Posted February 28, 2019 in DIY (Crafts) by Dianne Weller
Mmmm… There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee. Add a little “Irish” to it, and you’ve got a recipe for a good time! I love to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a nice cup of Irish Coffee. Whether it’s a weekend brunch, or a quiet night at home on a cold night, I have so many warm memories with family and friends sipping this special drink. That’s why I love to see this handmade Irish Coffee ornament hanging from my tree as a reminder of these lovely times.
This DIY ornament makes a great gift for all of the Irish Coffee lovers in your life! Maybe you have a tradition of sharing an Irish Coffee with a special group of friends? This DIY ornament is the perfect gift for your “Irish Coffee Crew”! You can customize this homemade ornament with any meaningful phrase or quote that holds a special memory to you!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day any time of the year with this Irish Coffee ornament craft. Whether you hang this ornament on your Christmas Tree during the holidays or keep it on display through March, this festive ornament will have you feeling warm and fuzzy all season long!
Supplies:
Step 1: First, paint the “coffee” portion along the INSIDE walls of your mug using the brown paint. The coffee should go about half way up the inside of the mug.
Note: Traditional glass Irish Coffee mugs can be very heavy. If you plan to hang this as an ornament on your tree, I recommend using a miniature plastic version of this mug for 2 reasons – 1.) Plastic is lighter than glass and won’t weigh down the tree branch, and 2.) Plastic won’t break if the ornament happens to fall off the tree.
I found these mini plastic Irish Coffee mugs from a local party supply store. They have a great selection of tableware & drinkware, and typically, these mugs are available year-round, not just for St. Patrick’s Day.
Step 2: Using the white paint, add a layer of “foam” above the coffee. Paint a white layer of foam right above where the brown coffee portion ends. This line doesn’t have to be perfectly straight. Similarly, it’s okay if the colors blend together or the top layer is uneven. This will create a layered look to your Irish Coffee ornament, almost as though there is milk in the coffee. Afterall, foam has a mind of its own with all of the ridges and valleys throughout.
Step 3: Cut an 8 inch strip of ribbon that you’ll use to hang your ornament. First, weave the ribbon through the handle of the mug and secure it with a knot. You should now have two tails. Tie both tails together creating a two inch loop. Then, trim the excess ribbon off for a clean even edge.
Step 4: Next, create the “foam” for your Irish Coffee using polyfill. Gently loosen/fluff the polyfill to create a nice light looking foam. While the paint is still wet, place the polyfill inside the mug. As the paint dries, the polyfill will adhere to the paint and gently hold it in place almost acting like a light glue. The texture will also add a speckled more realistic dimension to the different layers of foam.
Step 5: Finally, using a white paint pen, write your message on the outside of the mug. Just make sure to use the brown “coffee” portion as your background so that you can see your message. There are so many fun St. Patrick’s Day phrases that you can use, such as, “Top of the Morning to You!” or, “I ♥ Irish Coffee!” Did you notice that the exclamation point was dotted with a shamrock? I love to add a fun festive touch like this whenever I can!
That’s it! Now your Irish Coffee ornament is ready to be displayed. You can hang it from your tree during the holiday season, or even create a special St. Patrick’s Day display in your home like I did with my collection of beautiful antique Irish Coffee mugs.
Is a real Irish Coffee more than your Cup of Coffee? Then, make sure that you check out our selection of coffee ornaments and Irish ornaments to represent your love for Irish Coffee on your Christmas Tree. With everything from leprechauns to cappuccino ornaments, you’re sure to find something to tickle your fancy! In addition, we offer free personalization on every ornament to make your gift extra special! Lucky you!