Whip up a cozy DIY Hot Cocoa Mix Gift Set for everyone on your holiday gift list!
When it comes to holiday gifts for friends, neighbors, and co-workers, I love creating something handmade. This year, I am putting together a cozy Hot Cocoa Mix Set complete with customized mugs and a matching canister to hold handmade cocoa mix! The glass mugs and canister have been etched using a custom stencil I made with my Ikonart kit. The stencils are reusable, so it makes it easier than ever to create multiple sets for everyone on my list. And because it's the season for giving, I'm also sharing the design here along with the tutorial so that you can make some hot cocoa mix gift sets for yourself!
New to making reusable stencils? Here's how to Get Started with Ikonart!
To make your own DIY Hot Cocoa Mix Gift Set, you will need these supplies:
- Hot Cocoa Mix Design (for personal use only)
- Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit
- Glass Storage Jar
- Glass Mugs
- Cup Cradle
- Squeegee
- Etchall Etching Créme
- Rub 'n Buff Wax (optional)
*Save 15% on Ikonart supplies when you shop with code AFM15
Printables and cut files from Artsy-Fartsy Mama are for personal use only. You may use these files for personal projects, but you may not sell them. If you'd like to share this project digitally, share a link to this post/website only. Do not share a direct link to the file.
To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Download the Hot Cocoa Mix design (for personal use only) and print the design as dark as possible on either inkjet or laser Ikonart Printer Film.
The next step in the process is exposing the stencil film. Set up the exposure stand with UV LED Light by following the directions included in the kit. Ikonart Stencil Film is light sensitive, so be careful to keep it out of sunlight and bright lights before exposure. Cut a piece of the film the slightly larger than the design print.
Lay the piece of film down on the base of the stand with the textured side facing up. Place the printed design on top of the stencil film, making sure it's right-side up - meaning that you should be able to read the words printed on the design.
Lastly, place the clear exposure sheet (found in the stencil film pack) on top and press it down well to seal the design tight against the stencil film. Turn the exposure light on and expose the film for 35 seconds.
The next step in the stencil-making process is to washout, or rinse the stencil. Clip the exposed stencil film to the Ikonart clipboard with the shiny side (carrier sheet) touching the clipboard. Use a sprayer to rinse the stencil film with warm water until the design shows through and becomes completely clear. The washout process shouldn't take more than 3 minutes.
Gently blot the excess water from the stencil, and hang or lay the stencil flat to dry for about 45 minutes. When the stencil is dry, you shouldn't see any water spots or discoloration. Once the stencil is completely dried, place the it back on the exposure stand and expose it again for at least 2 minutes without the clear cover sheet. This extra exposure time will increase the durability of the stencil so you can get as much use out of it as possible.
Clean the outside of the glass mug well with alcohol and a lint-free cloth or a coffee filter to remove any debris or residue from the glass. To keep your mug from rolling around while you work, I would recommend centering it on a cup cradle. You will also need to have all of your supplies nearby.
Peel the carrier sheet away from the "Cup of Cheer" stencil and set it aside. Center the stencil on the front of the mug, and press it down well to remove any air bubbles.
Before applying the etching creme, I highly recommend testing the glass first. There are some types of glass that cannot be etched. To do this, add a small drop of etching creme to the bottom of the glass mug and canister and leave it for 15 minutes. Wash the creme away. If the glass has an etched spot left behind, you are good to go. If there's no etching, you will need to find a different mug and/or canister. I found these specific mugs and canister at Hobby Lobby, and they worked perfectly.
Use a craft stick to apply a thin and even layer of Etchall Etching Creme over the entire stencil. Make sure to not go outside the edges of the stencil.
Once the stencil has been completely covered, add a thicker layer of etching cream to the stencil openings. Leave the Etchall creme on the stencil to do its work for 15 minutes.
Once the etching time is up, scrape the Etchall off of the stencil and put it back into the bottle. That's right, Etchall is reusable!! You can make SO many projects with just one bottle of Etchall.
Carefully peel the stencil away from the mug to reveal the etched design. As you peel the stencil, look closely to see if any parts of the design weren't etched. If you do, you can carefully lay the stencil back down and etch over those spaces again. If the design is fully etched, peel the rest of the stencil away. Gently wipe the glass with a paper towel to remove any excess creme, and then rinse the mug under hot water to clean the glass. Wash the stencil well following the instructions below.
Washing Stencils:
For best results, wash stencils immediately after use. To wash your stencil so that it can be used again and again, first get the clipboard wet so your stencil doesn't stick to it. Place the stencil on the clipboard with the textured side up, and lightly rub the stencil under cold running water to remove all the paint.
Do not rub or scrub the adhesive side of the stencil, and NEVER use anything other than water to wash the stencils. To prevent the stencil from breaking down, don't ever leave the stencils to soak.
Remove the stencil from the clipboard and lay it down with the adhesive side up. While the stencil is still wet, place the carrier sheet onto the stencil so that the word “BACK” is readable. Hang or lay the stencil flat to dry completely.
Repeat the etching process for the glass canister and other mug (once the washed stencil has dried). Again, make sure to test the etching on the canister first!
Since I'm gifting these items as a set, I want the etching to really stand out! Rub 'n Buff Wax is a fun way to add color to your etched items, and is so easy to use. The color will not be permanent, but it will withstand some light handwashing.
Use a paper towel or small cloth and rub a small drop of the wax into the etched areas. Once covered, use a clean part of the cloth to buff away the excess wax and clean the glass.
Here you can see the comparison between the colored and regular etched mugs. For regular use, you don't necessarily need the wax coloring. However it really does make the etching pop, which I think is great for gift-giving.
Hot Cocoa Mix
Prep Time: 5 minServes: 8
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cup powdered milk
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, powdered sugar, powdered milk, cornstarch, and salt.
- Store hot cocoa mix in an airtight container for up to one year.
Serving Directions:
- Add ¼ of a cup of cocoa mix into a heat-safe mug (add more to taste).
- Pour hot liquid (water or milk) over the cocoa mix and stir until dissolved.
- Top cocoa with toppings, like mini marshmallows, and enjoy!
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