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40+ Amazing Cup Painting Ideas from Artistro
Let’s drink coffee in style! Behold 40+ mug painting ideas and useful mug painting tips for real coffee fans from Artistro.
- acrylic painting
- ceramic and glass painting
- painting tutorials
Table of Contents:
Breathe new life into your old mug! Why spend extra money on buying new tableware when you can create a completely new and colorful table set with your own hands? You can take any old mug and decorate it at home with materials at hand, getting an original homemade souvenir in just a couple of hours. We will tell you how to paint ceramic mugs professionally.
Christmas mug painting ideas
These cute mug designs are sure to be both a great gift for your loved ones and a decoration of the festive table to the envy of all guests. And don’t forget to use golden extra fine point paint pens to add sparkly lettering with your Christmas wishes.
Ocean Boss mug painting
Even in the depths of the sea, there is a clear hierarchy. Remind the dearest yourself who the main boss on the land is today. This themed painting is worthy only of the most serious land chef!
Girl’s best friend mug painting
Want to present luxury jewelry to your loved one, but don’t have enough funding? We have already prepared a great alternative for you: a bright faceted gift diamond . on her favorite cup!
BatMug mug painting
Create a cool DIY BatMug design of your own. It will be a stylish and useful gadget that will be loved by both adults and children. This is not the cup you need, but the one you deserve.
Delicious cup painting ideas
Cappuccino brake mug painting
The perfect solution for all dog persons and coffee enthusiasts to combine two favorite activities in one. Spend time with your cute pug pet while preparing breakfast or relaxing during your lunch break.
Nutella timeout mug painting
The sweetest coffee mug format is themed diy hand painted mugs with Nutella icon! What appeals better with your morning coffee than a scented fresh bread with a generous dose of Nutella butter?
Cookie Milky Way mug painting
For all those who are used to start a new day with a healthy glass of milk and favorite cookies, we have come up with this special design. This milk and cookies mug will help you enjoy your favorite delicacy even at work when out of the reach of your favorite delicacies.
Bittersweet love mug painting
To surprise your better half, show your creativity and prepare an unusual handmade gift. This pair of Valentine’s day coffee mugs will help strengthen your relationship and create a unique sweet-hot soul bond between you!
Best friends mug painting
Who is a man’s best friend? Everyone knows it’s a dog. Who is a dog’s best friend? Of course, an appetizing donut with sweet frosting and cream! This picture of best friends is sure to cheer you up during your tea drinking.
Sweet dreams mug painting
Do you like indulging in sweet dreams? Don’t hold yourself back! Picture those sweet dreams right on the cup and enjoy them daily. Dream with doughnut mug without the risk of adding extra calories 🙂
Supplies
- White Ceramic Coffee Mug – The dollar store is great for these.
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Paint – See below for types and where to get them
- Paint Brush
- Q-tips or Paper Towels
- Oven
- Mod Podge (Optional)
Many times, we paint mugs to personalize them, for gifts, or cherished keepsakes (I heart all the kid painted mugs!). Therefore, we want them to stay so we have to use the right products.
There are a few different paints you can use on glazed ceramic mugs.
- Oil based sharpies
- Acrylic Urethane Enamels that are meant for ceramics.
You can find these at craft stores and those are decent. If you are looking for something with better quality, I recommend the Pebeo Porcelain paints, which come in a variety of colors and have a watercolor style, or these professional paint markers.
If you have doubts, read the label and description. It will usually say, “dishwasher safe” and made for glazed ceramics. Unglazed mugs have different requirements.
Painted Mug Decorating Ideas
There are so many cool things you can paint on mugs!
- Glitter and Mod Podge –Mod Podge makes this dishwasher safe top coating that can be mixed with glitter to use on mugs. Do not bake the mod podge!
- Water Marbling – This is a great tutorial using nail polish, but do not put the nail polish on the rim. To make them dishwasher safe, you will have to seal them as well.
- Stenciling – Use stickers to create a negative to paint around, like a letter or shape. This is similar to how I did the mugs shown today.
- Monogram Design
- Handprints – The cutest kid craft!
- Repeating Patterns – simple brush strokes in different colors, chevron, or something as simple as evenly spaced peaches or trees is one of my favorites.
- Mandala or Zentangle Patterns – these are some of my favorite designs!
Instructions for Coffee Cup Painting
1. Clean the mugs well. Hand wash with a mild dish soap and dry them. Then use some rubbing alcohol and allow to completely dry, around 30 minutes. This is to break down any oils that may be left on the surface.
2. Draw or trace an outline of a shape with a pencil. Pencil wipes off easily but also provides a good guide. You can also use a sticker as a stencil to get the basic shape.
3. Paint your design. Make sure to mix the paint or shake paint pen very well. If you make a mistake, you can rub the paint off with Q-tips. Some paints are easier to remove if you dip the Q-tip in rubbing alcohol.
4. Let paint dry for 1 hour to make sure all layers of paint have dried.
5. To cure the paint and make it top-shelf dishwasher safe, you can use 1 of 2 methods:
Bake Method: Place the mug in a cool oven. Set oven temperature to 350ºF. Once temperature has reached 350ºF, start timing for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off. Glass must heat gradually with the oven to avoid breakage. Do not place glass or coffee cups in a hot oven. Let the cups cool completely in the oven. Do not use for 72 hours.
Air Dry Method: Air dry project for 21 days before use.
Hope you get to make your sweetheart a painted coffee mug! I think I am going to show these babies off with breakfast in bed or maybe just a quiet coffee in the morning before the little one wakes up. Whatever you do, I am sure it will be lovely.
Mug painting ideas: What you need
Find out exactly what you need to start painting mugs right away. We’ve listed the top kit from trusted retailers so you can get painting today.
1. Acrylic pens
These are a must-have for painting intricate and detailed designs, they are easy to use, highly pigmented and ideal for drawing your designs right onto your ceramic mug. In the set, you’ll receive 12 vibrant colours, and if you want to use them for other crafty projects, they will paint on just about anything, including glass, wood, plastic, mirrors and chalkboards. So you won’t run out of projects to use these upon.
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2. Plain mugs
It goes without saying to do mug painting you need a mug. Really you can use any plain white ceramic mug you might have already, but if you want to make a set like the pros then it is worth investing in a set of matching white mugs. We adore these ones from Malacasa which have an almost heart-shaped handle.
3. Ceramic paint in a pot
If you prefer the paint and brush method these paints will work well on your mug painting project. With 12 lively and bright colours, these paints are ideal for ceramic and will even show up on darker surfaces. These paints will be permanent after 72hrs of drying time.
4. Fine-tipped paint brushes
Perfect for detailed mug painting these fine brushes will allow you to easily create even the most intricate patterns and designs. With almost 15 thousand positive reviews, you don’t need to just take our word for it, have a browse through the reviews and see for yourself! In the pack, you’ll receive 6 brushes of varying sizes.
5. Wider tipped paint brushes
If you’re looking to make larger brush strokes or paint a larger surface area of your mug quickly then using a wider brush will make the job quicker and easier. These brushes come in a pack of 6 varying in size which should cover all bases. The brushes work really well for more abstract painting too!
6. Acrylic paint kit
If you want to just go all in and get the paints, brushes and mixing palettes all together then this one is the kit for you. Containing 36 colours it’s a bargain price! You’ll have everything you need to get painting on your favourite mug straight away.
7. Sharpies
If you prefer the method of using sharpies to paint on your mugs, they work just as well! They work particularly well for detailed painting like mandala patterns. In this set you’ll receive 28 colours, so you won’t be short of inspiration!
Mug painting ideas and inspiration
8. Sharpie mug painting idea
Do you have Sharpies to hand? Well, time to put them to good use and give your old plain mugs a new lease of life. This tutorial will show you how to create a modern, simple letter amongst lots of colourful dots! It is easy to create, and won’t take you very long. Not to mention, they make wonderful gifts too for friends and family.
Get the full tutorial for the sharpie mug painting idea by Glued to my crafts
9. DIY mandala heart mugs
Create these adorable hand-painted mugs (perfect for valentines) with just a few materials and give that special someone a joyful start to the day. You’ll only need some blank white mugs, acrylic enamel paint and an oven to set the paint at the end – meaning it won’t wash it away!
Get the full tutorial for the DIY heart mugs by Craving Some Creativity
10. Midnight forest mug tutorial
Embrace your inner werewolf and celebrate the full moon with this lovely piece of artwork you can hold in your hand! Ryanne Levin will take you step by step through how to create this lovely mug, and lists out all the tools you will need.
Get the full tutorial for midnight forest mug by Ryanne Levin
11. Marbled mug painting tutorial
Create these delightfully modern marble mugs in just a few simple steps! They look pro but in fact, they are really easy to paint, and the trick is to blow through straw to spread the paint around. Check out the full tutorial below, plus you’ll find a hot chocolate recipe, ready to use in your new mug!
Get the full tutorial for the marbled mug by The Country Chic Cottage
12. Paint stroke mug painting tutorial
Paint like a pro with these uber-modern designs by Rachel Mae Smith. Once you’re finished these mugs will be dishwasher safe and the design will not come off! You can follow along with the tutorial and create these in no time.
Get the full tutorial for the paint stroke mug by Curbly
13. Geometric lined mug painting idea
We love this one! It looks so effective and modern yet it’s so simple to do. You don’t even need a paintbrush if you have a fine-tipped paint tube. This pattern is great too because it actually looks better when the lines aren’t perfect, so there’s really no need to worry about not having a steady hand.
Get the full tutorial for the geometric mug painting from Home Edit
14. Minimalistic mug painting idea
If you want to keep it simple, this might be the project for you! Using only a black porcelain pen you can doodle almost anything you like onto a blank mug. We love the little windmill for inspiration.
Find more inspiration like the minimalistic mug idea from Lana Red Studio
15. Racing car mug
Buying gifts for men can sometimes be super tricky, especially if they’re fussy! If you know they love cars, this mug would be the ideal gift, plus it’s handpainted so will be totally unique.
Find the full tutorial for the racing car mug from DIY Candy
16. DIY cat mug
Paint up this totally purrfect cat mug with simple faces and gold handles. This simple mug requires a fine paintbrush and a steady hand! But it is easy to paint and you can find the full tutorial over at Flamingo Toes!
Find the full tutorial for the DIY cat mugs from Flamingo Toes
17. Paint dipped mug
You can’t really go wrong with this one, grab a plain mug and dip it in your favourite colour ceramic paint, and voila! You have a fancy new set of mugs.
Find the full tutorial for the paint-dipped mugs from The Merry Thought
18. Raindrops teacup
Love having a hot cuppa indoors on a rainy afternoon? Well, you can enjoy that moment every time you have a tea with this lovely and quirky raindrops teacup design. Designed by Julie Schneider for the Etsy blog, you’ll find out exactly how to recreate this lovely teacup!
Find the full tutorial for the raindrop teacup from the Etsy Blog
19. Glitter dipped mug
Add a touch of glitz and glamour to your kitchen with this super sparkly painted mug. This is quick and easy to make and you’ll only need a few materials (including your favourite glitter). It does need a long drying time though (around 28 days to fully cure). This mug will not be microwave safe due to the glitter.
Find the full tutorial for the glitter mug from White House Black Shutters
20. Monsters teacup
Paint your little monsters this quirky monster mug with only a black porcelain marker pen. With this tutorial, you’ll find freebie templates and you’ll be shown how to easily transfer them onto a mug of your choice. Why not make a set of 4?
Find the full tutorial for the monsters teacup from Crafts
21. Heart dots mug
Using mugs with heart-shaped handles you’ll be able to make up these pretty yet simple mugs to bring a bit of love to the kitchen.
Find the full tutorial for the Heart dots mug from Bren Did
22. Fingerprint mug
Looking for the perfect gift for Mother’s Day? Get the little ones involved and create this special keepsake for Mum or Grandma.
Find the full tutorial for the fingerprint mug at The Best Ideas for Kids
23. Polka dot mug
This lovely and modern mug is the perfect project for those who might not have the greatest drawing skills, but you’ll still find yourself with a fabulously painted mug!
Find the full tutorial for the polka dot mug from The Crafted Life
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Are you looking for more fun and creative projects to get stuck into? Try out these easy rock painting ideas, or the decoupage for beginners. We also have how to make resin jewellery tutorial, resin is really fun if you have never tried it before! And if you like it we have lots more resin tutorials to choose from.
Authors
Katie Dolan Digital Assistant, Gathered
Katie Dolan edits our needlework sections, focusing on our embroidery and cross stitch articles, as well as making videos for our arts and crafts projects. Katie runs her jewellery business, Ophelia Jewellery Art, on Etsy, where she sells beautiful resin-pressed flower earrings. She has a wide range of craft interests including embroidery – she particularly loves all things pop culture and a less traditional approach – The Simpsons and Rick & Morty are among her favourites to embroider. She has recently completed a silversmith workshop and hopes to expand her jewellery business with these new skills. When she’s not crafting, she’s usually fuelling her Harry Potter addiction with a Sunday film marathon and a couple of butter beers!
