Coffee Charm Tutorial

Every time I get together with my girls to load up on estrogen for the month, we have coffee together (with Pumpkin Spice creamer, yum!). We talk and laugh, and work on projects together all morning. Inevitably, someone asks "Is this my coffee?" and the confusion begins as we retrace our steps and try to remember where we last saw our own cup.

One of us jokingly mentioned that we should start using wine charms for our cups from now on to cut down on the confusion...and an idea was born. That is how it usually works with me, an innocent comment can stick in my head, growing, for weeks. Pretty soon, I need to get it out and do something!

So, here you are - Coffee Charms for you and your girls...

Supplies:

Shrinky Dink Sheets
Sharpie marker
Acrylic paints
Wine Charm hoops
Hole Punch
Toaster oven

I sketched a picture of a coffee cup onto a sheet of paper to use as a template. You can find inspiration in your computer's clip art. I used a coffee cup shape measuring 5 1/2 x 4 inches.
Placing the shrinky dink sheet over the picture, smooth side up, trace the shape with a sharpie. I like the rough look of the edges when I go over the shape several times. You could trace it carefully with a solid line for a neater look.


Cut out the shapes you've traced. Then, using a hole punch, punch a hole in the middle of the handle.

Using acrylic paints thinned with water, brush a few quick strokes over the rough side of the coffee cup. For a neater look, fill in the cup carefully with a uniform coat of paint.


Let dry then pop into the toaster oven on a piece of parchment paper. I baked at 300 degrees for about 10 seconds.


You will see the plastic bend and curl as it shrinks. When it flattens back out, it is ready to come out of the oven.


See how much the charm shrinks? You will end up with a coffee cup measuring about 1 1/2 inches or so.

To neaten up the edges and finish your charm, go over the edges with the Sharpie then add your wine charm hoop (or a hoop earring, like I used).

The possibilities are limitless, I think I'll make some hot chocolate charms for my boys.