Almost every kitchen has a few mugs that never leave the cupboard: the chipped favorite, the souvenir with a faded logo, the last survivor of a set. They are sturdy, already shaped like a little pot, and they come with a handle that is just right for a ribbon, which makes them some of the best craft blanks in the house.
The 52 ideas below turn them into flower arrangements, bookends, a lamp, chimes, quirky characters and painted wall scenes, along with a few good ways to display a whole collection. For each one you will find what the piece brings to a room, how it is put together and the detail that makes it work.
Table of Contents
- Before You Decorate an Old Mug
- Faux Flowers, Leaves and Branches
- Paper Flower Teacups on Wooden Risers
- Denim Roses in Patchwork Teacups on a Branch Stand
- Felt Maple Leaves in Burlap Wrapped Mugs
- Crepe Paper Iris Trio on a Gray Wave Stand
- Paper Orchid Branch in a Mosaic Trimmed Mug
- Felt and Knit Flowers in a Lace Trimmed Gray Mug
- Coral Branch Arch Between Two Aqua Mugs
- Rope Heart Topiary with Felt Ivy
- Mini Mug Planters in a Window Greenhouse
- Paper Butterflies Under a Glass Display Case
- Small Scenes on Trays and Boards
- Teacup Sailboats on a Linen Sea
- Spilling Cup Sculpture with Fabric Pours
- Cork Cradled Mugs with a Rattan Handle
- Lace Teacups with Flameless Tea Lights on a Wood Slab
- Sweater Mugs with Folded Paper Trees
- Felt Woodland Animals on Pastel Mugs
- Paper Wave Splash from a Navy Mug
- Constellation Mugs with a Moon and Star Arch
- Embroidered Daisy Mugs on a Mantel
- Pink Mug with Burlap Roses Under a Cloche
- Mugs That Turn into Characters
- Felt Bunny Mugs on an Oval Tray
- Lace Swan Mug on a Gray Board
- Polka Dot Mug with Ribbon Butterfly Wings
- Sleepy Angel Mug on a Cloud Shelf
- Hand Painted Mugs with Faces and Stories
- Harlequin Mug with a Paper Fan Bouquet
- Queen Bee Mug with Honeycomb Glass
- Mermaid Mug on a Tail Shaped Tray
- Witch Mug with a Paper Hat Lid
- Aviator Mug with a Honeycomb Paper Balloon
- Useful Pieces Built Around a Mug
- Fairy Tower Mug Bookends
- Ocean Wave Mug Table Lamp
- Vanity Mirror on a Lace and Button Mug Stand
- Hanging Mugs, Bells and Chimes
- Dot Painted Cup Bells on a Walnut Mobile
- Upside Down Mugs with Yarn Ball Clappers
- Lace Trimmed Mug Chimes on a Curved Stand
- Stands, Cages and Cabinets for a Mug Collection
- Birdcage Turned into a Teacup Stand
- Rose Painted Tiered Shelf for Pink Mugs
- Shabby Chic Wall Cabinet with Lace Doors
- Mirror Lined Mugs on a Carved Tree Stand
- Folding Lace Screen Behind a Gray Mug
- Mugs on the Wall
- Wisteria Teacups on a Reclaimed Plank
- Woven Wall Hanging with Two Cup Shelves
- Black Lace Mugs on a Burgundy Wall Plaque
- Teacups on a Birch Wreath
- Mug Shadow Boxes in Pastel Frames
- Bird Nest Mugs on Driftwood
- Pink Teacups on Staggered Corbel Shelves
- Painted Wall Scenes for Themed Mugs
- Winter Village Shelf with House Mugs
- Solar System Planet Mug Shelf
- Weather Shelf with Cloud, Rain and Rainbow Mugs
- Puppet Stage Shelf with Comedy and Tragedy Mugs
- Chess King and Queen in a Checkered Shadow Box
- Matching the Idea to the Mug
- Staying Safe with Glue, Drills and Hanging Mugs
Before You Decorate an Old Mug
Glazed ceramic is slick, so the glue matters more than the decoration. A clear craft adhesive such as E6000 holds lace, felt, buttons and beads well, while a two part epoxy is the better choice for anything that carries weight, like a mug fixed to a ledge or a rod set into a base. Hot glue is fine on wood, paper and fabric, but on a glazed surface it tends to let go after a few changes in temperature. Wipe the mug with rubbing alcohol before you start so no kitchen grease is left behind.
Anything that stands up in a mug, from a paper bouquet to a wire arch, needs something solid to grip. Floral foam cut a little smaller than the opening is quick and lets you move stems around later. Plaster of Paris locks a dowel or branch in place for good and adds weight, which keeps tall pieces from tipping. Plaster swells slightly as it sets, so line the mug with plastic wrap or pack a few foam scraps around the sides first, then hide the surface under sand, moss, small gravel or a disc of cork.
For painted designs, paints labeled for glass and ceramic grip much better than ordinary craft acrylics, and most of them are cured in a home oven. Even so, a mug that has been painted, glued or filled becomes decoration from that point on, so pick pieces you are happy to retire from the coffee rotation.
Faux Flowers, Leaves and Branches
A mug is already the right size for a small arrangement, and faux stems never need water, so these keep their shape for years.
Paper Flower Teacups on Wooden Risers
Three teacups in cream, blush and sage sit on wooden blocks of different heights, all fixed to an oval board, and a wire arch of pink and white crepe flowers, tiny white blossoms, leaves and wooden butterflies links the two outer cups. Crepe paper blooms fill each cup, while lace bands, satin bows with pearl centers and a few more wooden butterflies dress the outside.
The staggered heights are what make it work as a centerpiece. Nothing blocks the view across a coffee table, yet the three cups read as one piece. Cut the blocks from a 2 by 4 or an old fence post, sand them and glue them to the base, then fix each cup on top with epoxy. Press corks or floral foam into the cups, add the crepe flowers, and bend a heavy wire into an arch whose ends sink into the foam of the two outer cups before you wrap it with sprigs of blossom.
Denim Roses in Patchwork Teacups on a Branch Stand
Old jeans supply almost everything here. Each teacup is wrapped in denim patches in different washes, mixed with gingham, a floral print and a striped piece, with lace glued along the rim and a button or a tiny bow at the front. Rolled roses in navy, sky blue and cream sit on top with felt leaves and sprigs of white filler.
A pine stand shaped like a branch, with three offset platforms, lifts the cups so the whole display feels like a miniature tree, a good match for a blue and white bedroom or a farmhouse kitchen. To roll a rose, cut a strip of denim about 2 inches wide and 20 inches long, fold it in half lengthwise, then twist and coil it while dabbing glue at the base. Leave the raw edges of the patches showing, since a little fraying is part of the charm.
Felt Maple Leaves in Burlap Wrapped Mugs
A rust mug and a cream mug stand shoulder to shoulder on a dark stained board. Each wears a burlap band embroidered with leaf outlines in brown thread, and a felt maple leaf held by a wooden button sits on the band. Inside, moss, small pine cones and berry picks hide the foam, and felt leaves in burgundy, mustard and olive rise on thin wire stems.
Set the pair on a side table in autumn, then swap the maple leaves for felt holly later in the year to carry it into winter. Stitch the veins with a running stitch before cutting the leaves out, then glue a length of wire along the back of each one.
Crepe Paper Iris Trio on a Gray Wave Stand
White, lavender and slate blue mugs each sit in a white collar with a silver stud at the front, lined up along a brushed gray stand that curves like a wave and rises at one end, so the blue mug sits a little higher. A crepe paper iris with a bud and two gray leaves grows from each mug, and a smaller paper iris is glued to the front above a band of lace held by a silver brad.
Repeating one flower in three colors gives a narrow hallway console a calm rhythm without clutter. Use fine crepe paper and stretch the petal edges between your thumbs to make the ruffles, then brush the tips with thinned lavender paint. Wrap the wire stems with white floral tape and the leaves with gray paper. For the flower on the front, glue only the lower petals to the mug with clear craft adhesive and let the upper ones stand free, so it keeps its shape.
Paper Orchid Branch in a Mosaic Trimmed Mug
A slate blue mug decorated with a raised white orchid and a trail of silver mosaic tiles holds a white branch carrying five crepe paper orchids with lavender edges and gray leaves. The mug rests on a white ring set on a rough stone.
Orchids suit anyone who loves the look but not the watering schedule, and the paper version never drops a bloom. Tint the petal edges by dabbing thinned lavender paint with a dry brush, curve each petal over a pencil, and glue them around a small white center shaped from folded paper. Set the branch in plaster so it stays upright under the heavy flowers.
Felt and Knit Flowers in a Lace Trimmed Gray Mug
Big flat flowers in white and blue felt, outlined with a running stitch and finished with white buttons, mix with two hand knitted lavender blooms on yarn wrapped wire stems. Gray felt leaves with stitched veins fill the gaps. The gray mug carries a strip of lace with two gray buttons and a pair of blue felt leaves, and stands on a white board with a soft, wavy outline.
Soft flowers like these belong in a child's room or a reading corner, where crisp paper would get crushed. Cut two felt layers for each bloom, sew around the edge with contrasting thread and slip the wire between the layers before the last few stitches.
Coral Branch Arch Between Two Aqua Mugs
Two pale aqua mugs on a slightly curved white board hold white branches that look like coral, and the tallest twigs meet in the middle to form an arch. Aqua glass gems glued along the branches look like drops of sea water. A loose web of white thread dotted with gray circles covers each mug and gives it a netted, coastal texture.
Gather branchy twigs on a walk, trim them so they reach each other, and give them several coats of white chalk paint. Join the meeting point with epoxy and hold it with tape until it cures. For the netting, brush decoupage glue onto the mug and wind cotton thread around it in every direction. A bathroom shelf or a window ledge suits it best, where the gems catch the light.
Rope Heart Topiary with Felt Ivy
White cotton rope shaped into a heart on a single stem rises from a navy speckled mug, and a trail of felt ivy leaves in lavender, white and gray climbs one side, pinned with silver beads. A band of lace and a few rows of raised white dots dress the mug, which stands on a white wooden ring.
Give it as an anniversary gift or keep it on a nightstand as a quiet reminder. Bend a length of heavy wire into the heart and stem first, then wrap the rope over it, adding glue every few inches so the shape holds. Fix the stem in plaster inside the mug and cover the top with white sand or a felt circle.
Mini Mug Planters in a Window Greenhouse
Five small mugs in blue, pink, sage, cream and lavender hold faux greenery and little white flowers. Two sit on a shelf inside a white wooden greenhouse, and three are lined up in front of it. Raised leaves and a lilac tulip decorate several of them, two wear lace collars, and a strip of tiny gray tiles runs along the front of the base like a garden path.
The greenhouse frame turns a handful of espresso size mugs into a real scene that works on a kitchen counter or a sunroom shelf. Build the frame from thin square strips, glue clear acrylic sheet into the openings instead of glass, and fix it to a board you can edge with mosaic squares and grout.
Paper Butterflies Under a Glass Display Case
An ivory mug covered in torn scraps of patterned paper, pressed flowers and tiny pearls holds a spray of gold wire stems, and each stem ends in a layered paper butterfly. A tall glass case on a dark wood base covers it all and keeps dust off the delicate wings.
The case makes it feel like a keepsake rather than a craft, so it fits a bedside table or a guest room shelf. Decoupage the paper pieces with matte medium, curl the wire around a dowel for the spiral stems, and fold each butterfly slightly along the body so the wings lift before you glue on a pearl.
Small Scenes on Trays and Boards
A board under a mug turns a single object into a scene.
Teacup Sailboats on a Linen Sea
Three teacups in white, navy and sand sit on a wooden tray draped with crumpled blue linen that reads as water. Twine is wound around each cup with a wooden button at the front, and a cork plug inside holds a dowel mast with two stitched fabric sails, paired in blue and cream, red and cream, or green and mustard.
The project is easy enough for a weekend and fits a coastal bathroom, a kid's room or a beach house shelf. Make the sails from right triangles, sew them in pairs with a visible running stitch, and tie them to the mast with twine at the top and bottom. Press the cork in firmly so it stays without glue. Shells collected on the same trip would sit nicely beside them.
Spilling Cup Sculpture with Fabric Pours
Three tilted mugs rest on curved wooden cradles above a round cork base, and soft fabric in navy, light blue and oatmeal pours out of each one, pooling across the base in overlapping waves. Every mug has its own hand painted blue pattern, whether a leafy branch, a row of diamonds or a band of stripes, along with a cord tied around it and finished with a tassel. Wooden beads are stitched along the edge of the navy fabric.
This kind of optical trick earns a second look on a bathroom counter or an entry console. Soak the fabric in fabric stiffener, drape it over crumpled foil in the shape you want and let it dry before attaching it. Fix the mugs to their cradles with epoxy, since the angle puts the whole weight on that one joint.
Cork Cradled Mugs with a Rattan Handle
Two mugs lean toward each other in carved cork cradles on an irregular cork slab, and a bent rattan handle wrapped with twine joins them like a carrier. Terracotta dots are stippled over the outside, growing denser toward the base, three thin wood slices sit on the front, and the inside of each rim is painted with layered waves in orange, rust and sand.
The warm palette suits boho and desert inspired rooms, and the pair can sit on a marble side table as a sculpture or hold a few dried grasses. Stipple with the end of a round brush or a cotton swab, building up the dots as you move down. Since the paint reaches inside the rim, keep these two for display only.
Lace Teacups with Flameless Tea Lights on a Wood Slab
Three white teacups glow with LED tea lights on a weathered plank. One has two skeleton leaves pressed above a lace band at its base. The middle cup, raised on a log slice, carries gold leaf flakes and a crochet lace collar, and the third is wrapped in crochet lace tied with a green twine bow. A small bundle of dried poppy pods lies between them.
Left on through dinner, it gives the table a soft glow without a single open flame. Glue the skeleton leaves with matte decoupage medium and press gold leaf onto dabs of size. Battery candles are the only sensible choice here, because lace, paper and dried pods sit right at the rim.
Sweater Mugs with Folded Paper Trees
Three mugs wear knitted covers in cream rib, gray cable and blue rib, each with a felt snowflake stitched to the front. Accordion folded paper trees in pale blue, gray and white stand on cork trunks in the mugs, and pine blocks of different heights hold them at three levels.
Winter decor that skips red and green is surprisingly hard to find, and this palette can stay out from December until the snow melts. Cut the covers from the cuff of an old sweater or knit a narrow rectangle and seam it beside the handle. For each tree, fold paper circles into fans, stack them from largest to smallest on a skewer and glue a wine cork at the base so it grips the mug.
Felt Woodland Animals on Pastel Mugs
Six pastel mugs carry stitched felt animals: a bear, a bluebird on a twig, a hedgehog, an owl, a bunny and a fox. They are grouped on a gray wooden riser with two levels, with folded paper trees and white painted twigs standing behind them.
A set like this works as nursery shelf decor today and as a keepsake for each child later. Sew the felt layers together first so every animal is a flat, finished patch, then attach it to the mug with clear craft adhesive.
Paper Wave Splash from a Navy Mug
Curled strips of white, blue and lavender paper burst out of a navy mug like a breaking wave and spill along a long white board. The mug itself carries a raised white swirl and three pieces of sea glass, and a gray ring lifts it just above the board.
On a coffee table runner it brings movement to a calm, cool color scheme. Pipe the swirl with texture paste, then cut heavy cardstock into strips of two or three widths and curl them over a broom handle. Glue them in overlapping layers from the board up into the mug so the tallest curls come out of the cup, adding a dot of glue wherever one strip touches the next to keep the wave rigid.
Constellation Mugs with a Moon and Star Arch
A navy mug and a charcoal mug sit at either end of a white board raised on short feet. Both are painted with white dot constellations and a raised blue crescent moon, and three thin white arches spring from one mug to the other, carrying stars in white and silver glitter and a lavender crescent moon.
The arches frame whatever sits behind them, so it looks good in front of a stack of books or under a window. Use thick wire painted white for the arches and anchor the ends in plaster. Foam board or air dry clay keeps the stars and the moon light enough for the wire.
Embroidered Daisy Mugs on a Mantel
Two cream mugs lie on their sides on a dark wood mantel, and their openings are filled with discs of linen embroidered with daisies, like little hoops. Blue gingham bows sit on the handles, which now point up like hanging loops, and a crochet daisy chain with wooden beads swings between them.
It brings a quiet cottage note to a mantel or a deep window sill, and it gives unfinished embroidery a proper home. Stretch the stitched linen over a cardboard circle cut to the inner diameter of the mug, glue the edges to the back and press the disc in with a ring of craft glue. A pinch of museum putty under each mug stops it from rolling.
Pink Mug with Burlap Roses Under a Cloche
A dusty pink mug lies on its side on a crochet doily inside a glass bell jar, with rolled burlap roses, felt leaves and a felt butterfly tumbling out of the opening. A gray ribbon bow and three pearls trim the mug.
A glass dome makes anything look precious, and this one is an easy gift for someone with a vintage, romantic bedroom. Roll the roses from 2 inch strips of burlap, fix the mug to the doily and wooden base with a dot of epoxy so it cannot slide, and arrange the flowers so they seem to spill out on their own.
Mugs That Turn into Characters
Felt Bunny Mugs on an Oval Tray
Two white mugs turned upside down become bunnies, with tall gray felt ears set into the ring of the base, simple painted faces with white yarn whiskers, felt paws peeking out at the bottom edge and a white pompom tail behind. They sit on a whitewashed oval board scattered with paper lavender sprigs.
Flipping the mug hides the opening and gives you a rounded head, which is why this works so well for Easter or a spring shelf. Cut each ear from gray felt with a paler inner piece, glue the two together and run a length of wire up the back so the ears stand tall. Glue them into the ring of the upturned base, and fix the yarn whiskers with tiny dots of glue.
Lace Swan Mug on a Gray Board
A white mug becomes a swan. Lace appliqués layered like feathers form the wing on one side, a folded paper fan makes the tail, and a long neck wrapped in white thread curves up from the rim to a smooth white head with closed eyes, a gray beak and a tiny lace flower crown. A string of pearls runs around the base.
It is elegant enough for a dressing table or a nursery in soft gray. Shape the neck from foil around a stiff wire, wrap it with thread and form the head from air dry clay or a small foam egg over the end of the wire. Layer the lace from the bottom up so each row overlaps the one below, just as real feathers do.
Polka Dot Mug with Ribbon Butterfly Wings
Large butterfly wings rise from both sides of a gray mug with blue polka dots and two bands of lace. The wings are white fabric over a wire frame, stitched around the edge, filled with loops of lavender satin ribbon and dotted with pearls and silver beads, and two wire antennae with silver ball tips stand up from the top.
On a dresser in a teen's room or a craft shelf, it reads as a sculpture rather than a cup. Bend each wing frame from a single length of wire, glue the fabric over it, and attach the frames to the mug with epoxy, propping them until fully cured. Fill the mug with plaster first so the wide wings cannot tip it over.
Sleepy Angel Mug on a Cloud Shelf
A fluted cream mug painted with closed eyes, pink cheeks and a shy smile sits on a cloud shaped shelf. Lace textured white wings spread from the round backboard behind it, and a beaded wire halo on a thin stem floats above the rim.
Hang it in a nursery or beside a reading chair for a soft, sleepy accent. Press a scrap of lace into rolled air dry clay to texture the wings before cutting them out, and paint the face with a fine liner brush. Screw the backboard securely into the wall, then glue the mug to the shelf so it cannot slide.
Hand Painted Mugs with Faces and Stories
Paint changes a plain mug faster than anything else. A light pencil sketch wipes off the glaze easily, so draw first and paint only once you like the layout.
Harlequin Mug with a Paper Fan Bouquet
A tall tapered mug is painted as a smiling harlequin, with a jester cap in lavender and blue, blue eyes with purple teardrops, a pink nose and a scalloped collar above a pink and lilac diamond pattern. Three accordion paper fans on white sticks, one scalloped in blue, one lilac with diamonds and one striped in pink, stand in the mug like a bouquet.
The soft carnival colors make it a fun accent for a playroom or a pastel living room. Mask the diamonds with painter's tape before painting, and fold each fan from a long strip of paper, pinching the base together and gluing it to its stick.
Queen Bee Mug with Honeycomb Glass
A white mug painted with yellow and gray stripes and a smiling bumblebee in a tiny crown sits on a pale wood board next to four upright hexagons of textured glass in clear and yellow.
On a window sill the yellow glass glows like honey when the sun hits it, so the light becomes part of the decoration. Glue the hexagons edge to edge with clear epoxy and stand them in a shallow groove cut into the board. Ready cut glass tiles are much easier to handle than full panes.
Mermaid Mug on a Tail Shaped Tray
A round turquoise mug painted with a mermaid with long pink hair and a scaled top rests on a pale wooden tray cut in the shape of a curling mermaid tail, with glossy turquoise and blue scales and a fin set into the wood like a mosaic inlay.
On a bathroom counter it can hold makeup brushes or cotton swabs while the tray catches rings. Trace the tail onto thin plywood, cut it with a jigsaw and round the edges with sandpaper. For the scales, set small pieces of glass mosaic into a shallow recess routed into the wood, or paint them and pour a thin layer of clear resin over the tail so it shines the same way. Seal the bare wood with a clear water based varnish.
Witch Mug with a Paper Hat Lid
A lilac mug is painted with a smiling witch, long gray hair and a black cloak, and a paper witch hat with a purple band sits on a round disc that works as a lid.
It stays cute rather than spooky, which makes it a good Halloween decoration for a child's room or a jar for wrapped candy on the counter. Cut the brim and the disc from the same thin board, roll the cone from black cardstock, bend the tip over and glue everything together.
Aviator Mug with a Honeycomb Paper Balloon
A blue gray mug shows a smiling pilot in a leather cap and goggles with a lavender scarf, riding in a woven basket painted in cream and blue across the lower half. A honeycomb paper ball in blue and lavender rises from the mug on a wooden stick, so the whole thing becomes a hot air balloon.
It suits a travel themed nursery or a young reader's desk. Honeycomb balls are sold as party decorations, or you can make one by gluing stacked tissue circles in a staggered pattern. Paint the basket with a fairly dry brush so the weave looks rough and handmade.
Useful Pieces Built Around a Mug
Fairy Tower Mug Bookends
Two mugs in charcoal and light gray become little towers, each with a cone roof covered in scalloped blue and white scales, a lace edge and a pointed finial. Raised white ivy, an arched window, a crescent moon and a few stars decorate the walls, and each mug is fixed to a gray bookend holding a row of blue and white books.
They bring a storybook feeling to a shelf without taking much room. Fill the mugs with sand or plaster so they carry real weight, glue them to wooden bookends with epoxy, and build each roof from a paper cone covered with overlapping felt or paper scales, starting with the bottom row.
Ocean Wave Mug Table Lamp
A navy mug decorated with raised waves in white and teal and a few pieces of sea glass forms the base of a small lamp. A white tube rises from the mug to a linen shade trimmed with a blue zigzag stitch, and the mug sits on a white ring over a round slab of gray stone.
A reading lamp like this finishes a coastal living room or a beach house bedroom. Work with a complete lamp kit, drill a hole low in the mug or through its base for the cord, and fix the rod upright in plaster so the socket stays centered. Top the plaster with white sand and choose an LED bulb that stays cool under the shade.
Vanity Mirror on a Lace and Button Mug Stand
An oval mirror in a gray frame rises from a white mug on a short white post, and lace motifs with clusters of pale gray, light blue and navy buttons trim both the frame and the mug. Felt leaves and a gray band finish the mug, which is glued onto a round white base.
An extra mug becomes a dressing table mirror for getting ready in the morning. Set a dowel in plaster inside the mug, fix an oval mirror to the top with a wooden bracket, and add the lace and buttons last so they hide every join.
Hanging Mugs, Bells and Chimes
Dot Painted Cup Bells on a Walnut Mobile
A hexagonal walnut board hangs from jute rope, and three white cups hang below it upside down on cords like bells. Each cup is dot painted in green and orange with a band of diamonds or zigzags, and amber and green glass beads with a clear diamond prism finish every strand.
Near a sunny window the prisms scatter tiny rainbows across the walls. Lay the dots with a dotting tool or the head of a pin, drill a hole through the base of each cup with a diamond bit and water, and thread the cord through with a large bead knotted inside as a stopper. Hang the cups at staggered heights so they never knock into each other.
Upside Down Mugs with Yarn Ball Clappers
A walnut arch frame holds three upturned mugs in dusty pink, olive and gray, each fixed under a wooden block at the top. Linen patches edged with running stitch decorate the mugs, and from inside each one hang wool yarn balls in matching shades, like soft bell clappers.
It reads as a calm, handmade sculpture for a console or a craft room, and any knitter will get the joke right away. Wind the yarn around foam beads so the balls stay round, tie them to cords of different lengths and glue the cords inside the mug base. Screw the blocks to the arch and fix each mug to its block with epoxy.
Lace Trimmed Mug Chimes on a Curved Stand
A white wooden stand curves up from a smooth stone and ends in two hooks, and an upturned mug hangs from each one, one white and one blue, trimmed with gray lace flowers and pearls. A glass bead and three clear chime tubes dangle beneath each mug, and paper flowers with a lace bow decorate the foot of the stand.
Indoors it rings softly when a window is open and looks lovely beside a piano or a bookcase. A metal cap with a loop glued to the mug base with epoxy gives you a hanging point without drilling. Reuse the tubes from an old wind chime, or cut acrylic rods to slightly different lengths so each one sounds a different note.
Stands, Cages and Cabinets for a Mug Collection
Not every idea needs glue on the mug. If you already collect pretty cups, these displays show them off while keeping them free to use.
Birdcage Turned into a Teacup Stand
A white wire birdcage, open at the front and topped with a dusty pink silk bow, holds two shelves of pastel cups in rose prints, gingham, ribbed cream and a pink cup with a cameo. Lace trims the edge of the upper shelf and several of the cups.
A cage frames a collection without hiding it, which suits shabby chic bedrooms and tea corners. Cut out the front bars with bolt cutters and file the ends smooth, then cut a wooden shelf to fit and rest it on brackets wired to the frame.
Rose Painted Tiered Shelf for Pink Mugs
A curved wooden stand with three tiers holds six pink and cream mugs. Painted roses cover the scalloped top, roses and a pink ribbon bow run across the front apron, the backs of the tiers are lined with pink linen, and lace runs along every shelf edge. The finish is distressed so bare wood shows at the corners.
It makes a pretty corner on a cottage kitchen counter or a sideboard. Paint the roses freehand or use napkin decoupage, line the backs with fabric fixed with spray adhesive before adding the lace, and sand the edges lightly once the paint is dry.
Shabby Chic Wall Cabinet with Lace Doors
A distressed white cabinet with an arched crown and a pink bow hangs on the wall with both doors open. Crochet lace replaces the glass in the doors, the back is covered in pink ticking stripe, and two shelves hold six pink and cream mugs trimmed with lace, rosettes and a doily appliqué.
A cabinet keeps a collection together, and closing the lace doors softens the display without hiding it. Old medicine and spice cabinets are easy to find secondhand. Paint them, sand the edges and staple the lace tight across the door openings from the back.
Mirror Lined Mugs on a Carved Tree Stand
A dark carved stand shaped like a branching tree holds three mugs on their sides in curved cradles. Blue brushstroke patterns decorate the outside, and each mug has a round mirror set into the inside base, ringed with pearls, so the room is reflected through the opening.
Turning the mug toward the room creates a frame, and the mirrors bounce light into a dim corner. Measure the inner base, buy round craft mirrors to fit, and fix them with mirror adhesive before gluing a string of pearls around the edge.
Folding Lace Screen Behind a Gray Mug
A miniature folding screen with three white hinged frames stands on a curved white base. Each panel combines lace with blue paper cutouts in star and lattice patterns, and in front sits a gray mug wrapped in a blue fabric band embroidered with white flowers and edged in lace, holding a white lace fan with a silver flower at its base.
The screen works as a tiny backdrop and gives one favorite mug its own stage on a nightstand. Build three frames from thin strips, join them with tiny hinges and glue the lace to the back, then cut the paper designs with a craft knife or a cutting machine.
Mugs on the Wall
Wall displays free up shelf space and turn a collection into art. Each of these needs secure fixing, which the notes at the end of this article cover.
Wisteria Teacups on a Reclaimed Plank
Three teacups in mint, cream and pink sit on round ledges screwed to a reclaimed wood plank, and faux wisteria in lilac and white pours out of them and trails well below the board. Lace bands with pearls and buttons trim the cups, and twine is wrapped around the handles.
Against a lilac wall it looks like a climbing vine, which makes it a strong focal point above a bench or a dresser. Saw the ledges from a round wooden disc and fix each one with two screws from the back. Glue the cups in place, push foam into them and let a few stems hang long on one side so the arrangement looks natural.
Woven Wall Hanging with Two Cup Shelves
A woven panel in black, rust and cream waves is framed with narrow wood strips and finished with a thick fringe in blocks of color. Two narrow wooden ledges set into the weave hold cream cups wrapped in rust or cream thread, each with a pleated linen napkin fanned out of the top.
It brings texture to a bare wall and fits a modern boho living room. Weave on a frame loom or start from a ready made panel, then screw the ledges through the weaving into a backing board so they can carry the cups. Wind the thread around each cup with a little glue at the start and finish.
Black Lace Mugs on a Burgundy Wall Plaque
A tall burgundy plaque with a pointed arch top hangs in a hallway, and two wooden brackets hold black mugs turned upside down, dressed in black lace under a burgundy velvet band with a bow and an antique brass leaf charm.
The dark, slightly gothic mood suits an entry with deep wood furniture and works all year, not just at Halloween. Cut the arch with a jigsaw, wrap the board in linen or paint it deep red, and screw on two brackets with a raised front edge, then set each mug upside down so its rim rests inside the lip. Glue the lace with clear craft adhesive and add the bows and charms last.
Teacups on a Birch Wreath
A birch twig wreath hangs from a wall peg on cotton cord, and four wooden ledges set into it hold white embossed teacups with lace, rolled mauve rosettes and pearls. Pink and white flowers with pearl centers and green leaves fill the gaps around the ring.
Swapping the usual door wreath for one with cups brings spring into a kitchen or a tea corner. Wire each ledge to the wreath through drilled holes and glue the cups down. Hang it from a screw rather than a nail, since four cups add real weight.
Mug Shadow Boxes in Pastel Frames
Three deep frames in cream, sage and blush hang in a staggered row. Inside each, a strip of lace runs down a linen background and a white mug lies on its side on a wooden cradle with a doily inside the opening. The fillings change from frame to frame, a felt rose in one, a felt butterfly with a bead body in the next and embroidered daisies in the last, and a pink bow with a pearl sits on top of every mug.
Frames that match but differ make an easy gallery wall for a breakfast nook. Use deep box frames without glass so the mugs have room, then glue the cradle to the backing board and the mug to the cradle with epoxy.
Bird Nest Mugs on Driftwood
A branching piece of driftwood hangs on rope from a wooden peg, and two carved ledges along it hold white mugs on their sides. Each mug has a lace band and a green bow, and inside sits a straw nest with a small linen bird embroidered with flowers on its wing.
Driftwood and straw keep the look natural, which suits a spring entry or a sunroom. Fix the ledges to the driftwood with screws and glue, twist raffia or dried grass into rings for the nests, and sew the birds from fabric scraps with a little stuffing.
Pink Teacups on Staggered Corbel Shelves
Six white corbel shelves climb diagonally across a pink wall, each holding a pink or cream teacup in rose print, gingham or ribbed china with lace. A lace ribbon garland with pink bows and rosettes swags from shelf to shelf.
The diagonal line draws the eye upward and fills a narrow strip of wall beside a door or window. Tape paper templates to the wall to settle the spacing before you drill, and fix each corbel into a stud or with suitable anchors.
Painted Wall Scenes for Themed Mugs
These shelves are painted as backdrops, and every mug plays a part in the scene. A topper on a stick, pushed into a cork inside the mug, carries the theme above the rim.
Winter Village Shelf with House Mugs
A wavy board painted with snowy hills, pine trees and a winding path holds two thick shelves of mugs painted as cottages with doors and windows. Three wear roof shaped toppers with chimneys, and the fourth, painted with swirling snowy hills, carries a little glass dome with a white tree inside.
You can leave it up from the first frost to the end of February. Cut the outline from plywood, paint it with thick, textured strokes, and build the roof toppers from balsa wood with white texture paste for the snow.
Solar System Planet Mug Shelf
A tall arched black board with white orbit lines and a watercolor sun at the top holds four narrow shelves. Eight cream mugs are painted in a watercolor style as the planets, and each carries a painted wooden ball on a brass rod, with Saturn wearing its ring.
It teaches while it decorates, so it fits naturally in a child's room or a study. Thin the ceramic paint so it flows like watercolor and blends at the edges, and paint wooden beads to match each mug for the toppers.
Weather Shelf with Cloud, Rain and Rainbow Mugs
A board with a cloud at the top and an S curve below is washed in lavender and blue with a faint rainbow. Three short shelves hold mugs painted with a gray cloud, blue raindrops and a pastel rainbow, and paper toppers on sticks repeat each motif above the rim.
It follows the weather from storm to sunshine, a cheerful story for a playroom or a reading nook. Paint the mugs with loose watercolor strokes, glue the paper toppers to wooden skewers and push them into corks cut to fit the mug.
Puppet Stage Shelf with Comedy and Tragedy Mugs
A painted wooden stage with a scrolled crest, pink drawn curtains and a plank floor holds one shelf with two mugs, a purple one with a laughing mask and a blue one with a crying mask. Matching paper masks on sticks rise from each mug.
It belongs in a home theater corner, a music room or anywhere a theater lover reads. Paint the curtains in light washes first, then deepen the folds with a darker shade so they look gathered.
Chess King and Queen in a Checkered Shadow Box
A square shadow box painted in a charcoal and cream checkerboard holds two checkered ledges at different heights. On them stand two mugs painted as the queen and the king, each with a wooden topper, a pointed crown for her and a cross for him.
Any chess player would be glad to receive it, and it fits neatly in a games room or beside a bookcase. Mask the squares with tape for crisp edges, and make the toppers from wooden finials or from beads glued onto a wooden disc.
Matching the Idea to the Mug
Let the mug's shape lead. Tall straight mugs make good towers, lamps and painted characters, round teacups suit flowers and wall ledges, and small espresso cups are best for miniature scenes like the greenhouse. Plain white or pale mugs take paint and fabric best, while patterned china often looks better left as it is on a stand or in a cabinet. Group mugs in odd numbers, repeat one color across the set, and the result will look planned rather than collected by chance.
Staying Safe with Glue, Drills and Hanging Mugs
A mug can crack or shatter while you drill it. Use a diamond bit, keep the spot wet the whole time, run the drill slowly with light pressure, and wear safety glasses and gloves. An ordinary wood or metal bit will only chip the glaze.
For a mug lamp, use a complete lamp kit rather than loose parts and follow its wiring instructions exactly. Smooth the cord hole and fit a rubber grommet so the sharp edge cannot wear through the insulation, stay within the bulb rating of the kit and unplug the lamp before adjusting anything.
Strong adhesives and epoxy give off fumes, so work beside an open window and keep them away from children and pets. Hot glue can burn skin in seconds. Plaster of Paris warms up as it sets, so never let it harden around fingers, and wear a dust mask when mixing the dry powder.
Lace, paper, felt and dried flowers catch fire easily. Use battery tea lights in any decorated mug, never real candles.
Mugs are heavier than they look, and a full shelf adds up quickly. Screw wall pieces into studs or use anchors rated for the load, choose ledges with a raised edge or glue the mugs down, and avoid hanging shelves or chimes above a bed, a crib or a doorway.
Buttons, beads, pearls, pompoms and felt shapes are choking hazards for babies and toddlers, so keep nursery decor high and out of reach.
Once a mug has been painted, glued or filled, use it only for decoration. If one cracks or breaks along the way, wear gloves while handling the pieces.
Leave a Reply