DIY Painted Mug Tutorial

Welcome to part 26 of 30 Fun Ideas for Fall!

Today’s fun idea for fall is an incredibly cute DIY painted mug that is all about loving those fantastic autumnal vibes.

As the weather started getting colder (SO slowly, here in the south…) I found myself going back to my hot drink staples: coffee, cider and cocoa (YUM!). I may possibly be pipe dreaming my way to colder weather with my hot mugs of deliciousness but I love the snuggly feeling it gives me. So what if the highs this week were in the mid-80’s? The mornings have finally gotten, if not quite chilly, at least balmy. I’ll take it. Since I’m all about the steamy drinks right now, I decided I needed a mug that matched my enthusiasm, so I had my friend Casey put together a simple little typographic stencil design for me. The instructions are fairly simple and the result is a unique and beautiful piece that you can enjoy for years to come.

DIY Painted Mug Tutorial

Supplies:

• 1 white mug 
• 1 small bottle of oil based enamel paint (we used a gorgeous, metallic model paint in copper that we found at a local craft store)
• 1 small, flat brush
• Paint thinner
• Q-tips
• Ceramic or glass bowl
• Vinyl for stencil
• X-acto blade
• Tweezers

Instructions :

1. Wash and dry your mug.
2. Print the stencil on a cutting machine or print the image and use as a stencil for trimming the vinyl.
3. Place the vinyl stencil on transfer paper. If your mug is curved, like ours was, you may want to consider adding a few days to the stencil or heating as you apply. We didn’t test those techniques but logically, they should work fine.
4. Choose which side to place your stencil on, based on the hand you drink with. The design should face out when you are sipping your drink.
5. Once you’ve chosen your placement, place the stencil on the mug, basically centered between the lip and base of the mug.
6. Remove the transfer paper.
7. Apply the enamel in smooth, light and even strokes. Avoid applying too much paint at once, as this can cause drips and bleeding.
8. After about 10 minutes (paint is still wet but not completely fresh) use the x-acto and tweezers to carefully remove the stencil. It may streamline the process to carefully slice the stencil into sections before attempting removal. This part of the process will require you to really take your time, so have patience!
9. Once the vinyl is off, clean up any drips, bubbles or smudges with the x-acto and a q-tip dipped in thinner. Be very careful not to put the thinner near anything you want to keep!
10. If you like, you can paint the handle as well. We did a brush dabbing technique that reminds us of fall leaves. You can do that or a solid color if you choose.
11. Allow to cure for at least 12 hours. If you want to be extra sure it’s set, you can do additional curing in the oven.
12. Optional step: Making sure your area is well-ventilated – turn on your oven to 350, set your mugs inside and let them bake for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes is up, turn off the oven and let the mugs cool down inside. I suggest leaving it in the oven for a few hours.

Download Hello Fall Silhouette File

Ours came out brilliantly, in my opinion, and I hope yours does too! I can’t wait to cuddle up with a hot drink in my brand new, lovely, shiny mug.

 Check back soon for another fun craft, recipe or download.