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!
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!
An Inexpensive Gift Idea
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 and used nail polish I already had at home which means I was able to make 6 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 DIY 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 DIY – here’s how you make these marbled mugs!
DIY Marbled Mugs with Nail Polish
Gather These Supplies
- Mugs
- Nail Polish (stay away from quick dry!)
- Toothpicks
- Container (this will get ruined so make sure it’s old or disposable)
Step One: Fill your container halfway with hot water. The hotter the better! Once the nail polish touches the water it is going to want to set and heat will slow the process.
Step Two: With the nail polish bottle very close to the surface of the water, pour a drop or two of polish into the water. (Keeping the bottle close to the water’s surface with help the polish stay on top of the water. If you hold the bottle higher the drops will come down with more speed and sink. It’s science, or something.)
Step Three: Quickly use your toothpick to swirl the polish around in the water.
Step Four: Dip your mug in the water! The process is soooo fast once the polish touches the water so you’ll want to move quickly.
Step Five: Place your DIY mug on a paper towel to dry, top down.
Step Six (optional): Use nail polish remover to take the excess polish off the bottom of the mug. Let dry overnight before using.
Just like that you’ve got some one-of-a-kind nail polish mugs! Remember, these are not dishwasher or microwave safe so you’ll want to wash them by hand, and you know, not microwave them.
My Best Tips for a Successful DIY Mug
- 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.
Aren’t these nail polish mugs gorgeous? I’m obsessed with thinking about all of the things I can marble and all of the color combinations I could make them with. Making a DIY mug is such a piece of cake, you’d be nuts not to give it a try.
Want to see how these marbled mugs were made? Check out this video:
If you’re ready for more, learn to decorate mugs 10 ways. Just click on the image below!
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KAITLIN says
June 9, 2015 at 3:16 pmdo you think sealing the mugs with something would be a good idea?
Amy says
June 9, 2015 at 4:10 pmYou can do it to extend the life – try Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge over the top!
Ariel says
June 12, 2015 at 1:02 pmI’ve been seeing this all over pinterest too and was wondering if it was worth a shot! I have a few white mugs as well that i’d like to decorate, and of course some nail polish laying around! yours look fantastic! i can’t wait to experiment with some different colors like you! love this post, thank you!
tERRI says
August 1, 2016 at 6:26 pmThat’s what I thought also, but I could never get the project to work. My nail polish would just clump in the water. I tried so many different brands of nail polish & none of them worked. At least my daughter-in-law & granddaughter are now enjoying all the different colored nail polishes I bought for this project that didn’t work. Good luck. If anyone has any hints as to why my attempt didn’t work – I’m open to suggestions. Hate it when a craft doesn’t work as it is directed to.
LisaMichele says
January 4, 2017 at 3:01 amWhen I did this, I found that once you dip your mug, any polish remaining on the water will “set” and not allow any new polish to be fluid enough to marble. Once you dip a mug, I recommend using a paper towel to remove any excess polish that might be in/on the water. Just lay the paper towel over the entire surface of the water, then lift up. The paper towel will “catch” all remaining polish, leaving a clean surface. Also, make sure you keep your water warm or hot (not scalding hot) as mentioned in the instruction.
Carmia says
June 13, 2015 at 6:18 amBeautiful! It looks like abstract art. Pinning this now 🙂
Sarah says
June 29, 2015 at 1:33 pmIs it toxic to drink out of it if it has nail polish on it? Can u put shaRpie on top and then bake The mug or no?’
Amy says
June 29, 2015 at 9:00 pmAs long as you don’t touch an area with nail polish to your lips, you’re fine. It’s like painting a mug with ceramic paint! And in terms of the sharpie, I’m not sure if you could do it over the nail polish. It’s worth a try! Grab a dollar store mug to do an inexpensive test (and watch it closely in the oven).
Michelle says
May 7, 2016 at 7:36 pmi was also wondering the same but something a little different; i didn’t read that you can’t do it over lip line, and i would like to use these mugs when people come over. Can you bake them and then be able to drink from them ? please let me know! doing this for mother’s day present!
Amy says
May 7, 2016 at 7:49 pmMichelle are you meaning with the nail polish? I have heard you cannot bake the nail polish.
Liza says
June 7, 2016 at 9:20 pmYou can bake the mugs. I put the oven on 300 and let them bake for 15-20 minutes!!
Uma Uraon says
February 18, 2016 at 2:42 amthe colors of nail paint will wash off later ..as we are going to use it not regularly but yes we will use it. Please answer 🙂
Amy says
February 18, 2016 at 10:12 amThey are hand wash UNLESS you put something over the top like Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge. Please don’t put them in the microwave 😀
sanjana says
February 25, 2016 at 9:54 amits really awesome…… i will definitely try it!!
Shana says
February 28, 2016 at 11:36 amI just did this and love the way it turned out. Buuuut when does it stop smelling!!!! The mug smells like nail polish so bad I don’t think I can even use it! ?
Amy says
February 28, 2016 at 12:32 pmShana I’m sensitive to smells too – place it in an area that it won’t bother you as it airs out and cures. Garage, outside (if it’s not too cold), even closet?
Brianna G says
September 11, 2016 at 2:37 pmDo you know where I can find these exact mugs or at least the same brand?
Amy says
September 14, 2016 at 11:58 amHi Brianna! These were thrift store finds!
Alejandra Romero says
April 23, 2016 at 5:25 pmHermosas y muy fáciles, me encantará recibir mas ideas
Avery says
May 3, 2016 at 7:40 pmOh my gosh! This worked so well for me! I suggest using bright colors because I tried one with light purple and it didn’t come out. But other than that it works amazing! Thanks for the tutorial!
Carly says
May 4, 2016 at 10:08 pmCan you do more then one color?
Anna says
May 7, 2016 at 12:58 pmYes, I did three, and it looked wonderful!
Nosolodeco says
October 17, 2016 at 9:28 amAwesome DIY!!! 😀
mia says
May 7, 2016 at 10:40 ami was just wondering if there is anything i can do to make it microwave safe?
Amy says
May 7, 2016 at 6:37 pmMia – You might try Dishwasher Safe over the top? This is a warning though that I have NOT tried it and don’t know if it works! I haven’t had a chance to try it yet :0
Schu Mom says
June 6, 2016 at 4:28 pmI made some last year and put them in the microwave all the time. No problem. To take care of the smell… I baked the mugs at low heat in my oven for a few hours. Once they were good and dry, the odor stopped. When I got tired of the designs, I started washing them in the dishwasher until the nail polish came off and I’m ready to do again. Fun project.
Eliza says
May 8, 2016 at 12:46 amTotal bust!..I just tried doing this myself and it didn’t work. I even tried a bunch of different brands of nail polish and none of them worked. There was an oil that would appear around the nail polish in the water and make it impossible to swirl with a toothpick or do anything with. Very disappointed.
Kathy says
May 14, 2016 at 1:00 pmI did it this morning and it worked beautifully. I was very pleased.
Aaliyah says
September 7, 2016 at 5:25 pmi had the same problem. i tried for so long to marble stuff and it never worked out for me, until i figured out that you need warm to hot water with a more liquidy nail polish. The best nail polishes i found to work were the sinful colors brand; and for spreading them.. i just blew on the nail polish in the water. i tried the toothpicks and the nail polish kept sticking to my toothpick and lifting out of the water.
Melissa says
May 16, 2016 at 8:02 amThis would be good crafts for my 12 year old granddaughter to go with Starbucks themed party.
Patricia says
May 17, 2016 at 1:43 pmT_____T i’ve tried twice and it was a mess. The nail polish becomes heavy drops of ink and sticks to the mug and the water recipient. Do you know why?
Amy says
May 17, 2016 at 1:59 pmHi Patricia! It’s probably the brand of nail polish – check out this blog post:
http://baylorlariat.com/2014/10/14/pinbusters-watercolor-coffee-mugs/
Sounds like you might need to try with a few? I’ve found the cheaper brands work better as long as they are not quick dry!
Sade says
July 20, 2016 at 12:22 amSorry, it did not work for me. Though I used very hot water, nail paint just did not spread.
I tried 2-3 brands.
Can you suggest a brand available in Australia ?
Amy says
July 21, 2016 at 2:29 pmHi Sade! I wish I could help you – I’m so sorry, I’m not aware of nail polish brands in Australia :/
Carolina says
February 23, 2017 at 11:46 amHi there! Thanks for the idea. I’d like to ask if the nail polish would be removed if I constantly wash the cup, please, waiting for yourr response. Thanks!
Amy says
February 28, 2017 at 4:24 pmHi Carolina! We recommend hand washing OR using Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge over the top 😀 Thank you!