How to Make Fun Travel Mugs
Personalized travel mugs can express many things. They are perfect to show someone how much you care and express your ideas about the world. Travel mugs come in a variety of sizes and colors and can be easily decorated by people of all ages. Decorated travel mugs make great gifts, can show off school spirit, and are great craft projects for organizations, such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.
Things You'll Need
- Travel mug with a paper insert
- Tracing paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Colored cardstock paper
- Ruler
- Permanent markers
- Stickers (optional)
Instructions
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Purchase a travel mug that can be disassembled or one that is specifically made for inserting a paper design. Craft mugs are available at most craft stores and online. Some regular travel mugs can be used. However, they must come apart. Look for mugs that have a bottom that can be unscrewed with a double layer. Always examine your non-craft travel mug thoroughly before taking it apart; you have to be able to put it back together.
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Unscrew the bottom of your travel mug, and remove the pre-existing paper design. Trace the outside area of this paper onto a piece of tracing paper, and cut it out. It will make your template.
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Place the tracing paper pattern onto a piece of cardstock paper. Choose any color that suits your chosen theme. Select blue, yellow or light green to make a "Toadly Happy" frog-themed travel mug.
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Trace the pattern onto the cardstock, and then cut it out. The cardstock is the foundation of your travel mug insert.
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Choose a fun saying such as "I dig the Earth," "All people smile in the same language" or "Toadly Happy." Use the ruler to determine the placement of your letters on your mug. The words can be centered or wrapped around the travel mug.
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Write your saying on the cardstock paper using the pencil. Trace the letters with permanent marker. If desired, place stickers around the cardstock. For example, if using the phrase "Toadly Happy," select frog stickers to border the travel mug insert. Draw tufts of grass around the frogs on the bottom border.
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Reinsert the decorated cardstock into the travel mug, and attach the bottom of the mug.
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Tips & Warnings
Travel mug inserts can also be painted with acrylic or tempera paints. Allow paintings to dry completely before inserting them into the travel mug.
Decorate travel mugs with favorite photos of family or vacation spots. Use glue or double-sided tape to adhere the photos to a colored paper insert. Place stickers on the corners of the photos for a bordered appearance.
Print a favorite artwork. Use the pattern to trace over the artwork, cut it out and insert the artwork into your travel mug.
Do not wash your travel mug in a dishwasher or allow your mug to sit in a sink of water for an extended amount of time.
References
- Photo Credit coffee mug image by andrew chambers from Fotolia.com
