Cozy Season Glass Mug for Hot Cocoa (Free SVG for Cricut)
Decorate a clear glass mug with the free Cozy Season SVG and permanent vinyl. Uses a paper template inside the glass for easy, straight placement.
- Skill level
- Beginner
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Made on
- Mug
Fill a Cozy Season glass mug with hot cocoa or a layered latte and the drink becomes the background for the lettering. The design looks different with every refill. Cozy Season is a winter phrase with no mention of Christmas, so the mug stays in use well into the new year. Clear glass also lets you tape a paper template inside and place the decal over it, which you cannot do on ceramic.
What you need
- Clear glass mug smooth sides; heat-safe glass for hot drinks
- Permanent adhesive vinyl, white white shows against coffee and cocoa
- Transfer tape clear tape lets you see the template
- Cutting machine and mat Cricut or Silhouette
- Weeding hook and scraper for weeding and burnishing
- Rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth glass shows every fingerprint
- Plain paper and tape for the placement template
- The free “Cozy Season” cut file sign-ups for the file open soon
Sign-ups open soon
The free SVG and PNG for “Cozy Season” will be sent by email. We are still setting that up, so there is nothing to fill in yet.
The steps on this page are ready to read now. Come back to this page for the file once sign-ups open.
How to make it
- Measure the smooth area on the side of your mug. Many glass mugs are a little taller or narrower than a ceramic one, so do not assume a size. A design around 2.5 to 3 inches wide suits most of them.
- Size the SVG in your cutting software. Before cutting vinyl, print the design on plain paper at the same size, or trace it from the screen.
- Trim the paper and tape it inside the glass, facing out, where you want the lettering. Turn the mug around and look at it from arm’s length. Adjust until it is level and centered.
- Cut the design from white permanent vinyl. Do not mirror it. The vinyl goes color side up on the mat, and you select the vinyl setting that matches your material.
- Weed the background and the letter centers. White vinyl on white backing is hard to see, so tilt the sheet under a lamp to catch the cut lines.
- Clean the outside of the glass with rubbing alcohol. Hold the mug by the handle from here on.
- Cover the design with clear transfer tape, burnish and peel off the backing. Lower the decal onto the glass so it sits right over the paper template behind it.
- Press down from the center outward, burnish well and peel the tape away slowly. Remove the paper template from the inside.
Tips
- White is the safest color for a clear mug. Dark vinyl disappears against coffee, and the back of colored vinyl can look dull through the glass.
- Check the mug for raised seams, facets or embossed patterns. Vinyl needs a smooth area, so place the design between any ridges.
- Glass makes air bubbles easy to spot. Work slowly from the middle and push the air toward the edges as you go.
- For a set of mugs, move the same paper template from glass to glass so the placement matches.
FAQ
Will the vinyl hold up to hot drinks?
Yes. Hot liquid inside the mug does not harm permanent vinyl on the outside. Soaking, scrubbing and dishwashers shorten its life. Keep it hand-wash only, with a soft cloth, and let it air dry.
Can we apply the vinyl to the inside of the glass instead?
No. Vinyl should never touch the drink or sit where it stays wet. Always apply it to the outside, below the rim, where lips do not reach.
What if the glass mug has a curved, rounded shape?
Rounded mugs are harder, because a flat decal has to bend in two directions. Keep the design small and cut a few slits into the edges of the transfer tape, between the letters, to help it follow the curve. Apply the middle first and work out.
