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Home / Crafts / Gifts / DIY Marbled Mugs with Nail Polish (with Video!)

DIY Marbled Mugs with Nail Polish (with Video!)

May 7, 2019 by Pretty Life Girls

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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.

DIY marbled mugs with nail polish - stacked

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!

DIY Marble 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 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!

Nail polish bottles with white mugs

Nail Polish Mugs

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)
Process of making marbled mugs using nail polish

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.

Set of DIY mugs made with nail polish

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.

How to make nail polish mugs

My Best Tips for a Successful Marble Mug

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
Learn how to make DIY marbled mugs
DIY mug made with nail polish

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 the video inside the how-to card below:

Yield: 1 mug

DIY Marbled Mugs

DIY Marbled 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 Time 10 minutes
Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Mugs
  • Nail Polish (stay away from quick dry!)
  • Toothpicks

Tools

  • Water basin (this will get ruined so make sure it’s old or disposable)

Instructions

  1. Fill the container halfway with hot water (hotter is better). Once the nail polish touches the water, it will start to set, and the heat will slow the process.
  2. With the nail polish bottle very close to the surface, pour a drop or two of polish into the water.
  3. Quickly use your toothpick to swirl the polish around.
  4. Dip the mug into the water. The setting process is quick once the polish touches the water, so you'll want to move quickly.
  5. Place the mug on a paper towel to dry, top down.
  6. (Optional) Use nail polish remover to take the excess polish off the bottom of the mug. Let dry overnight before using.

Notes

I made my mugs for $1 each - I spent $1 per mug, and already had the nail polish on hand.

© Pretty Life Girls
Category: Crafts

If you’re ready for more, learn to decorate mugs 10 ways. Just click on the image below!

10 Ways to Decorate Mugs
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FILED UNDER | Budget, Crafts, Gifts

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Comments

  1. KAITLIN says

    June 9, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    do you think sealing the mugs with something would be a good idea?

    • Amy says

      June 9, 2015 at 4:10 pm

      You can do it to extend the life – try Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge over the top!

  2. Ariel says

    June 12, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    I’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 pm

      That’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 am

        When 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.

  3. Carmia says

    June 13, 2015 at 6:18 am

    Beautiful! It looks like abstract art. Pinning this now 🙂

  4. Sarah says

    June 29, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    Is 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 pm

      As 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 pm

        i 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 pm

          Michelle are you meaning with the nail polish? I have heard you cannot bake the nail polish.

          • Liza says

            June 7, 2016 at 9:20 pm

            You can bake the mugs. I put the oven on 300 and let them bake for 15-20 minutes!!

  5. Uma Uraon says

    February 18, 2016 at 2:42 am

    the 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 am

      They are hand wash UNLESS you put something over the top like Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge. Please don’t put them in the microwave 😀

  6. sanjana says

    February 25, 2016 at 9:54 am

    its really awesome…… i will definitely try it!!

  7. Shana says

    February 28, 2016 at 11:36 am

    I 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 pm

      Shana 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 pm

        Do you know where I can find these exact mugs or at least the same brand?

        • Amy says

          September 14, 2016 at 11:58 am

          Hi Brianna! These were thrift store finds!

  8. Alejandra Romero says

    April 23, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Hermosas y muy fáciles, me encantará recibir mas ideas

  9. Avery says

    May 3, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Oh 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 pm

      Can you do more then one color?

      • Anna says

        May 7, 2016 at 12:58 pm

        Yes, I did three, and it looked wonderful!

      • Nosolodeco says

        October 17, 2016 at 9:28 am

        Awesome DIY!!! 😀

  10. mia says

    May 7, 2016 at 10:40 am

    i was just wondering if there is anything i can do to make it microwave safe?

    • Amy says

      May 7, 2016 at 6:37 pm

      Mia – 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 pm

        I 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.

  11. Eliza says

    May 8, 2016 at 12:46 am

    Total 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 pm

      I did it this morning and it worked beautifully. I was very pleased.

    • Aaliyah says

      September 7, 2016 at 5:25 pm

      i 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.

  12. Melissa says

    May 16, 2016 at 8:02 am

    This would be good crafts for my 12 year old granddaughter to go with Starbucks themed party.

  13. Patricia says

    May 17, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    T_____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 pm

      Hi 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!

  14. Sade says

    July 20, 2016 at 12:22 am

    Sorry, 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 pm

      Hi Sade! I wish I could help you – I’m so sorry, I’m not aware of nail polish brands in Australia :/

  15. Carolina says

    February 23, 2017 at 11:46 am

    Hi 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 pm

      Hi Carolina! We recommend hand washing OR using Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge over the top 😀 Thank you!

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