How to Create Alcohol Ink Art on Mugs For Beginners

“Just a heads up—this post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through them (at no extra cost to you). It helps keep the ink flowing and all of the creativity going!”

Creating your own alcohol ink mugs is a fun and creative way to add a splash of color to your everyday coffee or tea routine. With just a few supplies and a little bit of imagination, you can transform plain ceramic mugs into unique pieces of functional art. This easy-to-follow project is perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, offering a chance to experiment with vibrant colors and amazing patterns. Whether you’re making a gift for a loved one or adding a personal touch to your collection, alcohol ink mugs are sure to impress!

First Find Your Mug

When sourcing ceramic mugs for your alcohol ink project, it’s important to find good-quality, affordable options that work well with the inks. Stores like Home Goods and Target are great places to browse for plain white mugs—often you can find a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your creative vision. For added convenience, Amazon also offers a wide selection of ceramic mugs, including bulk sets that are perfect if you want to make several at once or give them as gifts. Just be sure the mugs have a smooth, non-textured surface for the best results!

Gather Your Supplies

Pick out your favorite ink colors, if you need help with this check out pins for color combinations on Pinterest. My favorite manufacturers of the ink I use are Copic and Ranger Inks.  You will also need 91% Isopropyl Alcohol or some Blending Solution.  A small bottle with a dropper, and a small dish or lid to dilute the ink in. For this particular mug I used some watercolor paintbrushes to help move the ink. Another optional item that I didn’t use when I started is a cup turner. I use one now almost all of the time.

The Process

If you are right handed, hang onto your mug with your left hand and drop a small amount of ink right onto your mug. Start turning it and letting more drops of ink land on the mug. Keep turning it and blow on it a bit, until it is dry, which is very fast.

If your not happy with what you have done your can either wipe it off with alcohol or use a small brush with some alcohol on it and push the ink around.  The best way to do this is to use your small dish or lid put a few drops of ink into it, add a drop of alcohol on paint on your mug until you get a look you like.

At this point you will simply repeat this process of each different color you add.

Looking at the picture to the left, you can see that I added a gold line in addition to my ink. This is Pinata Brass, I put some of this into a dish and painted it on.  Metallics act quite differently from inks so if you are just starting out you may want to skip it or practice until you see how it moves.

 

 

On the top edge of my mugs and tumblers I like a wispy look to my ink. To get this effect I hold my mug with the top slightly angled down and then drop a tiny bit of alcohol on it and blow on it. The alcohol grabs a bit of the color and carries it toward the rim or which ever direction you blow it.

 

 

 

 

The next step is very simple. For this particular mug I put some alcohol into a clean dish and then with a clean small brush, dip the brush into the alcohol and splatter onto the mug. This creates various sizes of dots that will lighten each color in that spot.

If your happy with how your mug looks, set it aside for at least 24 hours and then it will need to be sealed.

Sealing

Alcohol Ink pieces need to be sealed to protect the ink from coming off and from fading.  The first product that shout be used is Kamar Varnish by Krylon. This will set your ink in preparation for the next steps, I do three light coats of this and start with my mug upside down so that I am less likely to miss a spot. Take special care around the handle but don’t get heavy  handed or your ink will run. I rarely take my ink to the top so there isn’t any concern about the rim being against my work surface and not getting covered.  The next product also by Krylon is UV Resistant Clear, three light coats of this one also. After all of your layers of spraying are completed let them dry overnight.

You could stop at this point but I don’t recommend it. To preserve your work and give it the best finish I recommend the next step.

Although there are many option for this final step this is the method I use most often and like the best.    I do use a turner for this step, it helps give me the smoothest possible finish. The product I use for this step is Brite Tone by CrystaLac.  I put my mug on my turner, brush on the Brite Tone, turn on my turner and then smooth it with my fingers as it is rotating. Light coats, at least three of them three hours between coats. More coats can be applied if you are not happy with the finish after three coats.

Once your final coat is dry on the turner, your mug is done and you have your personal piece of art on a coffee mug.

Detailed Supply List with Links

The following contains affiliate links. If you should decide to use one of these links I will earn a very small commission on your purchase.

1. Mugs can be purchased at various local stores or at Amazon here .

2. Alcohol (91%) can be purchased at most super markets and drugstores (70% will not work).

3. Alcohol Ink can also be purchased  at various places. My preferred stores are:

a. Ranger Ink carries all of the Tim Holtz are supplies as well as ink which you can find  here.  

b. Dick Blick for Copic Ink Refills here

c. Dick Blick also carries Ranger Ink as well as a multitude of artist supplies and the prices are quite               good. You can find the ink here.

d. Pinata Brass here

4. Kamar and UV Protectant here

a. Kamar UV Protectant here

5. Brushes are available at local stores but also at Amazon or Blick.

6. Brite Tone is at Amazon here

7. This is my turner, I bought mine on Etsy although this particular one is no longer available.

Amazon has several one of which you can find here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial if you have any questions please let me know in the comments!