Dollar Store Diy: Sugar Skull Travel Mug

Transform an inexpensive dollar store mug with a fun Day of the Dead-themed design your kids will love to color.

Now that I’m a converted dollar store shopper, I’m always on the hunt for fun things I can diy and craft with from the local dollar store. Last month,  Crafty Chica made these adorable Oilcloth Travel Mugs that made me say, ooooh, girl. They were adorable and such a great idea.

You see, I have stacks of oilcloth from our trips to Mexico that I secretly horde–this would be a great way to use the oilcloth and possibly give out the mugs as gifts during that-season-of-green-and-red-which-we-don’t-speak-of-yet.

Because it’s October and I refuse to, that’s why.

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Still, when I saw the shelf of design-your-own travel mugs at the dollar store, I just knew I could do a little somethin’ somethin’ to them now. Who doesn’t want a Dia de los Muertos-inspired coffee mug? I mean, I know I do.

One thing my kids love for me to do is doodle drawings for them. We tell stories while I draw them or I just draw stuff for them that they can color in. Kind of like custom coloring pages. I thought it would be fun to doodle a few sugar skulls for Xixi to color for the inside of the travel mugs. Not that she couldn’t doodle them herself–she has awesome drawing skills for an 8 year-old, if I do say so myself.

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The design-your-own-mugs come with a handy dandy little liner inside so I took it out to use as a template. Side note: one thing I hate about chalkboard paint is you can still read all of the erased words. Oh well. Just pretend you don’t see it. Carry on.

I used a sheet of 9×12 marker pad paper from Dick Blick. It’s thin and your markers won’t bleed when you color on it. Trace your template onto the white. Next, sketch your sugar skull designs with pencil. I usually don’t, but that’s probably because I can draw a sugar skull in my sleep.

I like to visualize them like light bulbs, then you just add eye sockets, nose, mouth and any other embellishments you’d like. I drew marigolds and tiny leaves, too.

After I drew my basic design with a black Sharpie marker, I handed it over to Xixi, who was eagerly waiting with a stack of markers.

Her: Can I color it any color I want, mommy? 
Me: Yes, anything you want.
Her: Really?
Me: Yup. 
Her: What about stuff? Can I draw other stuff? Can I make my own designs?
Me: Whatever you want, babe.

And she was off. I left her alone and she colored her little heart out. I love to see what she comes up with because her creativity is so amazing, it’s ten times better than anything I come up with. I had all confidence in her and she knew it.

She came up with lots of really fun designs inside and around the eye sockets and cheeks, too.

Once it’s all colored, cut out your template. Slip the colored sleeve back inside the cup. You don’t have to tape or glue it because it fits perfectly.

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Here is where you have a few options. Since the paper is going inside a cup that will be washed, there is a good chance water is going to get inside the sleeve. I decided to give it a quick coat of Mod Podge for a thin layer of water protection but remember–it’s paper! You can also glue the cup shut so you can no longer separate the inside sleeve.

Whatever crumbles your cookie, friend.

My baby girl was so proud of her creation, she was floating on air all afternoon. I love to see how light and airy a child’s spirit gets after they make something. See that smile? Love!

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