I love getting messy at craft time with my kids, but sometimes I just want a project that I can tackle on my own!
I have seen these personalized glittery coffee tumblers in stores, and wanted to try my hand at the craft myself, so I did what most would do... I searched Pinterest.
I found quite a few tutorials and videos that included intricate steps, lots of mess, and took days (which I do not have). I even found at least one video that had a drying station made out of a chicken rotisserie. It was a brilliant idea, but since I'm not planning on making a huge quantity, I needed to find an easier solution. So I put my creative mind to work and came up with this easy way of creating a personalized, glittery coffee tumbler.
What you need:
- Metal coffee tumbler (If you can find some already color coated, it makes the process even easier)
- Electrical tape
- Rubbing alcohol
- Glitter
- Spray adhesive
- Disposable foam brushes
- Stickers (optional for decorating and personalizing)
- Disposable gloves
- FDA-approved epoxy
- A box
Instructions:
1. Clean
Remove lid and thoroughly clean outside of tumbler with rubbing alcohol.
2. Mask
Cover top of tumbler and bottom of tumbler with electrical tape. (Electrical tape is easier to remove than painters tape.)
3. Glitter
With gloves on, and in a well-ventilated area, lightly spray adhesive in small sections (this is where the box comes in handy -- eliminate mess by spraying inside a box). Sprinkle glitter liberally. Repeat process all over mug to coat it thoroughly. Repeat until you reach desired coverage.
To get an ombre effect, spray adhesive in sections. Holding tumbler bottom side up, sprinkle glitter from above and gently tap to let glitter fall down into place. Repeat process until you get the desired effect (see video for instructions).
4. Dry
Let tumbler dry at least one hour.
5. Re-mask
Pro Tip: removing electrical tape and re-masking will make for cleaner lines! Place the new line of tape slightly above glitter line to create a better seal with epoxy.
6. Epoxy, first coat
Wearing gloves and working in a well-ventilated area, mix epoxy according to instructions on box. (Not much is needed to coat one tumbler. Do not attempt to save any leftovers for your second coat, as epoxy will harden.) Dip foam brush lightly in epoxy. Working from top to bottom, gently brush a thin layer of epoxy over entire surface, covering glitter.
7. Clean drips
Wearing gloves, use a clean foam brush to wipe away any drips that ran onto electrical tape.
8. Let dry
Let dry overnight. (Epoxy dries more quickly in warmer temperatures.
9. Embellish
Add stickers to decorate. Computer printouts work well too!
10. Epoxy, second coat
Add a second coat, working from top to bottom and following the same directions as above. Gently brush a thin layer of epoxy over entire surface, ensuring embellishment is covered.
11. Let dry
Let dry for 24 hours.
12. Clean tumbler
Remove electrical tape and wash with soap (always hand wash your tumbler).
Don't be afraid of getting creative! Add a small amount of glitter or add a lot for tons of sparkle. If glitter isn't your taste, try spray paint instead. Add stickers, cutouts, or even printouts from the computer. Have fun and make the tumbler your creation. Make for yourself or give as gifts!
To make the above steps even easier watch my video tutorial:
Julie Dikken is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Evergreen, Bailey and Conifer, Colo.
About Our Sponsor:
Founded in 1989, in downtown Reading on the corner of 8th and Windsor. The Reading Coffee Company is a purveyor of small-batch, gourmet coffee. For over three decades, we have endeavored to perfect our methods and to cultivate relationships with leading importers, thereby gaining access to premium coffees from around the world. Our commitment to medium roasted coffee stems from a desire to maximize the natural potential of the beans, to develop complex, full-bodied flavors, and to deliver a product that is rich and smooth – never bitter or burnt. The company is in its second generation of ownership, owned by cousins Frank and Kevin Orman. We also have fine teas, brew methods and gourmet gifts and baskets.
