Today it was 117 degrees here in Phoenix. Any little bit helps when it comes to trying to keep cool. Even sipping from frosty, etched glasses like this. A little bit of painter's tape, stickers and a jar of Armour Etch and you are set to go!

These days, there are so many art supplies and idea books, anyone can dive into the world of design. I'm here to show you how. I've always embraced the "Why buy it when you can make it?" mind-set and I'm not alone. According to the Craft and Hobby Association, one out of every four people has tried a do-it-yourself project in the past year. That's a lot of craftiness.

That's why I'm excited to bring this column back to The Republic's Home section, where it launched in 1999. I have yet to run out of ideas (my family can vouch for that) and I'm excited to share them with you. In the coming months, we'll dive into everything from furniture overhauls to red carpet-ready jewelry, paper arts and everything else the artsy universe has to offer.

First up: an easy recipe for frosty designer glassware. You can score a set of glasses at the discount department store for less than $5 and make them your own using one jar of etching cream. For a bohemian look, visit a swap meet or thrift center, buy assorted vintage glasses and use one stenciled theme to tie them all together. If you want a classier look, visit a high-end housewares store and peek at their offerings for inspiration. This project also works great as a wedding, shower or housewarming gift because you can design a set to fit the person.
Custom Frosty Glassware
Supplies
• Assorted drinking glasses
• Blue painter's tape
• 1 package of round labels (office-supply section)
• 1 pair of plastic gloves
• 1 small brush
• 1 jar of etching cream (found at the craft store)
• Chopstick or toothpick
• E6000 extra strength adhesive
• 1 bag of 6mm crystals

Directions: Wash and dry the glasses. Start with one glass. Apply a band of blue painter's tape around the rim. Add labels randomly around the outer surface of the glass. Press all the edges down firmly, which will prevent the etching cream from seeping under the label. Wearing the gloves, use the brush to apply a thick layer of the etching cream in vertical strokes all around the glass. Let sit for 10 minutes, rinse and remove the labels. Dry the glass. Apply a new set of labels in the same spots. This time, apply the cream horizontally around the glass. Let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse and remove labels. If there are any "bald" spots of the cream, repeat the process and apply cream vertically. The glass should look evenly etched with clean polka dots. For the finishing touch, dab the end of a chopstick or toothpick in the adhesive and make a small dot on the glass. Pick up a crystal and set it on the adhesive. Continue as desired all over the glass. These glasses will even hold up in the dishwasher.

Variations and tips: Use painter's tapes in different widths to create the look of stripes. Put words on your glasses by printing them in large fonts on sticker paper, cutting the letters out with a craft knife and using the remaining paper as a stencil for the cream. Aside from drinking glasses, you also can etch mirrors, pitchers, vases, salt and pepper shakers or other glass objects. For more color accents, use porcelain paint or colored crystals.
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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: home decor, summer/4th of July