How to Wrap a Mug

Some people may find wrapping a mug tricky, and that’s understandable. The irregular shape of a mug poses a challenge to many. However, we are going to show you that it is easier than you may have thought, and you can easily wrap any mug at home.

Wrapping crockery happens for many varied reasons as well, not just gift-wrapping. For example, you may want to wrap your coffee mug to store it away or give it cushioning for transit. Not many things are as satisfying as finding the right mug to use with you and your loved ones. Whether it’s a cozy tea mug, a souvenir from your last adventure, or a piece from a local artisan, they’ll appreciate it.

Let’s discuss why you may need to wrap your mug, whether to wrap or use a gift box, and of course, how to wrap a mug for various purposes.

When it comes to uniquely shaped gifts like mugs, wrapping is often tougher than using a gift box. With their handles and empty inner space, mugs need special attention when wrapping.

However, wrapping a gift has a more creative and fulfilling feel to it. Wrapped gifts also come with a timelessly inviting feel that makes them extra special to the recipients. Therefore, while putting a gift in a box may be easier, wrapping it is more meaningful. Fortunately, we’ll help with that. But first, let’s identify why you may need to wrap your precious mug.

When people hear the word ‘wrapping’ they often think about giving gifts. However, many times, a mug may need to be wrapped for reasons other than that. Starting with the most common one, wrapping gifts, here are some reasons why you may need to wrap your mug:

Mugs can make a perfect gift, especially if you have a limited budget. A good mug is a must-have for everyone. They are universal, useful, and fun to collect. Whether it’s used for sipping hot tea, coffee, cocoa, or soup, a mug is something your loved ones can use.

Gifting is just as much about how you present it as it is about the gift itself. Therefore, the way you give your loved one the gift is as meaningful as the gift you give. That’s why it can be worthwhile to go the extra mile and wrap your gift mug nicely.

While sublimation printing, you need to wrap the sublimation print snuggly around the mug. To ensure the print comes out well, you also need to ensure that the print is on the right side: the side touching the mug. How well you wrap the mug determines how well the final print comes out.

When in transit, you need to keep your mugs safe. Mugs can easily crack or break when you hit a bumpy road to your destination. Therefore, you must wrap them with thick padding to absorb the shock before placing them inside your suitcase or travel bag.

You may need to store some of your mugs for several reasons. For example, since mugs are some of the most fun kitchenware you can collect, one may amass a huge collection of mugs that certainly cannot all be used simultaneously.

Therefore, they may simply cause a lot of clutter, making it difficult to have an organized cabinet. As a result, you may need to store some of your mugs away. In storage, you have to give them some covering to keep them from collecting dust. That is where wrapping comes in.

Other reasons for storage include keeping some special mugs for guests or seasonal events such as Christmas.

Let’s look at each of these methods:

The tools you need to use a basic wrapping paper are:

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to wrap your mug:

Using a ruler and a pencil, measure the circumference of your mug and cut the wrapping paper in a square shape. The dimensions you use to cut the square should be 2 inches larger than your measurements. The increase in the size is meant to make the wrapping paper large enough to cover the entire mug and leave space to tie a bow.

After cutting the wrapping paper, lay it on a flat surface. The flat surface helps when folding the wrap around the mug.

Place the mug on the wrapping paper and start wrapping around it. Leave a small overlap, which you’ll secure using glue or double-sided tape.

Fold the extra paper at the bottom inwards. Secure this part with glue or the double-sided tape to ensure a fine finish.

Smooth out the bubbles or wrinkles around the wrapped mug.

Trim the top after folding the excess paper and curving it inward. Secure it using glue or double-sided tape.

If desired, add decorations such as ribbons and bows.

Those looking to wrap a sublimation-printed mug must first undergo a longer process that involves tools like sublimation paper, shrink paper, heat tape, and a hot gun.

The process typically involves sublimation papers with a certain theme. The sublimation paper must be wrapped around the mug and secured using heat tape. The mug must also be secured using shrink wrap. The wrap is heated using a heat gun. Before doing this, however, the user must wear heat-resistant gloves to protect their fingers. Special text is added using adhesive vinyl. Read What is Sublimation Printing for more information.

To learn more about sublimation mugs, you can also watch a video of HTVRONT making "Sublimation Tumblers For Beginners."

Now that your mug is printed, you can begin gift wrapping it before storing it away or delivering it to the intended recipient.

When wrapping your mug for transit, you want to ensure that it has enough padding to absorb any shock. This is where a box comes in handy. 

Here is what you need:

For storage, use the same technique, but with an added step: wrapping the mugs with newspaper in addition to stuffing the mugs with them. We do this because even if most boxes are covered, they may not stop all dust from reaching the mugs. Secondly, we pad the mugs in storage just in case they get toppled over or dropped as things are being moved around.

Now that you’ve given your gift mug a nice theme and message, it’s time to give it to the lucky recipient. The handwritten note also adds more meaning and makes the gift special.

Giving a loved one a mug may appear like a simple gesture, but it makes a huge difference in the lives of those you love. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the simplest ones. It is even more true when the gift comes from the heart and you care deeply about the recipient.