These birch tree hand-painted coffee mugs bring nature to your table. Perfect for coffee lovers who appreciate a little art with their caffeine.
There's just something special about sipping your morning coffee from a mug that feels personal.
These painted mugs are inspired by the beauty of big trees and make the perfect mix of art and function.
They're an excellent project for anyone who loves to paint or wants to give a thoughtful, handmade gift.
Plus, every time you use them, you'll get a little reminder of nature's calm and charm.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Baking Time: 30 minutes
Painting Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Supply List
Not all paint is top-rack dishwasher safe when cured, so make sure to check the instructions on the bottle before using.
Painting Instructions
Paint should not be applied anywhere that food or lips come into contact, so keep that in mind when planning your design.
As you can see, I realized this after I had painted and cured my mugs, but they turned out so cute, I kept them anyway to put pens in. ☺️
Before painting, clean the ceramic surface with isopropyl alcohol to remove any oils or dust.
Use a small paintbrush to paint the tree's wood.
I started with the Chocolate Sprinkle and drew the tree's long lines, then went over it again with the black and added the dots. This creates dimension.
For the tree's leaves, dab small dots of Lemon, Outrageous Orange, and Mountain Forest acrylic paint.
For the area under the tree, pick up a little bit of each color with the paintbrush, then dab it on.
I painted two mugs, and they both turned out so cute!
To keep the paint away from the rim, you could make the trees shorter and the branches wider.
How to Cure
For the best results, follow the instructions on the paint bottle. Different paints can have different instructions.
These instructions are for the Apple Barrel Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paint.
Allow the paint to completely dry to the touch for at least an hour.
Place the ceramic mug(s) on a baking sheet, and place in a cool oven.
Set the temperature to 350º F. Once the oven is to temperature, set a timer for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and leave the door shut. Do not open it.
Allow the ceramic mug to cool to room temperature in the oven.
The mug should not be used or washed for 72 hours to ensure the paint is fully cured.
How to Wash
After the initial 72 hours, your mug is fine to use and wash.
According to the bottle's instructions, the paint is top-rack dishwasher safe. However, I do recommend hand washing.
Handwashing will ensure your beautiful hand-painted design lasts much longer and won't wear down in the dishwasher.
More Mug Ideas
Looking for more mug ideas to create handmade gifts? Here are a few more fun ideas.
Hi, I'm Katie!
I'm so glad you're here. Want to make something fabulous? I'm here to help!
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