DIY Craft Project: Sharpie Mug Tutorial

Have you seen all the gorgeous DIY mugs floating around the internet?  There are mugs  with beautiful artistic designs, inspiring quote, and silly jokes. I love the custom look and have been itching to write an easy Sharpie Mug Tutorial.

No Artistic Skills Required

I am crafty but, unfortunately, not artistic! Seriously. I’m even bad at drawing the little guy in hangman.

Drawing a freehand pattern would result in one ugly mug if I was the artist! This SUPER EASY Sharpie Mug tutorial creates a heart handle mug with a simple stencil.

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Supplies

• The Perfect Mug – A mug with curved handle that resembles half of a heart. My favorite is the Luminous Mug from Pier One Imports.
• Sharpie Oil Based Paint Pens – Red and gold Sharpie Oil Based Paint Pens with a fine or medium tip.

Sharpie Mug Tutorial: Red Heart Mug

1. Prepare the mug.

• Remove all labels then wash and dry each mug. Wipe the surface to be painted with rubbing alcohol or vodka to remove any fingerprints or oils. Allow to air dry.

2. Make a heart stencil to match the mug handle.

•  Trace the handle of your mug onto paper. This forms one side of the heart.

• Fold the paper in half along the edge of your tracing. Cut out the tracing. The paper heart should be the size of the mug handle.

• Trace the heart onto the back of a piece of contact paper. Any color but white will work.

• Fold the contact paper heart in half to stick it to the mug. Place the center folded line of the heart along the edge of the handle and then adhere the rest of the heart to the mug as shown. Re-position if necessary.

3. Paint the mug.

• Use a red oil based Sharpie paint pen to make a dotted line around the edge of the heart on the mug. Push straight down with the marker to make the dots round. Do not mark on the contact paper.

• Allow the paint to dry for at 10 minutes then carefully remove the heart-shaped contact paper (save it for the next mug). Add dots to the handle of the mug.

• To add more hearts to the mug stick on the contact paper heart and dot around it. Try decorating both sides of the handle with hearts.

• Add a heart to the opposite side of the mug by reattached the contact paper and adding dots.

• Finally use a fine point red oil based Sharpie paint pen to write “I love you” free hand.

4. Scroll down for baking instructions to make the paint permanent. 

Sharpie Mug Tutorial: Gold Heart Mug

1. Prepare the mug.

• Remove all labels then wash and dry each mug. Wipe the surface to be painted with rubbing alcohol or vodka to remove any fingerprints or oils. Allow to air dry.

2. Make a heart stencil to match the mug handle.

• Make and position the stencil following step 2 of the red heart mug tutorial.

3. Paint the mug.

• Use a gold oil based Sharpie paint pen to make random dots around the edge of the heart that is on the mug. Make the dots denser at the edge of the heart and farther apart the farther you go from the stencil.

• Allow the paint to dry for at least 10 minutes then carefully add dots to the handle of the mug. The pattern should be dense on the side of the handle  closest to the heart and farther apart the further you go out.

• Add a heart to the opposite side of the mug by re-positioning the contact paper heart and dotting around it again.

• When the hearts are finished use the pen to randomly place dots in any empty spaces and around the bottom of the mug. The dots at the bottom of mug are dense and farther apart as they move toward the rim.

4. Scroll down for baking instructions to make the paint permanent. 

Sharpie Paint Pen Tips

• Don’t worry about perfection when painting, mistakes can be removed using vodka or rubbing alcohol and a q-tip.

• Sharpie paint pens ARE NOT labeled food safe. Use them on OUTER surfaces of mugs that DO NOT come into contact with food or drinks.

Baking and Finishing Directions

5. Bake the mug.

• Allow the mug to dry for at least 20 minutes then place in a cold oven. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and allow the mug to “cook” for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow the mug to cool completely
• Repeat the baking process to fully “cure” the paint.

6. Seal the mug. (This step is optional.)

• Allow the mug to cool completely. Tape off a 1/2 inch band around the top edge with painters tape, turn the mug upside down, and then spray with a light coat of sealer such as Krylon Crystal Clear. Be careful, the sealer will make the Sharpie run if applied too thickly. Modge Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer is an acrylic safe sealer you can also try.

• Please be aware: I mask the top edge of the mug with painters tape then turn it upside down before spraying with sealer. This protects the rim of the mug and prevents your mouth from coming into contact with areas that have been painted or sprayed with sealer.

• Sharpie paint pens ARE NOT labeled food safe. Use them on OUTER surfaces of mugs that DO NOT come into contact with food or drinks. (This is true of all Sharpie tutorials and crafts, not just this one!)

• Allow the sealant to dry and enjoy your new mugs!

• Hand wash the mugs to make the beautiful custom design last longer.

More Sharpie Paint Pen Projects

No artistic skills? If you can trace you can make this Easy Beverage Tray and Wine Glass Set. There are several free patterns choices.

This adorable Love Letter Catch All Tray is a West Elm knock off made with a masking tape stencil and paint pens.

Glass is also easy to decorate with paint pens. Make your love these Custom Pint Glasses for a special gift.

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