You’ve seen it all over pinterest. The amazing claim that you can draw on a dollar store mug with a sharpie and bake it for 30 minutes on 350 then VOILA! You magically have this awesomely custom mug. Well pinterest I’m onto you and you’re little crafty lies. This one is not true. I’ve tried it three different times and sorry folks it DOES NOT WORK. (Here’s how to actually make it work.)
I was so excited to try this because I have a large collection of multi colored sharpies. So I made these two adorable mugs, and I was so pleased with how they turned out!
The design on the left is what happened after a light washing. It even rubbed off without soap and water, just rubbing my finger over the design smudged it.
A good solid scrubbing took the image off completely. Survey says: This one’s a doozie. 
So now this just means you need to figure out HOW to make it work!! You are very crafty and I really wanted this to work
So help me out 
Lol I’ll work on it
Yes, Noelle, you are very crafty;-)
I had success. Well, the red sharpie faded in the oven but the red BIC marker didn’t. Here is what I did, maybe that will help. http://diyopolis.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/94/
What a shame
they looked so pretty
stinkeroo! I wish it really did work! I was thinking about doing some as Christmas gifts! Thanks for doing the legwork !
Thanks for letting us know!
You can use a porcelain pen called pebeo
That’s what I use
Angela @ http://www.chaobella.com
I’ve seen those but sharpies are much cheaper, so I was hoping this would be a more affordable option. I will probably use one of those pens in the future. Thanks for the suggestion!
its only about $8 at micheals, and with a 40% off coupon from their site its not that much money. i can draw at least 3 plates with 1 marker
http://chaobella.com/category/ceramic/
Take a look at the ones i have draw with pebeo. they sell two different thickness and also little ‘jugs’ where you can use a paint brush. i usually use them to dot some berries or frills.
let me know what you think
http://www.chaobella.com
Wow you do such amazing work! I love your art! How do you mark out the designs before you draw?
no i don’t! i don’t pre think any of my art. its just the way i work. i look at a piece and i think about what designs i like… i have to be inspired by SOMETHING then my brain just flows for 20-40 minutes. Its hard to explain. Its a lot of fun! try it!
I like going to home sense to look at white plates or plates on sale. i still have about 40 in the basement waiting for me (for my time)
I wanted to share! i found in the USA at hobby lobby a brand called ‘deco art’ they make pens for porcelain and glass! the ink flow is MUCH better then pebeo! MUCH very smooth less clump
Please check it out! pebeo has been so hyped out since the sharpie mug pin…
Its been a while but this is the last one i posted! I have made more since just haven’t bloged out it! will link it over when i do
http://chaobella.com/2012/08/26/paintedplates/
xoxo
Angela Chao
http://www.chaobella.com
Thanks for letting us know! I wonder about a lot of this Pinterest stuff. I’m sure not all of it really works well.
Someone has to do the dirty work
I do many pinterest pins and let people know if they turn out. So far not so many bad. I was going to do this one but you saved me the time thanks:)
Yeah it’s a shame when they’re a bust. I’m going to try the crock pot bread soon. Stay tuned to see if it works!
It’s ashame yours didn’t work, they looked lovely. I found the trick was to yes, bake them for 30 mins, but then turn the oven off and leave them in the oven. Mine worked out fine and have been washing them without it rubbing off. http://wp.me/p2pJ9q-k7
I tried that too! Didn’t work for me. Maybe I needed a fresh sharpie? Mine are kinda old. I can’t for the life of me figure it out. I did spray one with acrylic sealant and that actually worked, but unfortunately it made my design smudgy.
oh what ashame! So strange! Maybe it’s the type of mug you used? No idea
maybe it is the type of cup you used? I don’t know what the difference is but I know that mine worked. Good luck.
I read on another blog about these that you need to use an oil based sharpie, which you can buy at a craft supply store.
Interesting. Do you know if there is a particular brand? I used regular sharpie brand.
I am testing the oil based sharpie theory right now… I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I bought some too for $4. Not too bad! I thought they were over $10. Hopefully I’ll have time to try tomorrow!
http://missjaymie.tumblr.com/image/35014202220
The oil based sharpies seem to work. I didn’t use a super abrasive scubby or anything, but I washed with warm water, dish soap, and a dish rag, and it stayed. You can see the picture on my blog at the link above.
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Let us know how it goes Homemaker Chic!
Hi, my family and I tried this the other day. Did you place them in the oven, THEN turn the oven to 350 for 30 minutes and LEAVE the plates/mugs inside until they are completely cool? That is what we did and it worked perfectly! Scrubbed very hard and nothing budged.
Yes that is what I did. Didn’t work for me.
Yes, I left them in until they were completely cool!
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To make it last you can buy a decopage glue for porcelain and cover the shape with it.
Yup this does NOT work. I also tried the sharpie pen on the mug. I didn’t notice that it wasn’t working for other people until I had already attempted it. Don’t waste your time people, the sharpie does not work!
I think the problem is with the mug. Try with an unglazed porcelain mug. I think the glaze is keeping the marker from being absorbed and therefore, getting washed off easily.
Did you try 450 degrees instead of 350? Worked for me, except it tanned the cup.
Haven’t tried that one yet. Worth a shot. Thank you.
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I’ve tried this too. It made me so mad! I was so excited about this craft. But someone else posted that if you use the craft sharpies that are meant for porcelain and glass and repeat the same steps that it’ll work and dishwasher safe.
Yep. Check out my other post linked above about how to make it work. I use the oil based sharpies too.