How to Create Custom Mugs with Coffee Craft Repeat SVG Files
These instructions assume you are using Cricut Design Space and one of the Cricut cutting machines. You can easily create custom mugs for yourself, family or friends.
Keyword coffee svg files
Prep Time 3 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 23 minutesminutes
Servings 1Mug
Author Pam Baker
Equipment
Cutting machine, such as: Cricut Joy,Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Maker, Silhouette Cameo 4, Brother ScanNCut2
Cricut Mug Press (optional)
StandardGrip Cutting Mat
Heat Resistant Mat
brayer
weeding tools
Ingredients
Materials if Using Cricut Mug Press
1Cricut Mug Blank - 12 oz or 15 oz (can also use non-Cricut sublimation mugs)
1Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets
1Heat resistant tape
1Lint roller
1Rubbing alcohol
Materials if Using Adhesive Vinyl
1Ceramic mug (you'll want to avoid textured or powder coated)
1Rubbing alcohol
1Outdoor permanent adhesive vinyl
1Transfer tape
1Foam paint brush
1Mod Podge for Dishwasher
Instructions
Step One: Select Your Design
If you haven't already, you'll want to download, unzip and upload your design to Cricut Design Space. If you're not sure how to upload an SVG file to Cricut Design Space, you can watch this video for additional help.
Step Two: Cut Out Your Vinyl
Be sure to select Permanent Adhesive Vinyl as your material type. Place your permanent adhesive vinyl shiny color side UP (right side up) on your cutting mat. Insert the fine-point blade into your Cricut cutting machine, then load the mat.
Press the flashing button to GO! Your machine will begin cutting out your design. It should only take a minute or two.
When the machine is done cutting, unload the mat, flip the mat over onto your work surface and peel it away from the vinyl carefully.
Step Three: Weed Your Vinyl
Once you cut out your vinyl and remove it from the mat, you will need to weed your cut design. Weeding simply means you are going to remove all the extra pieces of vinyl that you do NOT want to transfer to your mug. I find a weeding tool to be most helpful with weeding.
Step Four: Prepare Design For Transfer
After you have weeded the vinyl, you will need a piece of transfer tape to transfer your design to your mug. Simply cut a piece of transfer tape that is the same size as your design.
Remove the backing off of the transfer tape and place it onto the front of your vinyl design. Start in the middle or center of the design and move outwards so that you don’t get creases or bubbles in your transfer tape.
Step Five: Transfer The Design
Before you apply or transfer the design onto your mug, you'll want to make sure the surface of the mug is clean and dry. Use a lint free cloth and clean the surface of the mug with rubbing alcohol. Then try not to touch the cleaned surface.
If your coffee mug surface is curved, you'll want to make small snips around the edges of the transfer tape on your vinyl design. These snips allow your transfer tape to bend with the curve of the mug and allow you to apply it on that curve without any creases.If you're using a straight mug, you can skip this step.
Apply the vinyl to the mug, starting in the center and allow the vinyl to sort of go where it wants to go naturally. Don’t force it into a position. Smooth it all down onto the mug surface.
Then gently remove the transfer tape.
Step Six: Apply Sealer
If you are not using the Cricut Mug Press with infusible ink and you want your mug to be dishwasher safe, you'll want to apply a sealer. I recommend using Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Sealant. Although permanent adhesive vinyl will hold up when hand-washed and you can even run it through the dishwasher, over time and after repeated washings, your vinyl may start to peel.
To seal your mug, first clean your mug all over again using rubbing alcohol.
Now, you will apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to the entire mug (except the handle) because you'll want the mug to have the same texture all over. For best results, be sure to brush a VERY THIN coat all over the mug using short strokes in the same direction using a soft and clean foam brush. Let the mug dry for about an hour before adding a second coat. Repeat for a third layer.
The sealer will look very streaky when it is wet. It will dry less streaky. If you don't like the streaky look of the sealant, then I HIGHLY recommend using the Cricut Mug Press.
Step Seven: Cure The Mug
The Mod Podge sealant must be cured for 28 days to be effective. So, after you apply the last coat of sealer, set your mug in a clean, dry location to cure for 28 days before using. Although it will appear completely dry in a couple of days, you do not want to use the mug or expose it to water for 28 days.