There's something truly delightful about sipping a warm cup of cocoa during the holiday season, especially when it's in a beautifully crafted, personalized tumbler. If you're a fan of festive drinkware, you're in for a treat!
Today, Misty Leonard of MD Leonard Designs is showing us how to create a stunning hot cocoa-themed holiday resin tumbler. We'll be using Sterling Snow glitter, Counter Culture DIY Artist Resin, and Nice N' Thick with Rustic Oak Dispersion Color for the perfect chocolate drip.
Ready to add a touch of handmade magic to your holiday sips? Let's get started!
How to Make a Hot Cocoa Holiday Tumbler
Picture this: a chilly winter evening, a cozy blanket, and a steaming cup of hot cocoa in hand. Now imagine that comforting drink nestled in a stunning, hot cocoa-themed resin tumbler that you crafted yourself.
Personalized drinkware has skyrocketed in popularity, and with good reason—it's a perfect blend of function, style, and a dash of personal flair. Let's dive into the joys of making these delightful tumblers for yourself, as gifts, and even as a budding business venture.
The Cozy Charm of Hot Cocoa-Themed Tumblers
There's something undeniably heartwarming about the classic hot cocoa theme. It evokes memories of snow days, holiday gatherings, and fireside chats. Crafting a resin tumbler with this theme not only amplifies these cozy vibes but also allows for endless creativity.
From shimmering Sterling Snow glitter to rich chocolate drip effects, each tumbler becomes a unique masterpiece, reflecting both the warmth of cocoa and the sparkle of the holiday season.
Crafting for Yourself: A Creative Escape
Creating your own hot cocoa-themed tumbler is more than just a craft project—it's a creative escape. The process of designing, mixing resins, and watching your vision come to life is immensely satisfying.
It offers a chance to unwind and focus on the joy of making something beautiful and functional. Plus, every time you use your handmade tumbler, you're reminded of the care and creativity you poured into it.
Gifting: Sharing the Love
Handmade gifts carry a special kind of magic, and personalized tumblers are no exception. When you gift a hot cocoa-themed tumbler to friends or family, you're offering more than just an object—you're giving a piece of your creativity.
These tumblers are not only practical but also filled with personality and thoughtfulness, making them cherished keepsakes that recipients will treasure. Personalize them with names, quotes, or favorite colors to add that extra special touch.
Selling: Turning Passion into Profit
If crafting these tumblers sparks joy for you, why not share that joy with others on a larger scale? Selling handmade tumblers can be a rewarding way to turn a hobby into a source of income. Add them to your Etsy shop or share your creations on social media.
Showcase the unique aspects of your tumblers, such as the quality of materials and the painstaking attention to detail in every piece. Engaging with a community of fellow crafters and customers online can also enhance your craft and business.
The Joy of Sharing Handmade Creations
Whether you're crafting for yourself, gifting to loved ones, or selling to like-minded enthusiasts, the joy of creating hot cocoa-themed resin tumblers is undeniable.
These tumblers aren't just drinkware; they're expressions of creativity, warmth, and connection. Each one tells a story, carries memories, and spreads a little bit of joy with every sip.
video
Hot Cocoa Holiday Tumbler Supply List
- Tumbler
- Rustic Oak Dispersion Color
- Protective gloves
- Filter mask
- Measuring cups
- Medicine cups
- Glitter Spoon
- Fast Set or Fast Set Turbo
- Sterling Snow Glitter
- Quick Coat
- Counter Culture DIY Artist Resin
- Mixing Sticks
- Silicone mat
- Hot cocoa vinyl decal
- Nice N' Thick
- Sprinkles and sundae toppings (optional)
Step By Step Instructions
-
Start by lightly sanding your cup with sandpaper to scuff it up a bit. Then wash and dry it to remove any debris.
-
Next, mix up a batch of Fast Set or Fast Set Turbo according to the package instructions. Measure equal amounts of Parts A and B. Then pour part B into part A and mix well for 3-5 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of your cup as you go, as well as your mixing stick. This ensures that all of your epoxy will be well incorporated.
- Add the Sterling Snow to your combined resin and use a gloved finger to apply it to your tumbler. Leave the tumbler on a turner to cure.
- When your tumbler is cured, take a small paint brush and paint the Rustic Oak around the rim of your cup where the top of your drips will be. This is just incase your drip is thinner at the top. You don't want your base color to show through the drip.
- Now measure equal parts of the Artist Resin. Use 5 ml of each for one tumbler or 10 ml for two tumblers. Mix well to combine just like you did the Fast Set.
- Next, add a little at a time of the Nice N' Thick until you get a good drip consistency. It is normal for it to be clumpy at the outset, don't worry. Just keep mixing and smooshing the clumps.
- Now add the Rustic Oak Dispersion Color to the thickened resin and mix it well to combine. A tiny bit goes a long way so start small and add more if you need to.
Applying the Drip to the Tumbler
- Now it's time to add the drip to your tumbler! Using your mixing stick, add the mixture around the rim of your tumbler. Then add some more in areas and help it to naturally drip down the cup.
- If you are going to add sprinkles to your chocolate drip, let the Nice N' Thick resin set for an hour or so first. This will keep your sprinkles from moving or sinking as the drip starts to cure.
- If you forget to come back and add your sprinkles before the drip cures, no problem! A quick solution would be to use UV Resin to apply them. Or you could do a thin gloss layer of combined resin over the drip and apply the sprinkles that way.
- Let your chocolate drip cure completely. Then apply your vinyl decal. Seal your decal with Quick Coat and let it dry.
- Finally, add a layer of combined Artist Resin to the whole tumbler and allow it to cure completely before using it. If you want to make this holiday tumbler extra fun, add a whipped cream topper to it!
The Finishing Touches
A big thanks to Misty for showing us how to make these fun and fabulous hot cocoa tumblers! If you loved learning from her and want to see more of her creations, you can find all her links here.
In the mean time, grab your materials, let your imagination run wild, and enjoy the fulfilling journey of making something wonderful. Here's to warm drinks, cozy moments, and the delightful world of handmade creations!
Pop of Color Shock Paints are sold exclusively at Counter Culture DIY. So now you have even more reasons to stop by!
You can find more awesome video tutorials like this one on our YouTube channel!
Be sure to follow us on Pinterest so you can stay on top of everything that’s new and never miss a blog post!
If you want more inspiration and information we have a Facebook group for that. Join us in Counter Culture DIY Artist Support where we, and other artists, offer ideas, answer questions, and support each other!
Do you have an art project using any of our products that you want to share? Send it to us at support@counterculturediy.com, and we can feature them here!