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Fingerprint Butterfly Mug Painting

We love Mother’s Day crafts that are keepsakes Mom or Grandma will treasure and be able to enjoy on a daily basis. These thumbprint butterfly mugs are the perfect gift for your little one to create! They are such a sweet keepsake and thumbprints easily make the cutest little butterflies you’ve ever seen! You won’t believe how easy this mug painting tutorial is and it makes a great DIY gift.

RELATED: Butterfly Handprint Cards

DIY Fingerprint Butterfly Mug Painting

All you need are a few supplies to make these thumbprint butterfly mugs. You can find plain white mugs at the dollar store, making this craft very frugal to make! These mugs would also be great to give for Mother’s Day or for a teacher gift.

DIY Coffee Mugs

Supplies Needed for Mug Painting DIY Coffee Mugs

Mug Painting DIY Materials

– White Mug

Enamel Acrylic Paint (it can be used on glass or ceramic surfaces)

  • Check the label for the type of acrylic paint that it can be used on glass or ceramic surfaces. Some paints require that the paint be cured. Be sure to read the instructions of the paint you purchase. 

– Small Paint Brush

Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Sealer

Watch the full tutorial here: 

Fingerprint Butterfly DIY Mugs

How To Make Thumbprint Butterfly DIY Coffee Mugs

1. Dip your child’s thumb into the paint and stamp it once or twice on a scrap piece of paper to ensure that the paint is not too thick. Carefully stamp it on the mug, being sure to stay 1-2 inches away from the top.

Mug Painting DIY

2. Clean off the child’s thumb and dip it into another color and stamp the thumb twice on either side of the first thumbprint to create the wings.

Hand Painted Mugs

3. With a very small paint brush, paint on some lines to create the antennae.

Paint Your Own Mug

4. Allow the mug to dry or bake it at a low temperature according to the enamel acrylic paint directions and your mug is ready to use!

DIY Mug Painting

5. For extra protection, use this sealer which will help keep the paint from coming off. It’s safe for top rack dishwasher use however, to be extra careful we would recommend hand washing these mugs (you wouldn’t want to wash away one of those cute butterflies!).

Add Sealer to Mug

Allow the sealer to dry completely before using.

Mug Painting Ideas Fingerprint Butterfly

These thumbprint butterfly mugs are adorable for kids to make. Fill the mug with candy or a gift card and it would make such a special keepsake gift for that special Mom or Dad in your child’s life!

Hand Painted Mugs DIY Ideas

More Mother’s Day Ideas

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And if you’re looking for another cute gift idea for Mom, these Trolls Mason Jars would be perfect to give for Mother’s Day!

Trolls Mason Jar Flower Craft

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9 comments on “Fingerprint Butterfly Mug Painting”

  1. Hi!
    These are super cute! How long did you need to let the paint dry before applying the Modge Podge? I’ve tried it and the Modge Podge just wipes the paint right now….I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong…so maybe I’m not letting it dry long enough. Thanks!!

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Yes I would definitely give it at least a day before applying the mod podge. And brush it on gently so it’s not scraping off the paint. Hope that helps!

  2. Can you use the Mod Podge on the inside of a plate if you want to make a dish a dish and cup set?

  3. My kindergarten class made these this year. So I should baked them first before I modge podge them?

    1. The Best Ideas for Kids

      Hi Britt – it depends on the paint you used and the instructions. Some require baking and some don’t. If it doesn’t say anything about baking then you can just mod podge them. Thanks! 🙂

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