Chalkboard Mugs

Do you remember the personalized plates and mugs I made using a sharpie?  I found another way to personalize mugs here.  This time you use a special chalkboard paint that also becomes permanent by baking in the oven.  Chalkboards are so popular right now (they were a huge pain when I had to use them as a teacher) so I decided to order the paint and make these cute mugs.

Make sure your mugs are clean and dry.  I found these mugs at Smiths Marketplace and I like them because they are bigger than the average mug.  Use some Scotch-Blue painter's tape to tape off the areas you don't want to be painted.  Use Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Chalkboard Paint (you can order it from Amazon here).  It is a little bit pricey and it comes in a really small bottle but a little goes a long way.  Apply the paint with a soft bristle brush (I actually did two coats).  Carefully remove the tape before the paint has completely dried to get sharper lines.

Allow the mugs to dry for 24 hours and then bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Allow the oven to come to room temperature before removing the mugs.  Now the paint is permanent and you can write whatever you want on them.  Caution: make sure you are using the correct paint.  I'm pretty sure it would be inadvisable to bake the regular chalkboard paint!

I think these would be a really great gift.  You could write the recipient's name on the mug and fill it with some hot chocolate mix or a Starbucks gift card.  Give these a try!

 

Note:  Do you want to know how to make these cute whipped cream hearts to put in your hot chocolate?

I found the idea here and have been wanting to try it for a year.  It is super simple.  Line a 9X9 pan with tin foil and spread a thin layer of whipped cream on the bottom (Cool Whip works).  Put in the freezer for a couple of hours and then cut out shapes with cookie cutters. I mean if you're going to serve your guests hot chocolate, you might as well make it spectacular with personalized mugs and fancy whipped cream, right?