I had doubts that the design on the mug, which was supposedly drawn with Sharpie, would actually last. Could the mug be cleaned without ruining the design? After much research and a few failed attempts, I've figured out how to make a customized Sharpie mug that would actually survive the dishwasher. I'll show you exactly how to make your own durable Sharpie mug, and give you all the tricks that I learned the hard way.
If you also love Harry Potter, you will understand just how useful this mug is. Just watch how it summons coffee!
Supplies
- Mug
- Cheap mugs will give you a better product. Cheap mugs have a thinner glaze coating than expensive mugs. The less glaze there is, the better the Sharpie will stick to your mugs. I purchased my mugs from Target for $2.99.
- Oil- based Paint Sharpies
- You can find oil-based paint Sharpies at any craft store. They are more expensive than normal Sharpies, but they are worth the extra cost. If you use oil-based Sharpies, your mug can be cleaned in the dishwasher. If you use normal sharpies, you will have to hand-wash you mug.
- Keep in mind that the color of your Sharpies may change after baking, which you must do to make the Sharpie paint permanent. Black will stay black, but other colors will change slightly. The color change isn't severe, but it is enough to become an annoyance if you were anticipating a particular color. For example, the color changes I have experienced with my pack of oil-based paint Sharpies are red turning to plum, yellow turning to mustard, blue turning sage green, and white turning cream.
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cotton Balls
Directions
1) Clean your mug with a cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol. Wipe dry. Oil from your fingers and small particles will prevent the Sharpie ink from adhering properly.2) Remove any stickers from your mug. I realized only after my first mug was in the oven that there was a sneaky bar code sticker stuck to the bottom of my mug. It made the whole apartment smell, and it was nearly impossible to get off after it was baked on.
3) Draw your favorite design, saying, thoughts, or spell onto your mug. If you mess up, don't worry! Use a cotton ball dipped in alcohol to wipe off your error. The oil-based Sharpies are slightly less forgiving than normal Sharpies and require a bit more scrubbing.
4) Place the mug into the oven. Then, set the oven to 425degF. If you put your mug into an oven that was already preheated, the sudden temperature change could cause the mug to crack.
5) After the oven has reached 425degF, set a timer for 30 minutes.
6) When the timer is up, turn off the heat to the oven. Do not remove your mug from the oven, but you can crack the oven door open. Again, sudden severe temperature changes are not safe for your mug. Also, you need to wait until the mug is cool before touching the Sharpie ink.
You can now relax and enjoy your favorite coffee or tea in your personalized mug. However, I couldn't stop after I completed the successful Harry Potter Sharpie mug. I continued to make a couple more mugs for Chris and I. Chris loves reading the Star Wars books, and he loves puns. I found yet another picture on Pinterest with no link of the cutest Star Wars mug I've ever seen, and I knew I had to make it. Below is a picture of my version. I wish I knew who I could credit this idea to!
I hope that you enjoy making a mug for yourself or someone close to you!
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