DIY Gift Guide

While flowers and cards are always appreciated, I like to get a little more creative with my holiday gift giving. And what better way to show your friends how much they mean to you than with something handmade? As the resident crafter on Team LC, I wanted to share a chic and simple custom mug that would be particularly perfect for Holiday. Check out my how-to below…

Here’s what you will need:
Plain white mug or coffee set
Metallic gold paint pen (Note: This is different from a regular gold Sharpie) Instructions:
1.Draw or trace out your design onto your mug. (I printed a heart out on a piece of paper, cut it out, and used that to stencil my outline.) If you make a mistake, the paint is easily removable from non-porous surfaces with rubbing alcohol before it sets.
2.Allow your designs to dry to the touch, and then pop them in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. This will set the paint so that it is permanent. Let cool and then present them to your friends!
How easy was that? The paint pens I used for this craft are my latest and greatest DIY discovery. They’re much easier to handle than a brush, they come in a variety of colors including metallics, and the oil-based paint turns permanent after you bake it. You can use the pens on pretty much any surface, but I made this serve ware set with my own coffee-loving friends in mind. The gold paint withstood my hand-washing test quite well, but to be safe, keep your hand-painted mugs out of the dishwasher. I’d also recommend keeping your design away from the rim of the cup where your mouth goes.
Do you have any other DIY requests? Let me know what type of craft I should share next.