
We’ve all been there: chilling with friends in a backyard, knocking back drinks on a bright, sunny day. You swear you only put your beverage down for a few seconds, but suddenly you have no idea which cup is yours! Well you can bid those days of hazy confusion farewell. With this DIY Engraved Julep Cup Kit, you’ll never accidentally share drinks with your ex-boyfriend (ugh, who invited him anyway?). We’ll show you how to use an engraving pen to add a custom touch to this cocktail set which contains all of the tools needed to make a mint julep — or any cocktail for that matter.
Customize your julep cups by engraving your nickname right onto it. It’s the perfect gift for a summer wedding, a Derby Day party or a Kentucky Derby-themed wedding!
Never second guessing which cup is mine again? I’ll drink to that!
Materials (included in our kit!):
— engraving pen
— muddler
— julep cups
— jigger
Materials (not included in our kit):
— permanent marker
— nail polish remover
Get your materials together (or get the kit HERE), and let’s get started!
Instructions:
1. Draw your design directly onto the cup using permanent marker.
2. Use the engraving pen to trace your entire design, then go back and fill in the details.
3. When you’re finished, wipe off any remaining permanent marker with nail polish remover.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with the muddler and jigger. Be careful when removing marker from the muddler — pressing too hard will strip the finish off the wood.
Draw out your design using the permanent marker. Don’t worry about messing up — you can easily wipe off any mistakes with the nail polish remover and some paper towels.
Hold the engraving pen the way you would a pencil. Pushing the button will activate the vibrating tip, which will engrave a wide range of material by scraping the surface. Start engraving by tracing your design. This will create a foundation for you to go back and add onto.
You’ll be able to check the design against the permanent marker.
When you’re happy with the outcome, you can remove the marker using nail polish remover and a paper towel.
You may need to go over the marker with nail polish remover a few times to completely wipe it off of the surface of the cup.
That’s all it takes to add a custom engraved design to anything!
Repeat the same steps with the muddler. Be careful not to apply too much pressure while removing the permanent marker from the muddler. You might strip the finish off.
Repeat the same steps to your jigger to complete your matching set!
Who wouldn’t love getting this awesome cocktail set as a wedding gift?
If none of your friends are in a rush to get married, make this set for you and your best friend, aka the Master of Mischief and her Partner in Crime.
It’s off to the races with your newly minted (terrible mint julep pun very much intended) cocktail cups!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.