Simple Personalized Chalk Painted Mug

I love receiving handmade gifts. It makes me think that the giver really cared to take the time from their busy schedule to create something special for someone. In the same light, I love making handmade gifts, too. Although, I probably don’t make them often enough. But when I do, I find such a joy in doing it.

We recently made this mug for my husband. He received a promotion at his job and we wanted to do something special for him. We celebrated dinner with the board and staff at his work and then a family dinner with just our little family. Around that same time, we had invited some friends (who had a baby) over for dinner. That is when we did a toast and presented the mug to him. He can take it to work and use it for coffee or for holding stationary on his desk (his choice). It is something so simple, yet so meaningful!

This could be personalized for so many occasions – Father’s Day, birthday, a simple daily inspiration mug, etc. It could also be a nice addition to a graduation gift-set since we are in graduation season (which I know is probably almost over). How about, painting the entire mug in chalk paint and using it as a place to write “well wishes” to a graduate? You know those graduation keepsake books where all your friends write something in for you to remember? It’s been a while since I graduated high-school. I even had to look up the name of such a book (auto-graph) ha ha… But anyway, guessing it will be nice to have something like this set on a desk holding small items or even for drinking coffee with all the notes from friends and family written all over it. How special would that be?!

It is so easy to make. Here is what I used:

• a plain white mug
• painter’s tape
• chalk paint
• permanent chalk marker or chalk

The kids helped me pick out a mug from the store. It is only white but there were so many variations and sizes of white mugs to choose from. I do have a million white mugs at home already but we wanted to make his special. Plus it was fun to have the little girls choose a mug for daddy’s special promotion. 

How I went about making it (so easy): 

• Tape off the section of the mug where the paint would be applied. See how I made it into a square. You may find it helpful to tape the rest of the mug to prevent paint from getting all over it. That is something I did not do but probably should have done.

• Spray the mug with spray paint (only the part where you want the wording).

I used chalkboard spray paint but regular chalkboard paint could be used instead.Let it dry. I used about two coats of paint with drying time in between.

• Once it is dried, remove the tape (after about an hour or so).

• You may see a few places where the paint smeared a little like around the edges. But that could be easily scraped off with a sharp tool. I used a bread knife and it left no scratches. 

• Place it in a safe place and let it fully dry out for a period of 24 hours.

Once is fully dried out, bake it in the oven for 30 minutes. 

• To do this I set the oven on 300 degrees, placed the mug on a baking sheet, then baked it for 30 minutes.
• Let it cool before touching it.
• Once the mug is cooled, you can now write on it using chalk. 
• I chose to use a permanent marker so the words won’t wash off. I found this at Target in the dollar isle.

I wrote the word Congrats’ but did not center it enough. So I added a few dots to fill up some space. I am thinking of spraying it over and re-writing the words. Maybe add something a little bit more specific as to what the ‘congrats’ is for and adding the date at the bottom of the mug.

All in all, I love that it is such a simple yet meaningful gift to give to someone. My husband already loves it “as is”.

What do you think? Was this easy enough? Why not make one for your graduate or Father’s day or for yourself and write some encouraging words on there? I would love to know what you think about this simple DIY in the comments.