DIY Marbled Mugs with Nail Polish (with Video!)

Did you know you can make cool marbled mugs with nail polish? It’s easy and you can have gorgeous gifts in minutes. These DIY nail polish mugs cost LESS than a dollar each!

Skills Required: Beginner. You will be using nail polish to create a marbled effect on a mug. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see a video of the process in action. You’re going to have a great time.

I am SO excited to share this DIY mug decorating project with you, friends! I have been seeing the marbling trend all over Pinterest lately and finally succumbed to e-peer pressure; I tried some nail polish mugs for myself over the weekend.

I was so inspired by this gorgeous post where Jan marbled mugs, and decided I had to start there! My goal was to make them for some cute homemade gifts.

Making Marbled Mugs

The best thing about these nail polish mugs is that they only costs a couple of dollars to make – and even less time to finish. I found my mugs for $.79 each at Goodwill.

I used nail polish I already had at home, which means I was able to make six nail polish mugs for less than $5! A DIY mug is a steal with a BIG payoff. Plus, I’m obsessed with the outcome.

Are Nail Polish Mugs Dishwasher Safe?

No, not right out of the gate. You can’t wash them in the dishwasher nor should you microwave them. Baking them only darkens the nail polish (sometimes to a color that is very unappealing) so don’t bother with that either. These are meant to be hand wash only – but you can seal them with Mod Podge.

Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge

If you’ve never tried Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge, this is the best way to seal your mugs. You’ll just paint the mug with the formula, and then let it cure for 28 days.

This doesn’t mean you can’t use it, but you shouldn’t wash it for that time frame (rinsing out is fine). The Mod Podge will extend the life of your mug.

I still recommend hand washing even after using the Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge. You can try the top rack of your dishwasher, but the nail polish will still wear down just because it’s always going to be slightly fragile. That doesn’t mean a mug like this isn’t worth it, but it’s something you need to consider!

Tip: using Mod Podge doesn’t mean you can microwave your mug. That is still a no-no.

If you’re ready to try this adult craft project – here’s how you make these marbled mugs!

Gather These Supplies

• Mugs
• Nail Polish (stay away from quick dry!)
• Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge
• Printable sayings in SVG format – You Are Enough and Emotional Support Coffee (optional)
• Die cutter and permanent vinyl (optional)
• Toothpicks
• Acetone and cotton swabs
• Container (this will get ruined, so make sure it’s old or disposable)

Note: If you want to use the printable sayings, apply those with permanent vinyl before you dip the mugs.

My Best Tips After Making This Project

When dipping your marbled mugs, it’s best to only dip them on the mug below your lip line, at least on one side, for your health.

Get all your supplies ready so that you can work quickly. The hot water will keep the nail polish from drying too quickly, but you’ll still need to move fast.

Spread your nail polish over the surface of the water CLOSE to the water. If you pour it from above, it’s going to clump. This will cause clumps on your mugs.

Use a toothpick to mix the colors together if you want to get creative and mix multiple polishes. Pour the polishes in various areas (not all together), and spread out thoroughly over the surface of the water.

Want to see how these marbled mugs were made? Check out the video inside the how-to card below:

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4.55 from 33 votes

Marble Nail Polish Mugs

Learn how to make the coolest nail polish mugs ever – on a budget! Learn the dos and don'ts for making the mugs, and get tips for washing.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Active Time20 minutes mins

Set Time12 hours hrs

Total Time12 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Type: Crafts

Yield: 2 mugs

Author: Amy Anderson

Cost: $3

Equipment

• Disposable water basin
• Acetone and cotton swabs

Materials

• Mugs
• Nail polish – not quick dry
• Toothpicks
• Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge

Instructions

• [mv_schema_meta name="Fill Container with Hot Water"]Pour hot (but not boiling) water into the container. Once the nail polish touches the water it is going to want to set and the heat will slow the process.
  
• [mv_schema_meta name="Add Nail Polish to the Water"]Carefully add drops of nail polish into the water, keeping the bottle close to the water to prevent the nail polish from sinking into the bottom. I added a few drops of nail polish and also moved the bottle around as I poured to help create a swirl effect.
  
• [mv_schema_meta name="Swirl Around Quickly"]Quickly use your toothpick to swirl the polish around.
  
• [mv_schema_meta name="Dip the Mug"]Once you are happy with the swirl effect, quickly dip the mug in, making sure to submerge at least half of the mug’s body. The setting process is quick once the polish touches the water, so you'll want to move quickly. Depending on the lightness of your mug and how big your container is, you may have to repeat this process another time to fully cover the mug’s sides.
  
• [mv_schema_meta name="Let the Mug Dry"]Place the mug on a paper towel to dry, top down.
  
• [mv_schema_meta name="Remove Excess Polish and Let Set"]Use nail polish remover to take the excess polish off the bottom of the mug. Let set overnight. Use Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge to seal if desired.
  

Video

Notes

Not happy with the design you got? No worries – just use some acetone to clean it up and start over.

If you’re ready for more, learn to decorate mugs ten ways. This is also part of a collection of easy crafts for adults, homemade Mother’s gift ideas, and Mother’s Day crafts for kids so you should check those posts out too!