DIY Personalized Camping-Themed Mug
When you want to give a really special gift, consider making a DIY Personalized Camping-Themed Mug. It’s an easy project that doesn’t take artistic ability or special equipment.
Supplies
One of the reasons I love this project is that you don’t need expensive supplies or equipment. Just a little creativity, some sharpie markers and a coffee mug for your local Dollar Tree store! You will also need a few cotton balls, Q-tips and a little rubbing alcohol. That’s it.
If you want to get really fancy, you can also use a template but I just draw my designs freehand, and I’m NOT an artist!
Gift Ideas
Because you can write any message and create any design, you can give these mugs as gifts for any occassion.
- They are really great for “RV housewarming gifts” when your friends buy a new rig.
- They are also great for retirement gifts for friends who are planning to hit the road in their RV to experience the country.
Watch How To Make Them
DIY Personalized Camping-Themed Mug
Equipment
- Oven
Materials
- Sharpie permanent markers (oil based “Paint Sharipe” markers are better at not washing off, see Note 1)
- Cheap white mugs light color from Dollar Tree work great (see Note 2)
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cotton balls and Q-tips to clean mug with alcohol & wipe off mistakes
Optional Supplies
- Templates if desired rather than drawing freehand
Instructions
- Clean mug. First with dish soap (remove any oils from it). Make sure you remove stickers from the bottom of the mug.
- Dry the mug completely.
- Clean your mug again with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. Allow it to evaporate (this takes a few minutes).
- After they are washed, do not touch the outside of the mug (where you’ll be drawing the design) with your hands because the oil from your hands can get on the mug and the marker won’t affix to the mug.
- Draw your design on the mug. (See Notes 3, 4 & 5)
- Allow marker mug to dry before baking (24 hours produces best results).
- Wipe off mistakes with a q-tip that has a bit of rubbing alcohol on it.
- Place mug upside down directly on the oven grate in COLD oven to let it gradually heat up. (See Notes 6 & 7)
- Set oven to 450 F degrees. Once the oven temperature reaches 450 degrees, start a timer and bake for 30 minutes.
- Turn oven off, leave door closed and leave mug in the oven to let it gradually cool down.
- Keep oven door closed for 15 minutes, then crack the door open and let the mug continue to sit in the oven overnight to cool completely.
- Remove from mug from oven, hand wash before use.
Video
Notes
- You may notice that the color of your paint changes a bit once they are baked–this is normal (some colors are affected more than others. Darker shades tend to hold color better than lighter colors.
- White ceramic that has been fired and glazed, typical, cheap white ceramic mug. Straight sides are easier to work with compared to rounded objects.
- If doing a negative design, heavily concentrate dots around the edge of the sticker. As you work outward, make dots more sparse. You can use 1 color or multiple colors. Allow your painted dots to dry completely before peeling off sticker.
- If you use more than 1 color, let the first color dry completely before layering on the second color (it dries fairly quickly).
- Avoid applying marker around the rim of the mug where your lips will touch it, these markers are not food-safe.
- If you put the cold mug into a hot oven it will crack.
- If you place mugs on a cookie sheet, they may discolor.
- These mugs must be hand-washed, they can’t be run through the dishwasher, the design will wash off.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment, question or suggestion below. I’d love to hear from you so let’s chat.