How to Put Vinyl on Mugs + Cute Designs & a Unicorn!

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Learn the RIGHT way to put vinyl on mugs, including how to pick out the best mug, design, and vinyl for results that look great and last!

Today we’re putting vinyl on mugs! I received MANY requests for this tutorial, and it’s easy to see why. Personalized mugs are fun to have and give as gifts, and they are very on trend right now. And it’s quite easy to add a name or saying to one of these mugs, too!

 

But I also understand why I got so many requests for a tutorial. Despite their simple appearance, there’s a lot of choices that go into putting vinyl on a mug. First you need to know what kind of mugs work best, then you need to know what designs work best, especially on curved mugs. And if you do get a curved mug, how do you put your vinyl on without it creasing? And, probably the biggest choice — what kind of vinyl do you use so it stays put?

 

I can help with all this! We’ll go over the types and shapes of mugs that work best for vinyl decals. We’ll talk about designs that look best on mugs! And then we’re going to do a TEST of all the different types of vinyl one can put on a mug, from adhesive vinyl to heat transfer vinyl … you know, the stuff you iron on. No, I’m not kidding! We’re going to do it.

 

And to top it all off, I put the mugs in my dishwasher so you can see what is, and is not, dishwasher safe.

 

Oh! And I also made some SUPER cute designs that you’re welcome to download and use. These little kawaii faces are easy to apply to mugs and look ADORABLE. I made a variety of faces and expressions, including a unicorn, a kitty, and a puppy.

This was a well-requested tutorial! Many thanks to the readers and viewers who requested I show how to put vinyl on mugs (Anita H., Connie S., Melissa, Christina S., Stephanie P., Susan B., Lynda, Melissa, Cheryl W., Natalie, Sarah S., Cathy M., Crystal T., and Karen L.). Each person who contributed this project idea will receive an extra entry for your idea (I am keeping track on this on my end). And don’t forget, you can suggest project ideas for this Challenge here and receive entries to win one of our awesome prizes, including a Cricut Maker!

Key concepts taught in the video tutorial include how to select the right mug, design, and vinyl, how to transfer the vinyl to the curved surface of a mug, how to layer vinyl for a mug, and how to treat your vinyl appliquéd mug.

See exactly how to put vinyl on mugs in this step-by-step video below:

Let me show you how to put vinyl on a mug! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Materials for Vinyl Transfer Mugs

How to Put Vinyl on a Mug

First, you need some cute designs for your mugs! I made some for you that you can download it from my free resource library (you can get a password for it at the bottom of this page). If you’re going to cut the vinyl decals out on your cutting machine, upload the file to your design software. If you’re not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, here’s how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

Note: The unicorn crown is in a separate file because it is a Print Then Cut image. Just upload it and add it to your canvas with the other mug designs — resize as necessary.

Check back later for more instructions and photos, or watch the video linked above!

Get my free SVG cut files and patterns for the Vinyl Transfer Mugs

Vinyl mugs are fun and easy IF you do it the right way. Now, even though I did the dishwasher test, I still tend to hand wash my vinyl mugs. It’s your choice. So go ahead and put your mugs in the dishwasher, but with the understanding that after the 100th time they might not look so great. But hey, you can always remake it, right?

If you make one of these vinyl transfer mugs, please share a photo in our Facebook group, email it to me at [email protected], or tag me on social media with #makershowandtell.

See all of the projects, tutorials and free designs in The Great Maker Show and Tell Challenge! There is one for each day of the 25 Days of Christmas! This is my gift to you for the tremendous support, enthusiasm, and love you’ve shown to me and my little blog over the past two years. To “open” a gift, hover over the day’s image and click the download icon.

Love,

Want to remember this? Save the Vinyl Mug Tutorial to Your Favorite DIY Pinterest Board!