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House Of Hipsters

DIY How To

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs With Nail Polish

Pinterest made me do this easy DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with nail polish craft project. Below you’ll find easy instructions for a simple marbling technique with mugs, but you can marble anything from plated to bowls to vases and more! This post has been featured, shared, and copied multiple times, but you’ve found the OG how-to create DIY Marble Dipped Mugs tutorial. Since this cheap DIY craft is an oldie but a goodie, over the years I’ve watched readers transform these beautiful watercolored mugs into the perfect handmade gift — think teacher appreciation day, Valentine’s Day, and easy Christmas gifts. Just dip your mugs and fill them with your favorite treat!

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs Tutorial

Table of Contents

  • Supplies For DIY Marble Dipped Mugs
  • Instructions — How To Marble Dipped Mugs
  • FAQs On How To Marble Dipped Mugs With Nail Polish
  • Check Out These Other Inexpensive and Easy DIYs

Supplies For DIY Marble Dipped Mugs

Plain white coffee mugs
Nail polish
Container or plastic bin (you don’t mind ruining)
Bamboo skewer (toothpicks work as well)
Paper towel (or parchment paper)

Instructions — How To Marble Dipped Mugs

1. Fill a container with warm water…the warmer the better. Be sure it’s one you don’t mind ruining since the marbling mugs process can leave some nail polish residue behind. Also, when you fill the container, don’t fill it up to the top. Take whatever piece you are going to dip and do a test run.

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with Nail Polish Tutorial

2. Grab some pretty nail polish from a cupboard in your bathroom. There’s really no need to buy new because you only need a few drops to make a small swirl. Do not grab a quick dry polish. Time is of the essence here, and we don’t need to shorten our time even more. Also, don’t grab a color like Essie “Ballet Slippers”. You want a color with a punch. Any polish that is bright or dark in color works well.

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with Nail Polish Tutorial

3. Pour a few drops of nail polish into the water, and swirl with a skewer if necessary. A film will quickly start to form (it is starting to dry already). Grab your mug because we’re ready to create those awesome DIY Marble Dipped Mugs!

4. Dip the mug and twirl your wrist to pick up the paint. Place your mugs on a paper towel to dry. DO NOT TOUCH until the polish is completely dry.

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with Nail Polish Tutorial

That is all you’ve got to do! How cool huh? I think they look like someone painted with watercolors on these mugs. Don’t you think?

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with Nail Polish Tutorial

FAQs On How To Marble Dipped Mugs With Nail Polish

Pour the polish close to the surface of the water. If dropped too high, it will sink to the bottom and not dissipate.

Trying to use a throwaway paper cup first to get the hang of it.

Use 2 colors to get a really fun marbling effect.

Don’t use the brush to add the drops, pour the nail polish from the bottle.

Your marbled mug is no longer dishwasher safe nor is it microwave safe. And if possible, don’t put the polish on an area where you would have food or place your lips. It’s just not healthy.

Only dip your mug only once. If you feel like it needs more. Let it completely dry and dip the mug again until you get the desired effect.

This process moves very quickly so don’t dilly dally when marble dipping mugs!

Imma say it again. Do not touch that marble dipped mug until the nail polish is dry.

When emptying out the used water, be sure to scoop out all the extra polish with a paper towel first or you will have a very colorful marble dipped sink.

DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with Nail Polish Tutorial

Shazam! That is the easiest way to DIY Marble Dipped Mugs with nail polish! They make for a great inexpensive gift for Christmas, just fill them with chocolates or use them to hold a gift card for Teacher Appreciation Day!

Check Out These Other Inexpensive and Easy DIYs

How To Install A Ceiling Medallion

DIY Yarn Tapestry

How To Make A Pom Pom Bow

DIY Modern Dreamcatcher

DIY Candle Packaging

How To Build A Pipe Shelf

 

 

Last Updated on November 29, 2022 by Kyla Herbes

TAGS:AffordablebudgetCheap DIYEasy DIYgift givingMugsnail polish
76 Comments
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Kyla Herbes

Kyla Herbes is an interior designer and home decor content creator based in Chicago, IL. She shares daily doses of home decor, corners of her home, interior styling tips, and will inspire you to do it yourself. House Of Hipsters has been featured in Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, HGTV, The Huffington Post, Refinery29, Rue Magazine, and Style Me Pretty Living. Kyla has also made appearances on BravoTV and WGN TV and was named a Better Homes and Gardens Style Maker 3 years in a row.

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    laura irion
    September 22, 2014

    wow, what a cool effect. you’ve got me looking at every ceramic piece in my house to see which one should be a victim. i’d love to try using this to make something pretty for my bookshelves!

    Reply
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      kyla
      laura irion
      September 22, 2014

      Victimize…you crack me up! And OMG, I can’t believe how pretty these turned out!

      Reply
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    kyla
    September 24, 2014

    Thanks Ursula and thanks for stopping by!

    Reply
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    kyla
    September 24, 2014

    Awe, thank you Michelle! And thanks for stopping by my little nook on the internet!

    Reply
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    kyla
    September 25, 2014

    Thanks Rachel and thank you so much for stopping by!

    Reply
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    Rebecka
    September 26, 2014

    do you think if you bake the mugs? like the sharpie-written mugs? that the nail polish will stick and be safer for sink washing and for drinking? you should try it and let us know!

    Reply
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      Jess
      Rebecka
      November 28, 2015

      I know someone who did this and baked them at 350 for 30 minutes, it makes them microwave and dishwasher safe

      Reply
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        Nicole Sessions
        Jess
        December 23, 2015

        That can go in the oven for about 30 mins and they will become microwaveable and dishwasher safe, what kind of dish did they put them in? just curious

        Reply
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    kyla
    September 29, 2014

    Oh wow! Thank you so much for the feature! How exciting and I’m so happy you liked them! I will for sure be returning!

    Reply
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    kyla
    September 30, 2014

    Hey Jessica! So far I’ve had no issues handwashing…but it’s only been a couple weeks.

    Reply
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      Amy
      kyla
      July 16, 2015

      Hi,

      I have tried to using clear finishing spray which has worked wonders! Considering that they are only marbled on the bottom no health risks should occur either (which is what I was worried about)

      Reply
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    kyla
    October 1, 2014

    Thanks Bev and thanks for stopping by!

    Reply
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    kyla
    October 3, 2014

    Thanks Carmen! And thanks for stopping by!

    Reply
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    kyla
    October 3, 2014

    You just won the award for funniest comment EVER! We must become friends! Love your blog lady. Thanks for visiting my little space on the internets =)

    Reply
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    kyla
    October 7, 2014

    Thanks Angela and thank you for stopping by!

    Reply
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    kyla
    October 7, 2014

    Thank you so much for the feature!

    Reply
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    Chloe
    October 8, 2014

    How easy and cool. Definitely giving this a try!

    Reply
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      kyla
      Chloe
      October 8, 2014

      Chloe, they are so easy, it’s crazy! Thanks for stopping by! If you do try it, please upload a picture to my Facebook page. I’d love to see how it turned out!

      Reply
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    kyla
    October 8, 2014

    Oh Awesome! THank you so much for the feature! I’m going to go over and stop by now!

    Reply
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    Pre
    October 9, 2014

    This would be really cute for mugs that are used as pencil holders – or for vases, etc! I probably would not attempt it for mugs that I actually used for food and beverage though, even if the color was not near the mouth/food area.

    They would be cute if dipped, dried then dipped in a 2nd color for a layered effect, too.

    Reply
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    kyla
    October 9, 2014

    Thank you so much Mindie! You are too sweet! Hope you’ve had a better week health wise! Been thinking about you!

    Reply
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    kyla
    October 10, 2014

    Awesome! Thank you sooooo much for the feature Natasha! If you try it out, post a picture of it to my Facebook page! I would love to see it!

    Reply
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    Heloisa
    October 11, 2014

    I was wondering, if “top coated with mod podge would this look stay safe longer?

    Reply
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      kyla
      Heloisa
      October 12, 2014

      It might? I’m not as familiar the mod podge. I always look at it in Michael’s…mainly because I love it’s retro looking label =) I tell ya what though, if you try it, would you let me know?

      Reply
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        Heloisa
        kyla
        October 12, 2014

        sure thing!
        i will do it with only one and see what happens. 🙂

        Reply
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    kyla
    October 26, 2014

    Post a picture of them to my Facebook page…I’d love to see how they turned out! Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

    Reply
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    Nikki
    December 1, 2014

    Those cups look beautiful. You should totally be a hand model!! 🙂

    Reply
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      kyla
      Nikki
      December 1, 2014

      Ha! It’s funny you say that Nikki! My mom was a hand model for Avon back in the 70s!

      Reply
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    kyla
    December 2, 2014

    Awesome! So glad you stopped by! Be sure to upload a picture of yours to my Facebook account. I always love to see how everyone’s projects turn out!

    Reply
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    kyla
    December 15, 2014

    Oh awesome! Thanks for stopping by Charlotte!

    Reply
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    MsLove
    December 28, 2014

    I saw these and had to give it a try. I wanted to ask you about how they’re holding up these days? Also, do you have any issues with the paint when you put hot liquids in the mugs?

    Reply
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      kyla
      MsLove
      December 29, 2014

      Mine are holding up well! I don’t use them as much for drinking anymore though. I hand washed them a few times which is my least favorite thing to do, so they became pencil holders! LOL! But they look really pretty on my desk, and I can enjoy them every day. How did yours turn out?

      Reply
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    Yasmin
    February 1, 2015

    Here’s a tip; line your container with glad wrap first s you don’t have to worry about getting nail polish on it! This is a good tutorial. I tried one from another website which says to drip the polish from the applicator, and you end up with splodgy polka dots. NOT the look I was going for!

    Reply
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      kyla
      Yasmin
      February 2, 2015

      That’s a really great tip! Thanks for chiming in! And I’m so happy it was a good tutorial for you. Splodgy polka dots is no good!

      Reply
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    sarah
    February 21, 2015

    Please advise if you could do this using terracotta plant pots or on glass??
    Thank you.
    S x

    Reply
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      kyla
      sarah
      February 21, 2015

      Hi Sarah! I’ve only done it on these mugs, but I have seen it on glass and it’s gorgeous. Especially in a hot pink. The terra cotta I’m unsure of, but if you try it, let me know. I’d love to hear how it turns out!

      Reply
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    sarah
    February 22, 2015

    Thank you for your reply!! I will let you know my findings!! X

    Reply
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      kyla
      sarah
      February 22, 2015

      Awesome! I can’t wait to hear. Good luck!

      Reply
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    alex
    March 26, 2015

    Hi there, my daughter and I did this recently and are really pleased with the results. Unfortunately we now can’t get rid of the smell of nail polish on the mugs which makes using them rather unpleasant. Can anyone suggest a fix for this problem please x

    Reply
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      kyla
      alex
      March 27, 2015

      Hi Alex, I’m so sorry you are having that problem. Oddly, mine do not smell. Maybe it’s the polish? When you paint your nails with it, does the smell stick around?

      Reply
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        alex
        kyla
        March 27, 2015

        Not sure as I rarely paint my nails, I’ll do so now, if it still smells I’ll take it of the mugs and start over with different polish.

        Reply
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    kyla
    April 6, 2015

    Oh you should! They are so fun to do!

    Reply
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    kyla
    May 7, 2015

    Thanks so much for stopping by Trish!

    Reply
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    kyla
    May 7, 2015

    Ha! Sometimes…other times, not so much =) Thanks for stopping by Meredith.

    Reply
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    kyla
    August 29, 2015

    This is so awesome! Thank you! =)

    Reply
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    kyla
    September 8, 2015

    Awesome! Thank you soooo much!

    Reply
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    Chloe
    November 5, 2015

    i’m going to try this for my christmas presents!!! Quite excited to see the results:)) yours looks so pretty!

    Reply
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      kyla
      Chloe
      November 11, 2015

      Oh do it! They are so easy! If you do, Instagram them and tag #HOHinMyHome I’d love to see them!

      Reply
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    Chloe
    November 25, 2015

    I tried to water marble my mugs but it’s not working:( is it possible to water marble clear, transparent mugs?

    Reply
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    malissa
    December 7, 2015

    Has anyone found the polish gets flaky…does baking it help with this, or putting a gloss finish on it?

    Reply
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    V
    December 8, 2015

    Does it benefit to add dishwasher safe mod podge? any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙂

    Reply
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    Lori- fellow INFP
    January 19, 2016

    is it safe to microwave these??? I want to give some of them as gifts, but I’d like to know if this is hazardous at all…

    Reply
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    Salwa
    July 18, 2016

    Can i know the material or quality of the mug??

    Reply
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    Reno Peterson
    August 5, 2016

    I’m guessing this technique could be used for most ceramic/porcelain items? Possibly cabinet knobs and ceramic drawer pulls?

    Reply
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      kyla
      Reno Peterson
      August 5, 2016

      Yes! Definitely! After I did the mugs, I swear I wanted to marble everything in my house.

      Reply
  • 15 Cute Marble Crafts
    August 23, 2016

    […] House of Hipsters shows you how to marble the surface of mugs and other kitchen porcelain using nail polish and water! You’d be surprised how easy this technique is, even though the final product is totally gorgeous. […]

    Reply
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    Lizzy
    November 6, 2016

    Can I do this with glass paint or enamel craft paint instead of varnish?

    Reply
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    mackenzie
    December 4, 2016

    Hello, I was wondering–is there any way to seal the mug so it’s dishwasher safe?

    Reply
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      kyla
      mackenzie
      December 4, 2016

      Hi Mackenzie. I’ve never tried to seal them.

      Reply
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    Ava Porter
    December 12, 2016

    I love this, I was wondering, when you set them down to dry do you put them so the open end is facing up or down (against the paper towel)

    Reply
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      kyla
      Ava Porter
      December 13, 2016

      I laid mine face down on paper towel =)

      Reply
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    Heather
    February 22, 2017

    I haven’t tried this yet, but i came across a few tutorials that suggested either dish-washer safe mod podge or a clear acrylic sealant to seal in the nail polish…though both also said not to put sealant or mod podge near spot you would drink from. Hope that helps. I can’t wait to try this..going to the thrift shop toda to find some white mugs!

    Reply
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    Bhin
    May 31, 2017

    doesnt it wear offand is it safe to drink from? one other thing, How do I clean the mug?

    Reply
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    Razbregrll aka Katie
    August 30, 2017

    This was easy great amd cheap!. It literally rook me less than five minutes to find the things needed and complete a piece. Amazing idea! Ps. You dont to stick to just mugs!

    Reply
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      Razbregrll aka Katie
      Razbregrll aka Katie
      August 30, 2017

      Also fyi . . Quick dry nail polish appears to sink right to the bottom, howwever i stir it ( i used chop sticks) it added a tint of the color that sank in a more watercolor wash way. Was pretty cool against the marble design of the polish that did float and create a film.

      Reply
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      kyla
      Razbregrll aka Katie
      August 30, 2017

      It’s so fast and easy! Glad you had fun with it too!

      Reply
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    Adrienne
    November 15, 2017

    Those are very pretty! I am going to make them for my grandma and aunt on Christmas!

    Reply
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    Ally
    November 5, 2018

    How well does the paint hold up? Does it stay over several uses and washes?

    Reply
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    MOLLY dubbs
    November 28, 2019

    That’s really cool, but I have a question…. can you use a pre-colored mug? If it is a light color, i would think it would be fine, the design just wouldn’t show up AS well. But I don’t have access to a white mug, sooo……. BTW SRRY BOUT UR COLD LOL

    Reply
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    sara
    May 13, 2021

    amazing, what a cool effect

    Reply
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    Donna
    November 2, 2021

    We were given the supplies with a craft class and they included 2 metallic and 2 other nail gels. Do the gels take longer to dry? It’s been a week and they are still sticky.

    Reply
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      Kyla Herbes
      Donna
      November 3, 2021

      I’ve never done this with gel nail polish, but my guess is that’s the inhibition layer and needs to be wiped with isopropyl alcohol wipes or a lint free cotton pad. The alcohol should dissolve the sticky layer (which is uncured gel polish) making it easy to wipe away. But again, I’m taking a guess.

      Reply
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    R
    December 10, 2021

    I love how they turned out…would recommend get an extra just in case one doesn’t turn out or you don’t like it.

    Reply
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      Kyla Herbes
      R
      December 10, 2021

      Whole heartedly agree ❤️

      Reply
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    Hannah
    November 29, 2022

    They are so very cute! Thank you for the idea!! I’m going to use this for my friend this Christmas. ❤

    Reply
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      Kyla Herbes
      Hannah
      November 30, 2022

      Your friend will love it! Have fun!

      Reply

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Kyla Herbes - House of Hipsters

Welcome to my little corner of the internet where I share daily doses of home decor, corners of my home, styling tips, and inspire you to decorate with me.

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