Step 1
1
Buy oil-based paint pens that can be baked onto ceramics. Look at your local craft supply store or on the website of an online craft supply seller for paint pens or bottle of paint that state that they are made to use on ceramics. They should come in a wide variety of colors and a variety of tip thicknesses, so pick an array of colors and tips you like.
The paints you want to use are typically described as “oil-based” instead of “water-based” on their packaging.
It is important to buy the right kind of paint. Otherwise, your decorations will not be permanent.
Step 2
2
Clean the surface of the mug with cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. Before decorating your mug, you need to make sure that the surface is completely clean. Rubbing alcohol will remove any residue on the surface and will not leave any residue behind after cleaning.
Cleaning the surface of the mug will remove any dirt and grease that may prevent the paint from sticking to the mug.
Step 3
3
Lay out your design. You can draw preliminary lines with a pencil to lay out your design before you paint it on permanently. It also can be helpful to use masking or painter’s tape to define where you want to draw your design.
If you are confident in how you want to design your mug and in your painting or drawing skills, then a preliminary sketch may not be necessary.
Step 4
4
Paint your design on your mug. Start painting your design on with your paint brushes or pens. If you drew a preliminary sketch of your design on your mug, follow the lines and also add additional details if you like.
If you make a mistake with the paint, you can remove it quickly with the tip of a Q-tip. However, once the paint is dry, it can’t be removed easily.
Step 5
5
Let the paint dry completely. Before moving on, you need to give your design plenty of time to dry. Follow the directions on the packaging for drying time on the paints, but typically you should let it dry for at least 24 hours.
