DIY Coffee & Tea Mug Gifts
Holidays for me aren’t about the amount of money we spend. That was something I had to put my foot down about a few years ago with kiddo and husband. Husband has this way of thinking that if it doesn’t cost X amount of dollars than it’s just not enough.
When I put my foot down the first thing I did was give kiddo a 5 Things printable to request her Santa items. This limits her to only ask for something she wants, something she needs, something she will wear, something to read and one special thing. It has helped out tremendously. It also helps us with cutting down the presents we buy. The next thing we did was to start making homemade gifts and treats. I encourage you to pin it and save for this Christmas, because you and I both know it will be here again before we know it.
While I realize Christmas and Valentine’s Day are long gone, we are coming up on Easter and Mother’s day. These make great gifts for parents, grand-parents, even aunts and uncles!
For my mother, his mother, his father and step-mother they already have a houseful of ‘stuff’ and ‘things.’ Why add to that? Our first few Christmas’s together he was in his ‘not enough’ phase and it was a literal nightmare for me. Personally, I would rather give back during the holidays and give to those in need. We weren’t really able to do that because we just could not communicate our different views on Christmas or holidays in general.
Now that we have, the parents get a few small things and one nice thing. Then kiddo makes a homemade gift and then my mother and I make a lot of homemade treats. I make things on my own so that she doesn’t know what she is getting.
For example, my father-in-law loves Pumpkin Seeds. My cousin has a giant pumpkin patch so I know during pumpkin season I am gathering as many pumpkins as I can. I do a lot of canning and they do a large carving party for the kids. I roasted at least 20 pumpkins worth of seeds for my FIL last year. Then I can them in jars and keep them in the cool basement until Christmas time. I know both my mother-in-laws enjoy tea so when I catch their favorite kinds on sale I grab them up. I am a tea junkie myself so I have to be careful not to break into their stash 😉
Last year we made all the grandparents coffee mugs. This year we made just the grandmothers tea mugs. We found these tall style plain white mugs at our local Goodwill for 60 cents each. My local Goodwill stores tend to get a lot of Old Navy and Target clearance items so I find a lot of steals and deals every time I go.
What we do is trace the cup shape onto some basic white paper. Then we let kiddo draw on that paper. Once she’s done we Modge Podge it to the cups. Once dry we spray with sealer.
My mother-in-law loves Elvis. Last year kiddo made the cutest cup and had these screaming fans all excited for Elvis. It was so funny. Mind you she is going to be 9 in a few weeks. This years (ok, wait, technically its last year, I keep forgetting we are in January already) mug also had an Elvis theme. (Elvis did have an accident though, while drying in the garage he fell over. So when he was all done drying we had to use a razor blade to scrape off the dirt that stuck to him.)
My mother lives in the country. A place where people drop their cats. It’s very sad. But, she takes care of every single one of them until the rescue mission close by has space for them. My mother is one of those that will share her own meal and do without just to be able to feed these cats that cross her path. So, kiddo made her a mug full of cats.
My step-mother-in-love loves birds and hockey. Last year her mug was full of the birds her and my father-in-law own. This year it had birds and hockey players. Hey, I didn’t question it.
Then she went and “bedazzled” every mug with some jewel stickers she had.
Fabulous!
We stashed some tea in the mugs and they loved them.
I can’t tell you if they use them or not, but I know it still provides them with more joy than any store-bought gift ever could.
The best thing about these mugs is you can make them year-round with any holiday, celebration or theme in mind.
I’m thinking our next one will be something to do with Father’s Day. What about you, what holiday do you see yourself making some DIY mugs for?
I love this idea! My kids are too big for it, but my Junior Church class would love this project!
It really is a lot of fun and a good way to keep some of kiddos art from year to year.
I love the 5 things list. Very practical easy to understand method for kids that teaches them self-control without being the hard hearted parent. I love the hand made gift ideas. I’ve been giving my Mom ideas over the last few years of do this, not that for things she can make and people will really like, too. It saves her $$ and people actually use what she makes.
I would totally use a mug designed for me by my kids. Not only is it unique but it’s mine all mine.
hubs thinks the same: if it does not cost a lot of money, it is not a good gift. The coffee mug idea is so cute and so fun to make. I agree we can make them all year around and for any holiday
I always love DIY gifts. They are so personal. My favorite to get too!
These are adorable, and I love giving and getting DIY or personalized gifts. They’re so much more meaningful.
That is such a cute idea! I love personalized gifts like this.
I love those mugs. I always say that it is the thought behind the gift that counts.
That is exactly why we started making things when we could. It was so much better than all the gifts we were buying.
This mug idea is so cute, especially fun for the kids to make during the holidays
That is a really cute idea. My boys made a mug for their Papa a few years back and he uses it every day!
It’s so much fun. It’s also really cool to see her artwork improve each year.
What great idea for gifts from the kids! I know when mine were little they loved giving gifts as much okay almost as much as getting them. These are awesome.
I have a coffee mug collection and I would love to add a cute homemade one to my collection. This is a cute idea!
I have a coffee mug collection, too, and ones made by my kids would always be the most treasured ones.
Oh wow! I’ve never seen mugs decorated like this specifically, but I really like it!
We are about to do this for my daughter’s birthday party. I am so excited to do this and I know it will be fun.
I always love giving personalized crafts like this to relatives. Seriously, how cute are those mugs?
I absolutely love these. My kids could make them for my parents this Christmas and they would really enjoy the gift!
These are awesome! I treasure gifts like this. Now that mine are grown, it’s so fun to come across little handmade treasures.
Going the mod podge route is so smart! I can’t believe I’ve paid for kits to do that before. Great gift idea!
What a great and adorable idea! I love getting stuff like this and so does my hubby. He’s been complaining at our lack of mugs (so many have broken) so what a fabulous idea for him!
Christmas does not have to be a budget breaker. I like that coffee mug idea: it is perfect for any occasion and add such a personal touch
This is such a great gift idea! We have many coffee lovers in our family, and they’d LOVE mugs decorated by my son!
My parents have quite a few of these decorated mugs by the hands of their little grandchildren and it is all they will use. They just love them. They make awesome gifts.
Which kind of sealer did you use? I don’t know if i have one available here.
Those mugs are adorable! Definitely created with love!
Too cute! I think this is something I need to look into making with my son. That way he can give them out to the grandparents! Love that is is inexpensive!
I really like the wish list. Have to save it for the future when my daughter is older and starts asking things for Christmas. The mugs are really cute!
What a great idea. Practical and affordable plus just about everyone likes tea and/or coffee.
This is such a great gift idea. I have made sharpie mugs before but nothing like this. What kind of sealer?
Such a cute idea. I’ll have my little one make me one. Lol. It will be intereting.
What a great idea! I think my kids would enjoy making these for grandparents this year.
I am all about practical gifts, or gifts that I KNOW somebody can use. I hate buying something just because I feel like I *need* to give a gift.. It usually ends up being something they won’t use.
I love handmade gifts. These mugs are very cute!
What a great craft idea and project. I like how easy they are to personalize.
I have always wanted to make a DIY mug as a gift! You’ve inspired me to finally try it.
I like that you make them personal to the preferences of those who are receiving them. I bet these are the most favored gifts to get too. I love when my kids thoughtfully make me something. 🙂