Creating Custom Mugs

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My kids drink hot chocolate all year long.  When I saw them using their Christmas cocoa mugs in July, I decided we needed to DIY some fun custom mugs.

The process is very straightforward and simple, but it does require some time and patience.

How to Create a Custom Mug

Custom mugs are easy to make with a few materials available at your local craft store. This is a fun art project and makes an excellent gift.

Custom Mug Materials

Time

28 days The curing process is fairly long, so definitely plan ahead.

Custom Mug Procedure

  1. First, buy mugs of your choosing.  We bought plain white ceramic mugs from Benjamin Franklin.  If you are trying to keep the costs down, you can find plain mugs at many thrift stores.
  2. Next, wash and dry the mugs to remove any dust.  Big box stores are dusty places, and you don’t want that permanently affixed to your pretty new mugs.
  3. Draw on your design using the ceramic markers.  Please follow the directions on the marker package if they differ from mine.  We found the ceramic markers in the same aisle as the mugs at our local craft store.
  4. Let the marker ink dry fully. This only took a couple of minutes.
  5. Bake the mugs at 300 degrees for 35 minutes.  This will help the paint cure.
  6. Next, apply two thin coats of dishwasher-safe Mod Podge using a paintbrush. Let the first coat dry completely before applying the second coat. We used dishwasher-safe Mod Podge but still hand wash the mugs just to be on the safe side. 
  7. This final step might be the hardest. Set your beautiful custom mugs up out of the way and leave it there for a full 28 days.  The Mod Podge needs this time to fully cure.  If you try to use the mug before the time is up, you run the risk of ruining the design.

I love the way these custom mugs turned out.  They are sitting on my kitchen shelf because they make me smile when I walk into the room.  They are like artwork, and I love displaying my kids artwork.

Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa mix is extremely easy to whip up, and it stores well in a mason jar.

My hot cocoa mix recipe is about as simple as they come.  To make the mix I just combine 1.5 cups of powdered sugar with 1 cup of cocoa powder.  That’s it.  No fillers and no powdered milk.  We always mix the cocoa mix with milk instead of water so it doesn’t need any powdered milk.

Hannah and Ben like to top the hot cocoa with marshmallows, whipped cream, or sprinkles.

Related Posts:

Easy Mess-Free Painting Projects

The Best Beginner Sewing Project for Kids

How to Make Your Own Custom Coasters

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Welcome! My name is Jennifer. I am a teacher at heart. Before my children were born I was a public school teacher. Now, I am a homeschooling mom of two.