12 Days of Holiday Crafts, Day 3: Etched Snowflake Glassware

This might be my favorite new project: it is super easy and only looks expensive! Etching a simple snowflake design onto glasses or stemware (found at thrift stores!) will give them a whole new life.

You will need:
clean, dry glasses or stemware
self-adhesive contact paper
a pen
a hole-punch
scissors
a dry foam brush
glass etching cream.

1. Mark six dots on the contact paper in the general shape of the snowflake and punch the holes (they do not need to be perfectly even, the glasses will look better if each snowflake is different). Then cut thin lines between opposite holes to create the intersecting lines.
2. Make sure the glasses are clean and dry, then remove the paper backing from the contact paper and place the snowflakes on the glass. Three snowflakes per glass tend to look best, placed ½” to 1” from the top, rather than in the middle.
   
3. Make sure there are no bubbles in the contact paper and all edges and securely adhered. Apply pressure to the edges of the design a few times to ensure a good seal; otherwise your design won’t be crisp when you pull off the paper.
4. Following the glass etching cream instructions, apply the cream with a clean, dry sponge brush and let sit (usually for 5-7 minutes). Be careful not to get the cream on areas you don’t want etched.
5. Rinse off etching cream with warm water, peel off the contact paper, and you’re done!

A pair of etched glasses or a simple etched vase would make a great holiday hostess gift!