Proclaiming that Christmas is a commercial venture is hardly original but it still strikes me how much emphasis is being placed on the what of the giving rather than the generosity of the giving. All of the feel-good movies around the festive season celebrate the spirit of Christmas, yet if you walk into any mall you are being told how this gift or that thing will impress the most. Giving gifts to those you love are about showing your appreciation of them, to remind them that they are special enough that you took the time and effort – aside from the money – to find something that you though they would love.
I remember as a child my mom saying that we should make Christmas and birthday cards for our friends. I always thought it was really lame that I should make them, favouring the brightly coloured store-bought paper and cartoon cards instead. And so I find myself this Christmas not only making gift wrap and cards, but presents as well. And not because I don’t want to buy something but because I think a personalized gift is something to enjoy for so much longer.
For this project you will need:
- Porcelain Art Pen – I used one by Nerchau from my local crafts shop
- Ceramic or porcelain mugs
- Carbon paper
- Messages printed onto standard paper
Price incl. tax, excl. shipping
ZEYAR Acrylic Paint Pens for Ceramic, 12 Colors, Medium Point, Water & Fade Resistant
- 12 vibrant colors: Black, White, Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, and more
- Italian Ink: Water and fade-resistant, durable; permanent
- Smooth Writing: Works on ceramic, porcelain, wood & more
$14.99
Buy on AmazonPrice incl. tax, excl. shipping
Set of 12 Blank Ceramic Sublimation Mugs, 11 oz for Coffee & Tea
- Material: High-quality, BPA-free ceramic; freezer and microwave safe
- Quality Coating: Durable, bright coating; colors remain vibrant
- Easy to Clean: Straight sides and wide mouth for easy cleaning
$26.99
Buy on AmazonPrice incl. tax, excl. shipping
200 Sheets Carbon Transfer Paper & 5 Stylus Tools for Wood, Paper, Canvas
- Erasable: Easily wipes off on paper and smooth wood
- Versatile Use: Ideal for tracing designs onto canvas, paper, ceramic, and clay
- High Quality: Leaves dark, clear lines that are easy to erase or sand off
$7.88
Buy on AmazonI bought some very inexpensive white mugs from PEP Home – they are the perfect size for a quick coffee.
I used my 2 most-loved and most-used hand written fonts for the messages. I chose sayings from TV shows that I know the recipients watch so it makes for a very personal and quite quirky gift! Overlay the messages onto carbon paper and tape it to the mug with masking tape. Then using pencil, trace the outlines of the text. When you are tracing the outline you still have a lot of control over the writing but once you start working with the porcelain pen it becomes a bit more tricky. That’s why a hand-written font is probably the way to go!
Remove the paper and carbon and make sure that you are happy with the design before you start tracing the lines with the porcelain pen. If something goes wrong you can still wipe it off before you start baking though!
Bake the mugs according to the instructions on the pen – this one required the mugs to be placed in a cold oven and then heated to 160 C. Let them cool in the oven with the door open. Once they have cured you can even put them in the dishwasher.
I placed some gourmet coffee beans in little vintage canvass bags to complete the package. My boys are also getting ones with their names on it, without the coffee of course! The gift that will keep someone thinking of you – every time they have hot drink at least!
Happy Making!
2 responses
Hi Germarie
Did any of your recipients try putting these babies through the dishwasher yet? I made some for Valentines Day and would hate it if they turn out a fail 🙂
Thanks
Yes – and with great success! Mine is still legible although faded after a year of heavy use and in the dishwasher daily; to make them last longer, consider sealing them with CPG podge.
g