Charming Gifts for Coffee Lovers: Creative Mug Ideas to Brighten Their Day!

We all have a favorite mug. Or, if you’re anything like me, you have a collection of them. You might even have that one specific mug you reach for when you are in a particular mood. Please tell me I’m not alone!

Another bonus is that coffee mug gifts don’t have to be elaborate. They can be as simple as gifting a mug alone, or as grand as building a basket as a coffee mug gift set that matches a certain theme, such as holidays, weddings, and teacher’s gifts, even a housewarming basket is a great coffee mug gift idea!

The coffee mug market has expanded greatly over the decades. Where mugs used to be simple in color and decor, they are now bold with color, design, and various sayings. The traditional coffee mug has also changed from being something simply made of ceramic to new innovative mugs like temperature-controlled, self-stirring, or collapsible. Coffee mugs now even can hold larger amounts of coffee, and some are made specifically for travel purposes, able to withstand being jiggled during car drives, and insulated to maintain temperature for longer periods of time. Think old-fashioned thermos, meets cute, new liquid vessel.

As the types of coffee mugs expanded, and crafting technology progressed, it became easier and easier for a DIY crafter to whip up a specialty mug for a friend or loved one. One of the many benefits of DIY coffee mugs is that the mug can be personalized for the person receiving the gift. Before, personalization was limited to companies like Shutterfly, who would take your photos spread them out on a mug, and send it your way. With machines like Cricut to cut vinyl or even infusible ink, paired with a heat press, the DIY crafter was introduced to a whole new level of personalization and one-of-a-kind gift giving.

While some crafters prefer to use their cutting machine to cut vinyl and adhere the vinyl to the coffee mug, I became extremely fascinated by the sublimation process and began my journey into coffee mug creation with Cricut’s infusible ink and mug press. Combine those with a blank sublimation-ready mug, and I was able to whip up these two coffee mug gift ideas for friends in no time! Pairing the coffee mugs with a few extra items truly sets the gift apart from receiving a mug all by its lonesome. 

Halloween is already such a fun time of year! From all the horror movies that find their way to our TVs, to the plethora of candy we find ourselves indulging in, an easy DIY coffee mug makes a great vessel for those treats. Toss in a couple of decorations to really drive this one home with your Halloween-loving friends and family!

Springtime is a fantastic season to gift some simple gardening tools, flower bulbs, or vegetable seeds to your favorite green thumb! A nice cup of coffee while gazing at the fruits of their labor sounds super relaxing, and satisfying. Not to mention those coffee grounds they just brewed are fantastic for so many different things you can grow in a garden. So you’re really helping them out with this gift!

As we mentioned earlier, not everyone is a coffee drinker. This makes this frosted coffee mug gift set the ideal way to share tea time with a friend. The softness of the frosted coffee mug lends to the lightness that is often associated with tea. With so many different teas to try, a variety box of teas is a perfect addition to this mug. Feeling extra frosty? Try visiting a local tea shop and buying loose-leaf tea with a tea ball infuser. Now that’s high tea!

When we see the versatility of a simple coffee mug gift set, it is quite easy to find a reason to put a set together for any occasion. Since the beauty of a DIY gift is individuality, here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your coffee mug gift set.

• Remember who you are gifting to. Do they drink coffee? Do they prefer cocoa? Are they a tea drinker? The worst thing you could do is give a coffee mug gift set filled with tea to a person who prefers coffee. Knowing the recipient’s preference will help guide you in coming up with fantastic coffee mug stuffer ideas!
• Think outside the box. It’s quite easy to grab a bag of coffee, some cocoa, or even tea and put it in a mug. It is also just as easy to grab a new pack of pens, a pair of scissors, and highlighters for a quick and simple teacher's gift. Don’t be afraid to switch things up and get creative!
  
• Make personalization…Personal. Being able to craft a coffee mug from the comfort of your own home means there are no limits to what you can create for a friend or family member. Personalization turns a simple gift idea into a great one! Have a favorite saying between friends? Put it on a mug! Can’t find your name on mugs in a store? Too easy! Looking for the ideal bridesmaid gifts? Personalized mugs with your wedding info are a fun piece of memorabilia! What’s even better is the wide availability of SVGs for you to combine to make a truly one-of-a-kind gift. 
  
• Choose the right coffee mug for the occasion or person. Some people prefer to sip their coffee in the comfort of their own home. Some prefer their coffee on the go. There are even some people who love to take their coffee camping with them in the great outdoors. Whatever type of coffee-drinking friend you have, there is a coffee mug for them. Someone who works from home might not find value of a coffee mug made for traveling, and an avid camper might not find the value of a ceramic coffee mug, no matter how cute the design is. So make sure you’re keeping the occasion and person in mind when you are choosing what type of coffee mug to create for him or her.
  

Whether you prefer to use your cutting machine to cut vinyl or infusible ink, or you have transitioned to using sublimation paper and a heat press, the ideas are endless for coffee mug gift sets. Here are some handy tools to get you started on your journey to making your very own DIY coffee mug gift sets for friends and family.

• Cutting machine. Cricut, Silhouette, and Brother all have affordable options when it comes to choosing a craft-cutting machine.
• Heat press. Whether using a Cricut Mug Press like I do or using coffee mug attachments with a traditional heat press, having a heat press that can get to the correct temperature for your project is imperative.
  
• Sublimation coffee mugs. A common mistake made when someone begins making coffee mugs is purchasing the wrong type of mug. If you are using vinyl, the type of mug is not as important. If using infusible ink or sublimation paper, making sure you have a coffee mug that is sublimation-ready with sublimation coating is necessary. Without that special sublimation coating, your images and designs won’t adhere properly, or at all. And we all know crafters don’t like wasting materials!
  
• Vinyl, infusible ink, or sublimation paper and ink. Find the method that suits you best, and have fun with it! Can’t afford to buy or convert a printer for sublimation, but are tired of working with vinyl? Infusible ink is a great place to step up your coffee mug-making game. Have no interest in anything sublimation? Vinyl is just as versatile, and the things I have seen crafters do with vinyl are phenomenal!
  
• Transfer or heat tape. If you are using vinyl, you know the importance of a good transfer tape. If you use infusible ink or sublimation paper, you understand the importance of a good heat tape. Regardless of which method you use, making sure you have plenty of tape on hand is essential. It stinks to run out in the middle of a project. Ask me how I know. ;)
  
• Fresh SVGs and designs. Find free designs for your next creation at:  https://www.htvront.com/blogs/svg
  

The goal of the article was to help guide the reader into honing in on how to create a coffee mug gift set for their recipient, encouraging unique additions to the mug, and being creative with mug choice as opposed to defaulting to the traditional ceramic coffee mug we have always known. At the same time, it was a reminder that as a DIY crafter, personalization opens up a world of unique ways to design the mug itself.