By: Lauren Albrecht Photos by: Lauren Albrecht
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start considering how you’d like so show your loved ones how much you really care about them! As a college student, I know the best gift is one that doesn’t empty your wallet, so what a steal to give this inexpensive, reusable, and do-it-yourself Valentine’s mug!
You only need two supplies: a plain, dishwasher-safe mug and a paint pen.
You can find this DecoArt glass paint marker at Michael’s for $1.99 and the mug at Target for just $3.50. There are plenty of mugs with different designs to choose from, so make it your own! However, be sure to use this exact brand of paint pen in order to have a dishwasher-safe design. Sharpie markers, despite what Pinterest says, do not work for this type of project.
Then comes the fun part: paint your mug!
Write reasons you care about the recipient, funny quotes, or draw a picture of the both of you! The best part about this project is that it is totally customizable to you and your relationship with the recipient.
I chose a simple heart for the front side…
and a lovey-dovey saying for the back side.
After painting, allow the mug to air dry for about 8 hours. Then preheat the oven to 375 degrees and set the mug inside while the oven preheats. Bake the mug for 40 minutes after the desired temperature is reached.
After 40 minutes, turn the oven off, open the door, and allow the mug to cool inside the oven.
Now that the paint is set, your design should be dishwasher safe!
Feel free to stuff your mug with goodies, wrap in pink and red wrapping paper, or anything else you can think of to make your person feel special upon receiving it. Good luck and happy gifting!
*Idea originally found here (This article says to use Sharpies, but as I wrote above, those do not work. They wash off even after baking.)
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