This project uses chalkboard paint to create a label on a clean glass bottle. This will work on any glass surface, such as a mason jar, soda bottle, or even glass tumblers or wine glasses. I chose to use a wine bottle and then fill it with M&M's to keep in the kitchen.

Step 1: Cleaning the Bottle

For this project, you will need a clean glass bottle. To clean the bottle, you will need dish soap, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, and a scrubber brush.

To remove the paper from the bottle, soak it in warm, soapy water for about an hour. Then, scrub the paper away with either the rough side of a scrubber sponge or a scrubber brush. I would recommend not using a scrubber sponge once the paper is removed because the rough side causes the glue to bunch into hard-to-remove balls on the glass surface.

Use the isopropyl alcohol to remove the glue by pouring the isopropyl alcohol onto the glue and scrubbing with the brush.

To remove any smell that may be present in the bottle, pour some isopropyl alcohol into it and swirl it around briefly. Then, wash it out with water and allow it to dry fully (at least 4 hours upside down). I propped my bottle up using the bottom rack of the dishwasher.

Step 2: Painting the Bottle

Once your bottle has dried, it is time to apply the chalkboard paint. Decide how wide you want your label section to be, then use painter's tape to make nice, straight lines. If I had to do this again, I would make my label section a little wider than it is.

Step 3: Actually Painting the Bottle

Carefully apply the chalkboard paint to the bottle. I ended up applying two thin coats instead of one thick coat.

Step 4: Watching the Paint Dry

Wait until the paint is mostly dry before either applying a second coat or removing the tape.

Step 5: The Unveiling

Carefully grasp the edge of tape and peel it back.

Step 6: Your Edges Are Showing!

This is what my bottle looked like when the tape was pulled off. The edges can be cleaned up using a X-Acto Knife or razor blade. If the paint starts to come up from the main label section, the edges can be protected with clear nail polish or nail polish top coat.

The bottle in this picture looks cloudy because the M&M's were added to the bottle before it was totally dry. This meant I had to wash the bottle later.

Step 7: Learn From My Mistakes!

When I washed the bottle with isopropyl alcohol, some of it dribbled down the side of the bottle and removed the chalkboard paint. If you do add your candy prematurely (and it melts), be careful when you wash it so this doesn't happen to you too!

Step 8: Almost Done!

This is what the bottle looked like once it was filled with M&M's.

Step 9: All Done!

The labeled bottle. The chalk can be a little difficult to write with since the surface was not perfectly even, but if you are better painter than I am, yours may be nice and smooth.

If you make an error with the chalk, it is easily washed off by running water over it or using a damp paper towel for spot corrections.

I chose to use M&M's, but candy corns, Skittles, or Smarties would fit as well. It took about half of a 42 ounce bag of M&M's to fill this bottle. What would you fill your bottle with? I would love to see your completed projects in the comments!

Credit for this project goes to Tyler Crumpton and Kirstin DeRosa.