Father's Day Gift Idea - Photo Mug

Here's a great Father's Day gift idea that lets Dad carry photos of the kids with him throughout the whole year. Put your photos on a mug and Dad can see it every day! Here's how to make one...

Supply List
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Photos
Photo transfer paper or mug

This is an easy present to make for Father's Day, but a very special one! Start by choosing pictures for your photo mug. You should be able to use at least two different ones (one on each side). If your photos are smallish, you maybe able to use quite a few. I like to find a photo of the kids each doing something special with Dad that they both will recognize and remember.

If you're planning to do the transfer yourself, measure the space available to work with on your mug. If you'd rather have it professionally done, call the photo-shop and ask what area size is available.

You'll probably want to cut your photos, to remove excess background. Make sure that you only use pictures that it's okay to cut! Cut out the faces, and any specific items from the photos that you want to include and arrange them so that they will fit in the space on the mug. Don't forget that you'll need to work around the handle! I've done oldest to youngest time lines of all the kids, and I've done serious-face on one side, silly-face on the other side mugs. Once we even did a picture upside-down on purpose, to see if Dad would tip it over to see the picture right, and in doing so, pour out his drink!

If you have a scanner, and can print to transfer paper, lay out the photos and scan them. Then crop it to the correct size for your mug, and add any embellishments you like with your favorite photo editing program. Then just print it on your transfer paper, trim it to size, and impress it on the mug according to the instructions for the brand your using.

If you don't have this equipment at home, that's okay. Just cut out a rectangle the correct size to wrap around your mug, and use it to lay out your photos. Tape them in place, making sure that the tape does not show. Then you can draw or write around your photos, or print out words or artwork and cut them out to tape down the same way you did the photos.

Take your rectangle to a local photo-mart, or a chain store (such as Walmart) that has a photo area. You may need to leave your photo-layout rectangle with them for a few days. (Some offer same-day service, by they tend to get backed up around a holiday.) Be sure to drop yours off in time to have it back in time to wrap it up for Dad.

The Father's Day Photo Mug project is a fun craft that gives you a chance to go through the pictures and reminisce, and then leaves Dad with a keepsake that he can carry with him and use every day.

Happy Father's Day!!