Okay, so I’ve been wanting to do something about those boring, plain white mugs I’ve got lying around. I figured, why not try customizing one? I’m calling it my “tea/coffee cup” project, simple enough, right?
Getting Started
First, I grabbed one of those plain ceramic mugs. You know, the kind you get for free at conferences? I also dug out some old porcelain markers I had stashed away in a drawer. I think they were from a craft kit I bought ages ago. I made sure I had a few different colors – black, blue, and a bit of red, just in case.
The Messy Part
Before I started drawing, I wiped down the mug with some rubbing alcohol. Just to make sure it was super clean and the marker would stick properly. I didn’t want any smudges messing up my masterpiece (or, you know, my kinda-okay drawing).
Then came the fun part…or the stressful part, depending on how you look at it. I started sketching out a simple design. Nothing fancy, just some wavy lines and a few dots. I figured I’d keep it simple for my first try. Let me tell you, drawing on a curved surface is harder than it looks! My lines were definitely not perfect, but hey, that’s part of the charm, right?
- Used the black marker for the main outlines.
- Added some blue squiggles for a bit of color.
- Threw in a few red dots, just because.
Baking It In
Once I was (somewhat) happy with the design, it was time to make it permanent. I followed the instructions on the marker packaging and popped the mug into a cold oven. Then, I set the temperature to 300°F (about 150°C) and let it bake for around 35 minutes. Turn off the * idea is that the heat sets the porcelain paint, making it dishwasher-safe (hopefully!).
I let it cool down completely before taking * have to let it cool in the oven.
The Result
And…it worked! My customized mug is now ready for its first cup of tea. It’s not going to win any art awards, but it’s unique, and I made it myself. That’s gotta count for something, right? Plus, it’s way more interesting than those plain white mugs now. I’m already thinking about what I’ll draw on the next one!
