If you’ve ever been on Pinterest, actually I’m going to broaden that category to if you’re alive and breathing, you’ve seen some version of the Sharpie coffee mugs. If you’re a Pinterest addict like me, you’ve no doubt seen at least a hundred versions. In my opinion, they just never get old, and it’s such an easy way to make a great, cheap, personalized gift. Let me humbly offer my own versions, although I didn’t use a Sharpie…more on that later.

I will be using my version as a Christmas gift for my son’s teacher. Let me tell you, I seem to regularly strike out with teacher gifts. One year, very shortly after we got our dog, Molly, I bought several bags of those really good Ghirardelli squares to add to the kids’ teacher gifts. Since Molly was so new, I didn’t realize she could climb up the table, so silly me, I left them there overnight. You can guess where I’m going with this, I’m sure; Molly managed to chew through the grocery bag, the bag, and each individual package…she ate four bags’ worth of peppermint bark Ghirardelli squares! But just look at this face; it’s impossible to stay mad at her for too long.

Another year, I bought what I thought were nice candles from Target for the kids’ teachers. Literally two days later, I read an article about great gifts for teachers, which said something like, “teachers want nothing less than ANOTHER candle,” and a testimonial from a teacher about how many candles she had to regift every year. Another fail. The next year, I was the teacher (of our homeschool), and NOBODY bought me a teacher gift! I know! Shocking.

So here goes round 4. I’m making a personalized coffee cup using a $1 black coffee mug from the Dollar Tree (love that store!), a $1 pack of alphabet stickers from Walmart, and a $3 Loew Cornell metallic gold glass paint marker from Hobby Lobby (which I have already used for 4 or 5 other projects, so it’s been a good investment). This is the marker, just in case you want to find it for yourself.

I used this marker instead of Sharpie, because I have read several places that Sharpie marker designs don’t last long. I have also read that oil based Sharpies work better, but I haven’t had any luck with them. For me, they don’t flow as well. I absolutely love this marker; it flows well and is very easy to use. It’s also relatively forgivable; I had to scratch things off in a few places, and it was fairly easy to get off.

So here are the instructions in five easy steps:

First, place your stickers. I think it’s pretty just like this…too bad they don’t make permanent stickers. Second, outline the stickers with your marker to make sure that there is enough contrast around your letters to define them. Third, start dotting away. Make sure you put LOTS of dots around your letters, again for more contrast. Fourth, color the handle with your marker. Let the design dry for about an hour. Fifth, peel your stickers off, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. And you’re done!

Now I’ve wrapped up the gift with a pretty Lindt chocolate and a cute Starbucks card, and I think it makes a nice little gift. Now to keep it out of the dog’s reach over the weekend!

After finishing this project, I found this cute $3 coffee cup at Walmart…

…and tried yet another design with the same marker.

Armed with this marker and cute, cheap coffee cups, the possibilities are endless! I would love to see what combinations you come up with, so send them my way! Happy crafting!