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DIY Sharpie Dotted Cup For Valentine’s Day

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If you love giving loved ones a simple, sweet gift for Valentine’s Day, then these fit the bill perfectly. Pair with a favorite hot cocoa mix and you’re set. With just a few materials, you can make these for almost nothing at all! It would also be a great gift for a birthday, Mother’s Day, or any gift occasion, really. These little cups filled with chocolate will make a sweet (pun intended) little Valentine’s gift. After Valentine’s Day, you can use the cup to hold rings or jewelry.

Here is our version of decorating a mug,

To use a Sharpie pen to make a Valentine’s gift on a mug or cup, you will need:

  1. A mug or cup (preferably one that is white or light-colored, as this will allow the Sharpie ink to show up more clearly)
  2. A Sharpie pen (choose a color that you think your recipient will enjoy)
  3. A pencil or a light-colored pen (optional, but recommended as a guide)

Here’s how to create your Valentine’s gift on a mug or cup:

  1. Wash and dry the mug or cup to remove any dirt or grease that may prevent the Sharpie ink from adhering properly.
  2. Use the pencil or light-colored pen to sketch out the design that you want to create on the mug or cup. This can help you plan out the composition and ensure that your final design looks the way you want it to.
  3. Once you have your design planned out, start outlining it with the Sharpie pen. Use steady, even strokes to create clean, clear lines.
  4. If you want to add color to your design, you can use different colored Sharpie pens to fill in the different areas of your design.
  5. Once you have finished your design, set the mug or cup aside and let the ink dry completely. This may take a few hours, depending on the complexity of your design and the thickness of the Sharpie ink.
  6. Once the ink has dried, your mug or cup is ready to use! Be sure to hand wash it to ensure that the Sharpie ink stays in place.

I hope this tutorial was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.

 

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Have you read?

Building with Nature: My Experience with Natural Birdhouses

If you’re someone who enjoys DIY woodworking projects and has a soft spot for garden wildlife, Natural Birdhouses by Maria and Amen Fisher is a must-read. I picked this book up recently and have been completely inspired by the earthy, sustainable approach it offers to building homes for birds, bats, and even beneficial bugs.

What really drew me in was the focus on using found wood and natural materials—think branches, logs, reclaimed boards, and other bits of nature you can often source from your own backyard or a nearby forest. Not only does this make the projects eco-friendly, but it also gives everything a beautiful, rustic feel that blends effortlessly into any garden or backyard setting.

The book includes 25 step-by-step projects, all clearly explained and illustrated, which makes it accessible for both beginner and seasoned crafters. Even if you don’t have a fully-equipped workshop, most of these can be tackled with just a few basic tools and a bit of patience.

I started with a simple birdhouse design, using some weathered fence boards I had stashed in the shed. The instructions were easy to follow, and I was surprised how quickly it came together. Within a couple of days of putting it out in the garden, a curious little sparrow showed up—talk about instant reward! I’ve since bookmarked the bat box project and one of the insect hotel builds for next weekend.

What I really love about this book is that it’s not just about crafting; it’s about encouraging wildlife and creating a more natural, welcoming habitat right in your own yard. It’s a great way to involve kids, too—mine were fascinated by the idea of building a bug hotel and couldn’t wait to help collect materials.

If you’re looking for nature-inspired DIY garden projects that not only look good but also serve a purpose, Natural Birdhouses is full of ideas that check all the boxes. It’s creative, environmentally conscious, and a great way to spend time outdoors while giving something back to the ecosystem.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone into sustainable gardening, backyard birdwatching, or rustic outdoor décor. Let me know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear what you build!