DIY Original Artwork Coffee Cups

This is an easy last minute gift idea featuring original art work.  A few weeks  ago I went to a Winterland / Holiday event for children and this was one of the arts and craft projects featured.  It was hands down the most popular craft table.  Kids from ages 1-2 years old and up to grammar school were decorating cups and having a blast.  Clearly the little ones, like my son and younger, needed some adult supervision and some help opening the markers, holding the cups, and reminding them not to draw on the table, floors, each other etc.  I'm not sure if he or I had more fun (I probably did), but this cup is my new, most favorite thing.

I proudly drink out of it all day at work because every time I see it, I smile.  And everyone who sees it thinks it is the most special gift... BECAUSE IT IS!  I have an original piece of art from my 2 year old that can be used daily and washed without fear of ruining his scribble artwork.  This is such a great alternative to picture cups and will also last for years to come.  Plus, it is a fun project to do with your kids and only takes a little more than 24 hours before it is cured and ready for use so it is a great last minute gift idea.  It is also a budget friendly gift.

Acrylic paint markers and cups can be purchased at your local arts and craft store (think Michaels, etc.).  I purchased all my supplies on Amazon.  For an even better deal look for coffee cups at your local dollar store.

For this project you will need acrylic pens, ceramic coffee cups, and rubbing alcohol. And obvi some newspaper to cover your work space. I also recommend priming your markers so they are ready to use before sitting down to color, especially if you have a 2 year old like mine who is all about monkey see, monkey do. Once he saw me priming the markers he stopped wanting to color the cups and wanted to “boop” the table so we had to take a break and return to coloring the cups later.  And yes he still remembered and wanted to make one mark on the cup followed by a boop on the table, over and over...  While I chose coffee cups for this gift you can use any oven safe ceramic medium (plate, bowl, vase etc.). 

DIY Original Artwork Coffee Cups 

Printable directions

Supplies:

• Acrylic paint pens / markers
• Rubbing alcohol 
• Ceramic mugs
• Newspaper

Directions:

1. Cover your workspace with newspaper
2. Wipe cups with rubbing alcohol
3. Prime markers so they are ready to draw with
4. Once cups are dry let your child go crazy and color the cups to their liking.  (Why not color a cup with them?!)
5. Let  cups sit undisturbed for 24 hours
6. Bake for 40 minutes in a 300 degree oven or follow the directions recommended with the acrylic paint pen manufacture
7. Let cool completely

Once cool wrap and gift or wash and use your original, one of a kind masterpiece.  

I also had fun making a cup and when my dad saw it he ranted and raved about it (he loves my original art) so I may consider giving him this cup I made.

Leave a comment with your finished project and Happy Holidays! 

Super Easy Tie Dye Sugar Cookies Recipe

It's a billion degrees up in here.   It is so hot here in New Jersey that we have a heat advisory, which means stay inside.  Keeping a super active almost 23 month old entertained all day is a challenge (this is why we have the wonderful thing that is daycare).  Normally we spend lots of time outside so Carter can run, run, have a snack, drink water, and run some more.  But keeping him entertained all day inside while breastfeeding his month old brother seems nearly impossible.  This is where projects come in.

Carter loves projects where he can help.  Seriously my son is the best little helper.  He loves to "help" sweep the floor, wash dishes, and load and empty the dishwasher, all with supervision.  He is also starting to get into cooking and baking, although his attention span is limited if a recipe requires too many steps.  That's why this recipe is perfect.  While you could make your own sugar cookies, I use premade dough, which I cook and cool before it is time to glaze.  I love the kid, but he doesn't need to learn how the oven works yet.  These cookies need to set so I highly recommend making them before nap time so they are ready to enjoy once your little one wakes up.  And lastly, make sure you have some wet paper towels on hand to clean those little fingers, because if your child is like mine, then half the fun is getting the glaze all over your hands.  I get it.  Glaze feels like slime and slime is life.  Just don't be like me and lick the glaze off your fingers in front of your mini me because monkey see, monkey do and Carter is at the age that if he sees you do something once he will do it again and again.  You have been warned.

Super Easy Tie Dye Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 16 ounce sugar cookie dough
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon water
• Food coloring

Tools:
Toothpick

Directions:
1.  Bake sugar cookies according to package directions.  Allow to completely cool before making glaze
2.  Make glaze by combining powdered sugar, corn syrup, and water in a shallow dish.  Mix until glaze is smooth and thin, but not runny.  If needed add water 1 teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency

3. Add drops of food coloring of different colors into glaze

4. Drag a toothpick through food coloring in various directions to get a marbled look

5. Dip tops of cookies into glaze and place back on cooking sheet and or wire rack to set, approximately 1 hour

6. Enjoy with a nice cold glass of milk



As always mom tested, Carter approved!

Dishwasher Safe Glitter Dip

So there are two things that are true about me: I love shinny things and I love DIY projects.  Perhaps it's because I'm an only child and growing up I often had to entertain myself.  I've been glitter dipping things for awhile and I will say the more I do these projects the better they get.  I posted a YouTube video demonstrating how to glitter dip, but I've changed my technique and tools and am so happy with the results.  And now it is dishwasher safe!  

What you will need:

• Item to glitter dip (mug, vase, bowl, etc.)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Painters tape
• Fine loose glitter (I love Martha Stewart's glitters)
• Foam paint brush
• Dishwasher safe Mod Podge
• Newspaper
• Patience!  

Directions:

1. Apply newspaper for your work area.  
2. Clean the item you are glitter dipping with rubbing alcohol.
3. Apply painters tape above where you want your glitter to stop making sure to leave some room at the top of the item if it is a beverage container (I recommend at least an inch).  If you want your handle glitter dip also apply tape to the handle.
4. Apply a thin layer of mod podge.
5. Immediately cover with glitter.  Note: For the look I did I used different colors of glitter for an ombre effect.  I start from one side applying the lightest to darkest shades of glitter in thin sections.  Of course I pour the glitter over different pieces of newspaper so I can recycle the fall off.
6. Let cup sit for at least 1 hour. 
7. Apply another thin coat of mod podge.
8. Cover with another layer of glitter as directed in step 5.  
9. Let cup sit again for at least 1 hour.
10. Apply one final thin coat of mod podge and let item set uninterrupted for 28 days.  (Yes I wrote 28!)
11. Wash the item and enjoy