Learn to decorate mugs! These DIY mugs are perfect gifts for any time of year. Here are 25+ fantastic ideas with tips on how to make them fabulous.
Any other coffee drinkers out there? Basically, if you don’t know what to get me for a gift, a mug is the perfect thing. And even better if it’s handmade.
But mugs aren’t just a great gift for me – they are a great gift for a lot of occasions: hostess gifts, teacher gifts, Father’s Day . . . any holiday, really.
Tips for Decorating Mugs
Before we get into the project ideas, I want to give you some tips for personalized mugs. It’s not hard to do, but you’ll want the design you make to last, so there are several considerations!
Types of Mugs to Buy
If you are going to try a DIY mug, there are typically two surfaces you’ll want to consider: glass or ceramic. Both are relatively easy to work with.
Glass tends to look great with glitter and etching medium while ceramic is perfect for decorating with paint. In either case you are going to want to prepare the mug as instructed below.
Preparing Your Mug
If you’re going to decorate a mug, you’ll need to prepare it to receive the medium of your choice. That means washing with a mild soap and water to remove oils from fingers/dirt. You can also use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. Let the mug dry completely before decorating.
Ways to Decorate Mugs
Some of the most popular supplies used for decorating mugs are:
Acrylic Paint – if you use a paint make sure that it is suitable for glass and/or ceramic. This would be something with multi surface, porcelain, or enamel on the label.
Etching Medium – you’ll need a special medium for this process. You’ll also want to wear gloves as the product is an acid. It’s a very unique look and I love the results.
Mod Podge – they offer a Dishwasher Safe formula that is perfect for top rack washing. This formula of Mod Podge is frequently combined with glitter to decorate mugs.
Nail Polish – marbling with nail polish is very popular, easy, and inexpensive.
Sharpies – you’ll want the oil based paint pens. The regular Sharpies don’t provide consistency in terms of a permanent design.
Sublimation Ink – this uses special ink that is infused to a mug surface with heat and pressure. There are quite a few tools required for this type of process.
Note: the “official” recommendation on most products is to start your design at least 1/4″ down from the lip of the mug so that your lips are never touching the product.
While many craft supplies are non-toxic, and you should be fine if your lips do come in contact, it’s just something to keep in mind.
Will They Be Dishwasher Safe?
It really depends on the mug that you choose. Glass mugs don’t seem to have as many problems as ceramic. Without question, my research has revealed that when it comes to ceramic, cheaper mugs are better.
Many many people have noted that dollar store mugs/mugs purchased from overseas are best because they have a thinner coating. This allows the mug to take the medium better.
You’ll always want to follow the instructions on the product bottle, but one thing to note is that DIY mugs often need to be baked, especially when using Sharpies.
The recommendation is to bake a mug at 250º for 2 hours to make them dishwasher safe. This temperature and time also prevents the colors from being altered too much.
Tip: Do NOT use a spray sealer on your mug. Running a spray sealer coated mug through the dishwasher inevitably results in clumping of the sealer or fogging of the design in certain areas.
Now that are you are ready to decorate, here are some mug decorating ideas to try!
Ways to Decorate Mugs
If you are looking for a fun, inexpensive gift idea you've come to the right place! Here are over 25 easy ways to decorate mugs.
Marble Nail Polish
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.
Dishwasher Safe Glitter
You can make this DIY glitter mug with Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge – then you can safely wash it without any glitter coming off!
Initial Dot
If you can draw a dot, you can make this mug! It is so easy. You can make this Dollar Tree hack within minutes, and they are great gifts for the holidays.
DIY Glitter Speckled
No need to get out the potter’s wheel to craft speckled ceramics from scratch – we used a variety of mugs from the dollar store and gave them this quick makeover using just paint!
Sports Car Painted
These sports car inspired painted mugs make great gifts for guys! They are very easy to paint and very inexpensive to make – you just need a few supplies.
Spotty Dotty
It only takes 45 minutes to make this mug including bake time! If you can make a dot, you can do this project.
Hand-Drawn Flowers
Update basic mugs with large, colorful flowers to bring a splash of summer to your morning coffee routine.
Mod Podge Monogrammed
Personalize a simple mug for a unique, custom gift that anyone would love getting! Use Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe to preserve the beauty of your creations!
Watercolor Tissue Paper
Pieces of tissue paper can decorate a mug! This reminds me of watercolor, and seems like something you'd see in a store! I love how easy these are.
Painted Mustaches
Add mustaches with paint pens – then enjoy when someone takes a drink. Wouldn’t these be fun for Father’s Day?
Pastel Painted
Pick your favorite paint colors! You can make these painted mugs to be used to enjoy coffee and tea, or be decorative and fill with candy!.
Etched Glass
’ve tried glass etching before and it’s REALLY easy to do. This mason jar mug was decorated by Erin and makes a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day!
Polka Dots
Learn how to make a Sharpie mug. These insider tips will ensure that the design you create on your mug will last for a long time!
Hot Stuff
Learn how to DIY personalized mugs and tea cups with vinyl - it's easy to do with professional results! Make your own cups easily with these free cut files.
Simple Heart Handle
This particular mug does not require artistic ability or transferring a design! I love how the handle is incorporated into the heart.
Pumpkin Spice
Use permanent vinyl to share your love of pumpkin spice with the world! This is the perfect decorative mug to make for fall.
Harry Potter
Did you know that you can customize your own Harry Potter coffee mugs for just a few bucks-and you don't need to know how to draw?! This tutorial shows you how.
Cat's Meow
Turn a plain white mug into an adorable cat mug with some fine line brushes and a steady hand. I'm wondering what a dog version would look like?
Colorblock Dipped
This idea doesn’t get much simpler – dip your mugs in your favorite colors of paint. You can make an entire collection that matches your kitchen. You can add speckles to the bottom with this other tutorial.
Engagement Ring
Use Sharpies to decorate mugs with your sayings – try both printing and cursive! These engagement ones make really cute gifts.
Family Photos
You can't get any more personalized than this! Having the right tools is important here. You will need a sublimation printer and a Cricut Mug Press.
Christmas Tree
This mug and treat bag combo is the perfect homemade gift for your friends and family! I can believe these were made with napkins and Mod Podge.
Reindeer Thumbprints
This Christmas thumbprint mug and saucer set is a great gift for the kids to make for the grandparents. Since it's multi surface paint, you can wash it if you follow the curing instructions.
Infusible Ink
Learn how to make a mug with infusible ink in the oven (no heat press needed!)! Infusible Ink mugs are quick, easy, and a great gift idea!
Gold Polka Dots
Again, if you can make a dot, you can make this mug that uses glass paint so it won't come off in the dishwasher.
Snowman Gift
Make a snowman mug using vinyl. No need for a cutting machine if you have a craft knife or scissors. This is a fun neighbor and teacher gift when paired with hot cocoa, candy canes, and marshmallows!
Ready to try some DIY coffee mugs? You should jump in – but first you need to check out my top tips. I put them in the video in this post!
Michelle
Wednesday 4th of September 2024
These ideas looked like the perfect thing for an craft class I have to give.
I experimented with painting a ceramic mug using alcohol based markers and regular Sharpies. After letting it settle for 24 hours, I tried washing the mug with plain warm water. All the color came right off. I then tried the oven idea for 2 hours, and the same thing happened.
Any ideas as to why it didnt work, and what I could do to correct it? Its looks like too much fun to just give up on the whole idea.