Abstract Designs on Coffee Mugs! (Using Nail-Polish)

In this Instructable, I will be showing you how to get a cool, abstract-type design on any coffee mug you want. It's a simple and rewarding project that can be done by children of any age. Not only is this a fun project, but you also end up with a cool looking coffee mug that can be given to anyone as a gift. If you like this project, please vote for it in the contests, thanks!

Step 1: Tools and Material Required

To make this project, you will require the following tools and material.

• Coffee mug (important).
• Nail-polish. (Different colors could be used)
• Nail-polish remover.
• Bowl. (One that you would not mind getting dirty)
• Paper towels.
• Varnish/Clear Coat Spray (optional)

Lets get started!

Step 2: Cleaning the Mug

The first step is to clean the mug so that no dirt is caught in the nail-polish. I did this with some water and a paper towel. If you want it to be extremely clean, you could use some nail-polish remover (thinner) along with a paper towel to do this. Once this is done, move on to the next step.

Step 3: Preparing the Bowl

The next step is to fill your bowl with medium warm water. The warmer your water is, the slower the nail-polish will dry and the more time you will have to apply it on the mug. Your bowl will get nail-polish on it (which can be removed by applying thinner) so keep that in mind while choosing your bowl.

Step 4: Dipping the Mug

Now, you have to create the pattern that will be on your mug. Keep in mind that you don't have to create the ACTUAL pattern on water as that will differ a lot from the final result. A few drops of nail-polish can spread over half the mug. To check if the nail polish you are using will work properly, drop a few drops into the water and see if the sink to the bottom or create a film on the surface. We want to use nail-polish that will create a film, not one that sinks. Now, drop a few drops from your your nail-polish a few inches apart from each other into the bowl (you will notice a film on the surface) and quickly dip your mug into the water in such a way that it captures all the nail-polish. Another way to do this is by dropping nail-polish of a different color on top of your previous drops and passing a fork through it. The film will attach to the fork so, take it out and you will notice a design on the water in which you can dip your mug. I would not recommend this way of doing it because I have heard of it working but when I tried it, I left the film in the water and it clumped on my mug (attempt 1). If you like the design that you have, move on to the next step, otherwise remove the design with nail-polish remover or thinner and try again.

Step 5: Drying and Finalizing

Now that you have the design on your mug, gently pat it dry with a paper towel. If you see some wet spots on your mug, do not pat it or it could mess up your design. If you have some part of the design which you don't want on your mug, remove it using a Q Tip dipped in nail-polish remover and once you are happy with the design, leave it outside to dry for an hour. Now, you could coat the mug using spray clear coat or varnish. This would make sure that your design doesn't wash off while cleaning your mug.

Step 6: Conclusion

That's it, you are done with the project. I really liked how my mug turned out, it's much better than the plain white mug that I started with. If you liked this project, please vote for it in the contests. Thanks for viewing my Instructable! :3