Personalization, now for your coffee mug! You can create this DIY kitchenwear piece using cheap dollar store mugs and neon Sharpies. What I love about these is that you don’t have to be good at drawing — I’ll show you how to use tracing paper to create any graphic you desire!
These look so chic in any home. I love bohemian style, note the dreamcatcher, but the sky’s the limit on these. Write your favorite quote, your name, maybe the logo for your favorite sports team?!
The process is very simple — a quick bake in the oven sets the design on the ceramic. Read below for the full tutorial!
Step 1: Gather materials. You will need a ceramic mug (you can get great plain ones at the dollar store), tracing paper for drawing your pattern, a pencil and Sharpie oil-based markers. You can get the markers at craft stores such as Michaels. If you do want to glue on a gem, you will need rhinestone flatbacks and non-toxic glue like Gem-Tac. You won’t be able to wash it in a dishwasher (which I don’t recommend anyway) if you glue on a gem.
Step 2: Trace your design. I just went online and found a cool dreamcatcher. Trace this design on the tracing paper with your sketching pencil. Make sure the size will fit on the mug!!
If you want to write words, make sure you reverse the image on the computer so that when you transfer, it will be the correct direction.
Step 3: Transfer. Place the lead side down on the mug, then rub the pencil over the transfer, so the lead rubs off onto the ceramic.
If you do it correctly (hold the transfer paper tightly in place so it doesn’t move and smear your drawing!) you should have an image like the above. This makes it very easy to trace your lines with your Sharpies!
Step 4: Color in your design with the Sharpies. I used a mix of metallic and neon colors here for shine and pops of color! You have to use the oil-based pens, not the regular sharpies.
Step 5: Bake. Place your mug in a COLD oven, then close and heat up to 350. Bake for 30 minutes. Don’t open the oven — turn it off and let it cool completely before taking the mug out. This will prevent it from cracking!
Now, either leave your mug without gems, or glue on the flatbacks if you’d like. Don’t ever wash these in dishwashers — gently, GENTLY, hand wash and dry. This will prevent the color chipping, and the gem from coming off.
Viola! These mugs are great to make for friends and family – you can personalize with monograms as well!
Thanks for viewing – see more of my tutorials at quietlioncreations.com!
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I like your mug design very much. Having done ceramic and glass Christmas painting before I would like to try your design as it is lovely. Have e-mailed my son, who is going to Florida this weekend, to visit Michaels to purchase the Sharpies for me.
Thank you for great tutorial.,
Thanks Deirdre!!
Allison,
Will Alcohol based markers work as well? They are archival. I was wondering how they compared to the oil based ones.
Thank you,
Zana