A really simple and quick tutorial for how to make this DIY Gold Polka Dot Mug! And a delicious recipe for an easy Irish Cream Coffee to fill it up!
Happy Monday friends! There’s some fun going on over here today! 15 fabulous blogs got together to bring you 15 gold DIY projects! Awesome right?! So to get this fun time started, here is my gold project!
DIY Gold Polka Dot Mug & Irish Cream Coffee Recipe
I have to say, I swore up and down that I didn’t love gold…but you know what? I think I love it. What?! Yes. I think I love gold. And I might even try to put some gold accents into my home this spring. It’s having an effect on me…the way it’s softly sparkles and looks like sunshine. Who knew I could be convinced? Certainly not me. But I’m convinced.
So when I was thinking of ideas for a gold project, I immediately thought of painting a mug. Now I realize that this is not a new concept. Like at all. But for some reason I have always wanted to paint my own mug, and not in an elaborate way either. I just wanted my very own polka dot mug for my everyday treasured cup of decaf coffee. My own mug that one one is allowed to drink out of ever. Don’t touch my mug mmmmmmkay?
And I wanted my mug to be a polka dot mug. I’ve just always been drawn to polka dots. I love polka dots. So I searched around and tried a couple of different ways to paint mugs (I’ve tried using Sharpie pens which just disappear on the first wash, so I thought I’d try something else). I went to our local big box craft store, and bought some paint made especially for glass. The kind of paint that swears you can wash the dish in the dishwasher with no problems. See, for me this was key…I had to be able to put this mug in the dishwasher, I’m not a fan of hand washing and avoid this method at all costs. So I was skeptical about this paint working, but amazingly, this mug has been through the dishwasher at least 5 times, and not one polka dot has fallen off or disappeared. Not one.

Supplies for a DIY Gold Polka Dot Mug:
- I bought Martha Stewart Crafts Glass Paint in Metallic colour Yellow Gold
- 1 ceramic mug
How To Make a DIY Gold Polka Dot Mug:
- Make sure your mug is cleaned and completely dry.
- I didn’t even use a paint brush to do this…I used the bottle and just squeezed dots, in a random pattern, all over my mug. I wanted some of the dots to be raised and some not to be, so this method worked for that. If there were any shapes that I didn’t like, I just quickly wiped them off with a piece of paper towel.
- Then I baked my mug. This is key. This step absolutely cannot be missed…it cures the paint and ensures that it will not wash or peel off during washing. To do this, I put my mug in a cold oven, then turned it on to 350 degrees and baked it for 45 minutes.
- Voila! Done!
Isn’t it pretty?! I love my mug.

And in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day my mug needed an Irish coffee. With whipped cream and gold sprinkles. It really did.
How to Make a Simple Irish Coffee
- Make a cup of your favour coffee.
- Add 1 ounce of Irish cream (like Baileys)
- Top it off with freshly whipped whipping cream
- Add some gold sprinkles (I bought these at Michaels)
- YUM

– – – – – – – – – – – –
Love that Gold Blog Hop
Now, for more “golden” inspiration, here are 14 fabulous projects from 14 other talented ladies. These are amazing projects and tutorials…you really have to check them out! SO much talent here…
My DIY mug & coffee recipe
“Mommy Loves Me” Heat-Transfer Onesie by It Happens In A Blink
How To Take Pictures During The “Golden Hour” by Lindsay Faber Photography
Gold-Dipped Tear Drop Earrings by Happy Go Lucky
Gold Lettered Vintage Plates by The Sweet Escape
DIY Gold and Silver Key Fob by 4 You With Love
“Don’t Miss The Colours of the Rainbow” Printable by Clean and Scentsible
Gold Dipped Kitchen Utensils by Echoes of Laughter
Golden Pencils by The DIY Dreamer
Gold Speckled Eggs by Craftberry Bush
Gold Circle Pendants by Northstory
Kate Spade-inspired Coasters by Suburble
Gold-and-Black Layered Bracelet by Happy Hour Projects
Vintage Key Art by Satori Design for Living
Gold Bowties by Fynes Designs
– – – – – – – – – – – –
I hope you loved everything over here today…we had so much fun putting our projects and this blog hop for you!






33 Comments
Free Inspirational Printable and $250 Cash Giveaway - Clean and Scentsible
March 10, 2014 at 5:00 AM[…] left to right, they are: DIY Gold Polka Dot Mug & Irish Coffee Recipe from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs “Mommy Loves Me” Heat-Transfer Onesie by It Happens […]
Virginia Fynes
March 10, 2014 at 5:29 AMLooks totally FABULOUS! such and easy technique with big impact! the Irish Coffee looks really yummy!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:47 PMThank you V! I love my little mug! 😉
Melissa
March 10, 2014 at 6:46 AMAny excuse to have a little Baileys with breakfast! Great recipe and cute mug!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:47 PMI agree! Love me some Baileys! Haha
Shauna
March 10, 2014 at 7:44 AMLooks fantastic, Jo-Anna! It took me a while to jump on the gold wagon, but now I love it too!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:48 PMThanks Shauna! I’m really liking gold…I’ve embraced it! Who knew?!
Christine
March 10, 2014 at 7:50 AMLoving the mug!!!! Do you have any Irish Coffee right now? I’ll be right over for a cup 🙂 Pinning!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:48 PMThank you Christine! Come on over any time!
Barb
March 10, 2014 at 9:29 AMCoolest thing ever!!!!
Barb
March 10, 2014 at 9:30 AMSwoon… I forgot to say how much I love those gold sprinkles – genius!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:50 PMThank you Mom! xoxo
Angie@Echoes of Laughter
March 10, 2014 at 10:10 AMI am crazy over polka dots too! I love your gold mug…it is so pretty! I would also make a great gift for someone with some cookies inside or a gift card! Great project Jo-Anna! Happy Monday!!
Angie xo
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:51 PMGreat idea Angie! I just might have my Mother’s Day gift idea now!
Tara
March 10, 2014 at 8:13 PMSo glad you’ve been converted to a gold-fan, Jo-Anna! I’m glad you’ve come over to the “glitzy side”! This mug is gorgeous – I so want to do a baked glass-paint mug. Pinning this, lady!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:49 PMHappily converted I am! Tee hee!
Lori McC
March 10, 2014 at 10:02 PMOoooooooh! I need one of those mugs. I also desperately need what’s inside it too!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:49 PMCan’t ever go wrong with at little Baileys! 😉
Marilyn
March 11, 2014 at 8:39 AMThis mug is amazing…awesome simplistic beauty…I also love the gold sprinkles! LOVELY!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:51 PMThank you so much Marilyn!
Dani @ lifeovereasy
March 11, 2014 at 8:41 AMLove your gold roundup – such great ideas! And $300 would be pretty nice right about now!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:52 PMThank you Dani! Good luck!
Jenn
March 11, 2014 at 4:18 PMSo pretty Jo-Anna! I love the 3-D look of the mug! I’m like you – I have always been a silver girl but I can see adding little bits of gold in now! 🙂
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:52 PMI love the 3D too – it was kind a nice surprise the way it came out!
Alex
March 12, 2014 at 10:30 AMBailey’s and Gold sprinkles? I think I love you!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:53 PMA match made in Heaven I say! 😉
ISA VAL
March 13, 2014 at 7:17 AMwow, thanks! ^^
fingers crossed!
Lynne from Design The Life You Want to Live
March 13, 2014 at 1:23 PMI WANT THAT MUG <— yes, I screamed that.
I think you should come to my blog and get the SIMPLE to make, homemade baileys recipe. You will never buy the stuff in a bottle again. It's THAT good.
Big love !!!
Lynne
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:56 PMHahaha! Too funny! I definitely am going to have to check out your recipe…home made is always better!!
Kara
March 15, 2014 at 7:23 PMI love your mug and the coffee sounds delicious!!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:56 PMThank you Kara!
nicolette @ momnivore's dilemma
March 16, 2014 at 6:03 AMLove, it Jo!
These themed mega-hops are a fun idea!
Jo-Anna@APrettyLife
March 16, 2014 at 9:44 PMThanks Nic! This was a fun one!