Richard of JMR Family Designs showed us how. She buys inexpensive wine glasses, drinking glasses and vases at the dollar store, and with just a few dollars for glass paint and some time and energy, you can create amazing personalized expression glasses at home. Jessenia got so good at it that she started her own business personalizing glasses. She shared her expert tips with us. What kind of paint works on glass? Jessenia recommends you get the paint that has the wine glass on because it's specially made for glass. Here's what you'll need: Wine and/or drinking glasses or vases Paint brushes of various sizes Paint for glass surfaces 1. If you don't want to free hand, use stickers, stencils or a printed design and tape it to the inside of the glass where it won't move or on the outside if you're using stencils.

2. Clean the glass with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any dirt or smudges. 3. Pick out the colors of paint you need for your design and start painting! 4. Once you're done, it's time to bake. Put you glass on a baking sheet and put it in a cold oven. Then heat it to 350 degrees and keep it in there for 30 minutes. This will ensure the glass and paint are dishwasher safe. Here are some more tips from Jessinia on how to get the perfect personalized design: Try little brush strokes; especially if you're doing small designs.wait until the first coat dries before going over it with the second. This will ensure your paint doesn't come off. It takes about 8-10 minutes to dry if it's a small design and about 30 minutes to dry for a larger design. Glass is very forgiving. If you don't like your design, use rubbing alcohol to wipe it off! The brush definitely matters. Make sure you get one small enough for the project you're going to do. Avoid detailed projects for your first attempt.