Quick, easy, and cheeeeeep 'token gift' (1 pic)

16 years ago

I like to give my daughter's in-laws something small and handmade at Christmas. One year I painted t-shirts for them, another year it was painted glass ornaments. This year's gift is the cheapest and easiest yet!

I bought plain white mugs at AC Moore for 50Â¢ apiece. I intended to paint them, but while I was trying to think up personalized designs my cousin Barbara (who always has ideas) gave me the idea of writing on them instead.

I experimented with various Sharpies, and found that not every color held fast to the surface of the mug. This was especially true if I sealed it by painting a clear glaze over the writing. Purple turned out to be my most reliable color.

Here's a picture of the first one I did. It's for my DD's MIL, who has diabetes and uses a lot of Splenda. As you can see, it doesn't look very professional (hey, it's hard to write pretty on a mug!), but I was going for heartfelt and funny. For the others, I used quotations that applied to the individuals. For instance, to a guy who wears $250 jeans, I used my favorite quote from Thoreau: Beware of all enterprises requiring new clothes.

I think some of you should try this! The glaze I used is available at AC Moore and Michael's. It's intended to be used over paints designed for glass and other shiny surfaces. As you can see in the picture, some of the green vine smeared because that particular paint was the wrong kind. I'll probably do this mug over.

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Comments (12)

OklaMoni
16 years ago
Oh, I like it! Very nice.

Moni
kacram
16 years ago
that is a great idea!
very cute!
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lydia1959
16 years ago
Very Cute!! That would also be a good gift from a child to a parent or grandparent. Everybody loves doodles and scribbles from the little kids in their life.

They used to sell a kit that had special markers in it for this purpose... they were way more expensive than 50 cents and a Sharpie though! lol My DD made one for DH when she was about 5. We still have it tucked away somewhere.
sjarz
16 years ago
Yep, I agree it's a cute and cheap way to give a gift when you don't want to spend an appendage...
what about washing it? Will everthing stay put if it's washed by hand or in the dishwasher?
I really liked your other handmade gifts you made, too Susan.
Suzan J
mcmann
16 years ago
What a clever person you are! I think that's a great idea. Unfortunately I can't do it because I'd keep trying to improve my penmanship and I'd ruin lots of mugs. mmmm although I could probably use a stencil.
alisande
Original Author
16 years ago
I love the idea of children's art (scribbles LOL) on a mug!!

Re washing, yes, that was part of my initial testing. I wouldn't want to try it without the glaze, though. The glaze is the same one I've used for painted wine glasses and martini glasses, and they've held up under numerous washings.
alisande
Original Author
16 years ago
Oh, cr@p. I just put away all my paints and got the dining table cleared off (well, mostly), and then I remembered that I still need to make one for my new boss. He's such a good boss . . . he deserves a good mug. :-)
Linda Wayman
16 years ago
Susan, I really like the way that one looks. That's a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
glenda_al
16 years ago
Cute!
nicole_ont
16 years ago
What a great idea! I'm going to have the kids do that for their grandparents. What's the glaze called?
alisande
Original Author
16 years ago
Nicole, the kind I use is made by Delta. It's called Clear Gloss Glaze, and the bottle (plastic bottle, I'm guessing 6 or 8 oz. because it's not in front of me) also reads Air-Dry PermEnamel. Do show us the results!
joyfulguy
16 years ago
great idea for soeone who has a measure of artistid talent.

Nice to have a really good boss, who isn't smug ... deserves a mug, indeed.

ole joyful

Quick, easy, and cheeeeeep 'token gift' (1 pic)

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Quick, easy, and cheeeeeep 'token gift' (1 pic)

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