Thursday, May 19, 2016

DIY Painted Mugs


I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I am obsessed with mugs. I have an unhealthy amount of mugs and can never resist the urge of buying a new one. Though I own plenty of mugs, I thought it would be fun to decorate some myself. I began experimenting with different mediums for decorating that won’t wash away. After much practice, I have discovered the best way to create DIY painted mugs. 


Materials

To make these mugs you only need a few simple materials. You will need oil based paint pens, I used Sharpie brand. Most crafts stores should have them in a wide variety of colors. It is probably best to decide on your designs beforehand so you know what colors to purchase. You will also need mugs. I used plain white mugs, but the paint pens will work on different colored mugs as well. You definitely don’t need to spend a lot on mugs, most dollar stores carry a variety of mugs. Finally, you will need a bowl of water, cotton swabs, and paper towels in case of any mistakes. When working with the Sharpie pain pens, it was easy to wipe away mistakes with just water. 

                                        

Creating The Design

I would recommend testing your design on paper before going directly for the mug. The pens are super easy to draw with. You can even use them to write names or phrases on your mug. Make sure you don’t paint too close to the rim or inside the mug. I made my own templates for some designs in order to make sure they looked uniform. It’s fun to make several at a time especially if you need a gift for family or friends. 

                         

Finishing The Mug

In order to make sure your design won’t wash away, there are a few more important steps to complete. After you are happy with your mug, let it sit for at least 8hrs in order to let the paint dry fully. After it has dried, arrange all of your mugs on a baking pan and stick them right in the oven. After they are in the oven, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to put the mugs in the oven before you preheat it in order to allow the paint to bake on properly. After your oven has warmed up, you can set your oven for 35-40 minutes. As soon as your timer goes off, turn off the oven and open the door. Let the mugs cool completely in the oven. That’s it! You are now the proud owner of some pretty cool DIY mugs!

                                         

The Results

As you can see, after baking, the mugs look just as good as before, except now they can be washed, which is obviously super important. I think that these make perfect gifts, especially since they can be personalized. I created a few simple examples, but you can pretty much create anything you like. You could add your favorite team to the baseball themed mug or even your favorite quote to the heart themed mug. They can easily be filled with candy or other small items and given as a gift for a variety of occasions. They would even make a great end of the year gift for a teacher. I hope these mugs work as well for you as they did for me! Happy crafting!

  


XO Tres Chic Lifestyle

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