DIY designed mugs

I find that drinking tea out of my favourite mug automatically brightens my day, especially in the fall and wintertime. Whether it’s an early caffeine fix for a difficult morning, or a cup of tea before bedtime, a good mug will always put a smile on your face at anytime of the day.

Draw on any porcelain mug with markers, and then pop them in the oven – it’s that easy! This method is a great way to jazz up any other plain porcelain items (vases, pencil holders, plates… you name it). It’s an awesome and inexpensive project for those who are feeling crafty on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Time: 1 hour (Approximate)

Supplies:

Permanent Markers: I prefer Sharpie permanent markers, but any brand will do. Vibrant and darker colours show best – a fine tip Sharpie is also great for outlining your designs

Plain Mugs: White is ideal, because it’ll show the marker design off best. I bought mine at the dollar store (Dollarama, 3 dollars each). Try to find the largest size mug because they are easier to draw on


    Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then you are free to draw to your heart’s content! With permanent markers, draw your design on your mug. I find that bright and dark colours show best versus pastel or lighter shades. If you make a mistake it can easily be wiped off with a Lysol wipe, glass cleaner or nail polish remover and a q-tip.
  2. Use a fine tip marker to outline words and add. For these mugs, I took lyrics from my favourite songs. I also drew inspiration from photos on Tumblr or Pinterest. So feel free to use your favourite quotes or images from these popular sources!
  3. Once oven is preheated, place mugs on a baking sheet, and then pop them in the oven for 30 minutes. I placed mine in the oven right side up, but it’s best to place them upside down to prevent them from breaking.
  4. Take mugs out of the oven, and then let them cool completely. Voila- your very own personalized mugs!

Extra Tips:

For a novice artist, some fun and easy designs to try are polka dots, stripes and zig zags! You can also use stencils or masking tape as a guide if you’re making a series of mugs of the same design. Also, bright colours are better to use because the colours do turn slightly darker after baking.

To keep the mugs looking their best, it’s recommended to avoid the dishwasher and only hand wash. After I completed my mugs, I tested them by washing them in the sink, and the designs stayed on perfectly!

These sweet and simple Sharpie designed mugs are an easy DIY that also make fantastic gifts for your friends or family!

Tags

Crafts, DIY, handmade, mugs

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