Sharpie Mugs

 Ok, everyone wants a personalized mug, right? But going to a ceramic painting shop and buying an expensive mug and struggling to paint it is tiring and can cost about $20-$40. But... I have a surprise for you! Dollar store mugs have thinner glaze so Sharpies can be used on them permanently (as long as you hand wash them)! So how do you make personalized mugs for about $5 tops? Read on to find out!

Sticker Letter Mug

To make a sticker letter initial mug you will need:

~ Mug (From $ store)

~ Sharpies

~ Letter Stickers

~ Rubbing Alcohol

~ Q-Tips

~ Latex Gloves

Step 1

Wipe your dollar store mug down with rubbing alcohol and put on gloves. The oil on fingers can make it difficult for the Sharpie to become permanent.

Step 2

Choose what you want your mug to say, it can be anything from your initials to your name or even a short quote. Place your sticker letters on your mug where you think they look best.

Step  3

Make sure your stickers are firmly pressed down and then take your Sharpies and place dots anywhere and everywhere. Once you are satisfied with how it looks, peel the stickers off and make sure to clean up any mistakes with some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip.

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Once the oven is to the proper temp, put your mug on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven for 45 minutes.

Step 5

After the mug has been in the oven for 45 minutes, turn the oven off, but be sure to not open the door! After a while, slowly crack open the door and let the mug cool the rest of the way. If the temperature changes too quickly your mug will crack, so be sure to be careful.

Step 6

Always hand wash your mugs to keep the design from fading or chipping, or put it on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Step 7

ENJOY! :)

Free-hand Writing

To make a free-hand writing mug you'll need:

~  Mug (From $ store)

~ Sharpies

~ Something to write 

~ Rubbing Alcohol

~ Q-Tips  

~ Latex Gloves

Step 1 

Wipe your dollar store mug down with rubbing alcohol and put on gloves. The oil on fingers can make it difficult for the Sharpie to become permanent.

Step 2

Choose what you want your mug to say, it can be anything from your initials to your name or a silly saying, whatever you want!

Step  3

Use your Sharpies to carefully outline what you want to write on your mug. If you have any mistakes clean them up with some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip. Once you are satisfied, finish coloring in or decorating the letters!

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Once the oven is to the proper temp, put your mug on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven for 45 minutes.

Step 5

After the mug has been in the oven for 45 minutes, turn the oven off, but be sure to not open the door! After a while, slowly crack open the door and let the mug cool the rest of the way. If the temperature changes too quickly your mug will crack, so be sure to be careful.

Step 6

Always hand wash your mugs to keep the design from fading or chipping, or put it on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Step 7

ENJOY! :)

Free-Hand

What you will need for a free-hand mug are:

~ Mug (From $ store)

~ Sharpies

~ Imagination

~ Rubbing Alcohol

~ Q-Tips  

~ Latex Gloves

Step 1

Wipe your dollar store mug down with rubbing alcohol and put on gloves. The oil on fingers can make it difficult for the Sharpie to become permanent.

Step 2

Choose what you want your mug to look like, it can be anything from a flower, to a bunch of hearts, a smiley-face, or whatever makes you happy!

Step  3

Use your Sharpies to carefully outline what you want on your mug. If you have any mistakes clean them up with some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip. Once you are satisfied, finish coloring in or decorating!

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Once the oven is to the proper temp, put your mug on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven for 45 minutes.

Step 5

After the mug has been in the oven for 45 minutes, turn the oven off, but be sure to not open the door! After a while, slowly crack open the door and let the mug cool the rest of the way. If the temperature changes too quickly your mug will crack, so be sure to be careful.

Step 6

Always hand wash your mugs to keep the design from fading or chipping, or put it on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Step 7

ENJOY! :)

 Transfer/Stencil

 What you will need for a transfer/stencil mug are:

~ Mug (From $ store)

~ Sharpies

~  Picture/Design (Black and white)

~ Tape

~ Exacto Knife/Something to cut outline

~ Rubbing Alcohol

~ Q-Tips  

~ Latex Gloves 

Step 1

Wipe your dollar store mug down with rubbing alcohol and put on gloves. The oil on fingers can make it difficult for the Sharpie to become permanent.

Step 2

Print out a black and white clip art of what you want on your mug. Take an Exacto knife to cut out your design or find a cute stencil and tape it to your mug.

Step  3

Use your Sharpies to carefully outline your design. If you have any mistakes clean them up with some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip. Once you are satisfied, finish coloring in or decorating!

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Once the oven is to the proper temp, put your mug on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven for 45 minutes.

Step 5

After the mug has been in the oven for 45 minutes, turn the oven off, but be sure to not open the door! After a while, slowly crack open the door and let the mug cool the rest of the way. If the temperature changes too quickly your mug will crack, so be sure to be careful.

Step 6

Always hand wash your mugs to keep the design from fading or chipping, or put it on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Step 7

ENJOY! :)

I got this idea from Pinterest and did some research on how to create this. I am not the first person to think of this so I have no ownership.
Idea & photo from goodandmessy.com