Have you seen all the cute ideas for homemade Sharpie mugs?
There are just about everywhere. Giving personalized gifts add so much more meaning. Especially when someone has a unique name.
Two of my children do not have common names. So finding anything with their name on it is a challenge. Let’s just say, when I decided to name them, my first thought was not will their name be available in gift shops?
We have mugs in the house, but only one of the kids has a personalized mug with their name on it. I decided to DIY personalized mugs with their initial on them using their favorite colors.
The stores around here had the little five pack Sharpie oil based marker set, but I wanted more! So If you want more too you can pick up this pack of 15 Sharpie Oil Based Markers
Custom Sharpie Mugs
Materials for Sharpie Marker Mugs
Oil Based Sharpie Markers
Mugs of your choice
How to make Custom Sharpie Mugs
1. First pick out the mugs. Dollar store mugs are a great start. They did not have three matching white mugs in my store. It is a small store. So I went to my favorite place Ikea. Next clean the surface of the mug where you are going to place the sticker. I used a little homemade glass cleaner and washed them off.
2. Next if do not have your markers at this point, stop and order them here. (affiliate link)
3. Carefully place the stickers on the mug. Be sure to get out any air bubbles for a smooth clean letter on the front of the mug.
4. Outline the sticker with little tiny dots using the Sharpie markers a few spaces apart. Leave enough room to add more. I started about a space between the dots then I went out three spaces then more and more space until the front of the mug was covered. I found 3 colors to be a good combination. For a little flare, make one color shiny with a gold or silver. Once you are done see if you need to add a few dots here and there to make the design complete. Let the paint dry for about 30 min to an hour.
5. Before baking carefully remove the vinyl letters. Bake the Sharpie Mugs in the oven at 350 for 40 min. I found many different times online for this, so I decided longer is better.
6. Wrap up the Sharpie mugs and give as gifts. I have only hand washed these to this point with no issues. See update below. I am going to test on a separate mug and run through the dishwasher to see if the design will stay on these Sharpie mugs. I will update this post to let you know.
My kids loved to get their personalized Sharpie mugs. I am making these mugs for everyone I know, just don’t tell anyone. These would be perfect for a teacher’s gift, Mother’s Day gift or Father’s Day gift. You can even use the oil based Sharpie markers on wine glasses for this design technique. These Sharpie mugs will make the perfect gift for any occasion and on any budget.
UPDATE: This L cup was accidentally put on the bottom shelf and washed in the dishwasher. I cringed when I saw it there. I just knew it had been ruined. But it came out perfectly clean and no dots were gone. It still looks the exact same. These are bottom rack dishwasher safe. (I still put them in the top rack just as a precaution)
Do you enjoy making personalized gifts?
Perfect gift idea…I’ve been wanting to test writing on mugs with a sharpie so this makes me happy to see how creative you can get with it! I need to get these markers, nice job and thanks for sharing. 🙂
That is so simple yet so cute!
Love this! I will be featuring it next week at Meaningful Mama. I think it would make a fabulous Mother’s Day gift. Thanks for linking up at Mom’s Library. Pinning this now too.
Where did you get the letters?
I used a Cricut machine to cut out the letters on vinyl. Then I carefully placed the stickers on the mugs. But you could also use large scrapbook letter stickers for the same effect. Ant letter sticker would work.
I washed mine in the dishwasher and the design came off:(
What size tip did you use?
It says medium. To make it easy, I have provided a link in the post of the markers I used.
I drew on the mug, now I’m ready to put it in the oven and bake BUT I’m not sure how it is supposed to be baked. So should you bake it with the base of the mug down (open end face up) or with the base of the mug up (open side down)? Also cookie sheet or no cookie sheet
I baked mine on a cookie sheet with open side up. I really don’t think it matters that much. Just as long as it is in the oven at the correct temp for the correct time. I hope this works for you.
When I baked mine the colors changed. Red became purple, gold became silver. Have you had that happen?
Yes the colors do change a little. Mine became a little darker after baking. The picture is after baking them.
These turned out so awesome.. I am tempted to try it!
you say above that you used med. tips? but the link you gave is for fine point tips? just double checking on which you used?
I used the medium point tips. But it looks like the fine point would work too.
y do i have to bake this in oven?
plz let me know.. what if i dont bake? in oven
You bake them so the color doesn’t wash off
I just made 18 of these for Xmas! Gold and black still need to bake them! Really hope the color doesn’t change!!!
Putting homemade hot cocoa on a stick in them with homemade cookies as gifts! Super excited to give!
Oh that sounds wonderful. I hope these turn out to be great gifts! The gold does go a little darker. I used gold on the L mug above.
Can someone post a link from where they got their sticker letters from? I can’t seem to find them anywhere! 🙁 THANK YOU!!!!
Some people have ordered these: Vinyl Letters
Vinyl Letters Or these Vinyl Letters
I hope this helps.
I have purchased vinal letters at Wal-Mart and OfficeMax
i have sticker residue left on mine. How do you suggest i remove it before baking? Thanks!
I would suggest using a little window cleaner and scrubbing a little to get it off.
I just searched on Google images for letters that I liked and printed them off. Then I cut them out and taped the letters on. That seemed to work easily, and once I took the letters off no residue was left from the tape. 🙂
I’ve been dying to try this! Glad to see they ARE dishwasher safe.
is this 350 F of 350 C ?
Bake at 350 Degrees F, since 350 C is really hot!
What if you don’t use oil based sharpies. Can regular permanent sharpies work?
They can work, but then they will wash off. Even if you hand wash them.
I’ve used regular sharpies and they don’t wash off if you handwash. Haven’t tried in dishwasher yet.
I have seen these sharpie mugs everywhere and am trying to think of a way to prevent them from fading while baking and making them dishwasher safe. I thought about drawing in sharpie, finding a spray to seal it with and then using dishwasher safe mod podge.. and totally by passing the baking part. Has any one tried this??
I have not tried this. But I would see if dishwasher safe modpodge is safe to eat from. That would be my biggest concern.
When you baked them did it make a bad smell? Mine caused a horrible smell in my house.. any tips for this not to happen!?
It may have been the mugs you were using. I don’t remember any smell in my house when I baked them.
Did you use oven safe mugs? Or just regular mugs?
I just used regular mugs.
I can’t find any oil based sharpies that have a good variety of colors. Can you recommend anyt other options. Or stores I can maybe find more then a 5 pack. Thanks so much
I have links throughout the post. Simply click on them and they will take you to purchase markers.
I found my letters at the dollar store where I got the mugs. The oil paint sharpies I purchased at Hobby Lobby which can be a tad expensive but just use a coupon. I loved this project
I made these for my co-works for Christmas, They love it!!!!!
Can they be microwaved (if I buy a microwave-safe mug) after they are done? Thinking of making them for “mug cakes” as a gift.
Yes we use ours in the microwave all the time.
Thanks for a great idea! I think my kids will love to make them since they all like having their own hot cocoa mug – even though it’s already 90 degrees here in CA. Love the dollar store and can’t wait to try these!
Very pretty! Thanks for sharing at Freedom Fridays.
You mentioned it works on wine glasses. Do they need to go in the oven as well?
Yes they do. The paint needs to set and the oven heat sets the paint. Place the wine glassed upside on the baking sheet to give them more stability taking them in and out of the oven.
If i were to use this for plates, bowls, etc. would they be food safe?
I would not recommend them for food safe where you would eat off of the painted surface. But they are safe for the outside for decoration.
Those are really cute! It must take a lot of patience, though. Awesome job!
Sometimes crafting is therapy. 🙂
Hey where did you get your vinyl letters at??
Great Question Cristina. I used a Cricut Machine like this one to cut Vinyl letters. If you don’t have one I know people who have used letters like these instead. If you make them please tag me @mainlyhomemade or use the hashtag #mainlyhomemade. I can’t wait to see them!