Make An ‘I Love You, Mama’ Teacup For Mother’s Day

If you love giving heartfelt handmade gifts, but are looking for something quick and easy, and not overly crafty this Mother’s Day, boy do I ever have the project for you! This DIY 'I Love You, Mom' teacup is ridiculously sweet and takes no time to whip up. Best of all — you can probably pick up most of the required materials at a local store — you may even have some on hand!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• a white mug with a fairly smooth surface
• a pencil
• ceramic markers, oil-based Sharpies, or regular old Sharpies*
• a pretty box or tin of tea that will fit inside your teacup (individually wrapped teabags work too!)
• tea cookies or biscotti

*Quick note before we start: Ceramic markers are hands down the best option! They’re the most permanent and will last much longer than either type of Sharpie. I picked up a set of 12 ceramic markers at our local big box store for $6, which is a score! Next up, oil-based Sharpies. If you have these, use them! They last longer than original Sharpies and the colours go on more vibrant and opaque. If you don’t have either ceramic markers or oil-based Sharpies, don’t fret because regular old Sharpies will totally do the trick. The recipient of your gift will have to be extra gentle while washing their lovely mug, but it's not the end of the world.

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OK, with that out of the way, let’s get started, shall we? First wash your teacup in hot soapy water and dry it thoroughly before planning out the placement of your message. Because I’m right-handed, we made sure I’d be able to see my daughter's ‘I love you’ as I drank my tea, plus we decided to do the ‘I love you’ on one line up top and then a big 'MAMA' below. How you do this is up to you, but having your little one sketch out the message in pencil first is always a good idea!

With the message planned out, invite your child to trace the words using your marker of choice. Have them add a little heart, some dots, or whatever else makes the cup their own.

Now for the most important part — be sure your little one signs their name and adds the year!

With the cup personalized, it’s time to bake the design on to help it last. If you’ve used ceramic markers, follow the instructions specific to your markers. If you’ve used either type of Sharpie, preheat your oven to 350 F, pop the cup inside and let it bake for 30 minutes, then turn the oven off and allow the mug to remain inside until cooled completely.

One thing to note here is that the baking process often does change the marker colours, so if your child is not one for surprises, black is the best bet.

Once the teacup is baked and fully cooled, invite your little one to fill it with tea and cookies and her gift is ready to give!

One thing to note: No matter what type of marker you use, I recommend washing the cup by hand with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. If you do notice the words coming off over time, simply have your little one go over the words with marker and re-bake.

Happy Mother’s Day!