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Tutorial: Reindeer Thumbprint Coffee Cup

23 November 2012 8,120 views 7 Comments

by summer

Tutorial: Reindeer thumbprint coffee mugs

My family loves getting handmade personalized gift. The favorites are always ones from the grandchildren. This year we made coffee cups. It’s hard to find handmade gifts a 3 year old and 9 year old can both make. Coffee cups were super easy and fun for my entire family to create.

Tutorial: Reindeer thumbprint coffee mugs

Project estimate:

Coffee cup, $1
Enamel paint, on hand or $1 and up
Sharpie, on hand or $1

Total: $1 and up

Tutorial: Reindeer thumbprint coffee mugs

Before you begin wash your coffee cup and remove the sticker from the bottom of the cup. Once completely dry decide where to place your reindeer thumb prints. Paint the thumb with brown paint. Coat it well to get a good print, then press evenly onto mug. Allow paint to dry.

After it is dry using a black Sharpie put antlers on the reindeer, draw eyes on the face and write the name of the person under the thumbprint. Next using the red paint place dots on the thumbprint for the nose.

Before baking you may write any message along the bottom of the cup. I wrote “Merry Christmas”, but you may write your own message making it more meaningful to your family. Don’t forget the date!

Tutorial: Reindeer thumbprint coffee mugs

Once everything is on the cup, place on a cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This will set your design.
Let cool completely before handling. It will be very hot.

The cup can be used for drinking. I would suggest hand washing only. I have never tested in a dishwasher and am a little afraid of what may happen. I don’t want to lose my treasured memories!

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7 Comments »

heather said:

Great idea!

# 25 November 2012 at 8:12 am

Lisa said:

So I keep seeing these Sharpie tutorials like, ALL OVER the place, and I have to say, I tested it out and it doesn’t work. First wash in the dishwasher and it comes off. I also tried handwashing and the Sharpie came right off. I tired baking it for longer. The Sharpie came off. You have to use an enamel pen or the enamel paint designed for glassware. With the sheer number of the “Sharpie on the Mug” posts floating around the interwebs, I see a lot of dissapointment on the faces of gift recipients when the cute gift they received goes down the drain.

# 29 November 2012 at 2:45 pm

heather said:

@Lisa, Thanks for your input! I have heard conflicting info from different bloggers who have tried this.

# 29 November 2012 at 8:31 pm

lizz said:

Love this idea. While shopping for the stuff to create this craft I had a bit of difficulty trying to find a mug that could be placed in the oven. Most said diswasher save as well as microwave safe but I am terrified of something shattering inside the oven. Does anyone have any input or suggestions,thanks

# 29 November 2012 at 8:40 pm

Ryane said:

I have tried several of these $1 sharpie plates, mugs etc and they all wash right off…Yes I did hand wash. It was very sad when are Thanksgiving plates that my boys decorated washed/dryed right off.

# 6 December 2012 at 12:44 pm