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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Stenciled Leaf Mug

November 11, 2013 6 Comments

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

Metallics are so huge for autumn and Thanksgiving decor this year, and I’m into it. Leaves seem to be particularly hot too (even more than usual for fall). My take on these trends is this sweet mug that I’ve been super excited to sip tea from at least once a day. This time of year I basically don’t drink water – a nice cup of tea is my preferred method of hydration and my favorite way to stay warm when I’m strapped to my computer all day.

Supplies

glass paint in copper and pewter
paint daubers
paint brush
self-adhesive leaf stencils
scraper/razor blade (optional – for fixing mess ups)
plain mug
craft mat/waxed paper 

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

Directions

Clean and dry your mug to start. Then, place your leaf stencil(s) on the mug, smoothing down all edges.

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

Squirt a bit of each color of your glass paint onto a crafting mat or some waxed paper. Dip a paint dauber into the paint, and dab it onto a dry spot on your craft mat to remove excess paint. Once the excess paint is removed, carefully apply the paint to a leaf stencil.

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

I alternated colors and stencils creating a checkerboard pattern all over my mug. I made all of my maple leaves copper and all of my other leaves pewter (I have no idea what species the other leaf stencil is).

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

Some tips for stenciling success:

  • Dab your daub… Dab off excess paint from your dauber before applying it to the stencil. Too much paint is going to make successfully stenciling harder.
  • Don’t forget the nooks and crannies… If necessary, use a paint brush or smaller dauber to cover every nook and cranny with paint.
  • You messed up, so what? A razor blade, used carefully of course, can easily slice off one of your stenciled leaves if you’re not happy with the placement of your leaf.
  • Keep your stencils clean… If you’re alternating just a couple stencils like I did, the paint will build up every few applications. Wash off your stencils, scraping away excess paint, when that happens. Your leaves will turn into misshapen blobs if the paint builds up within the stencil.
  • Don’t let the paint dry before removing the stencil. No really – the paint I used tended to stick to the stencil, pulling off the whole leaf design in a sheet. Pull off that stencil when the paint is still a little damp before reusing it to stencil your next leaf.

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied When your whole mug is stenciled, you’ll need to cure it to make the paint permanent, dish washerable, etc. The paints I used can be left out to air cure for 21 days or oven baked following these instructions.

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

All of the supplies I used happen to be from the Martha Stewart line of glass paints, tools & stencils, but this isn’t a sponsored post. 

And, in case you want to save this for later, here’s a pin-friendly image for you:

Stenciled Leaf Mug DIY | Hands Occupied

Filed Under: How-to, Thanksgiving Tagged With: autumn, copper, craft, craft paint, crafts, diy, fall mug, glass paint, leaf mug, martha stewart, mug craft, pewter, stenciled mug

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. Rachel | 52 Weeks Project

    November 11, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    You are a trooper! I feel like I would have given up after the first two leaves. Looks great :)

    Reply
    • Heidi

      November 12, 2013 at 9:19 am

      Thanks! I watched 1.5 movies while working on it ;)

      Reply
  2. Sivonne

    November 12, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    This is fantastic – so worth the effort!

    Makes me want to make one with summery things on it.

    Reply
  3. Kathleen

    November 13, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    The other leaf you have stenciled is an oak leaf, which I am particularly fond of :)

    Reply
  4. Leanne Porter

    November 18, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    I love the look of leaves. I have a several leaf cookie cutters to be able too use with clay & other materials that I can use to make these ornaments/

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Manualidades para niños para un divertido OtoñoNosolobebes | proyectos, vivencias, decoración,… cosas de niños y bebés says:
    September 28, 2014 at 8:21 pm

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies Pegboard storage is my favorite for craft supplies, so getting a few hung in my new studio has been a priority. Here’s my first attempt. 🔨 
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Details: This pegboard panel is for organizing my knitting needles, latch hook tools, sewing thread, etc. It doesn’t need to hold much weight, so I didn’t anchor this into a stud - just used basic drywall anchors. I’ve also got a set of two 2’x4’ panels for another spot in my studio, and those will need a stud/more than 3 drywall anchors. Wish me luck! 
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[description: video features a woman hanging a panel of pegboard using a square dowel and drill]
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