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It’s the most wonderful time of the year (after Christmas of course!). When the snow is falling, and the Christmas decorations are long gone, a nice, warm cup of hot cocoa can bring all those good vibes!

So in this tutorial, I’m showing you how to paint a sweet and simple hot cocoa mug door hanger! Follow along step by step to create a cozy piece perfect for your front door, mantle, or nestled in a wreath!

P.S. This is a video tutorial from a previous Facebook Live. I go live every week on Tuesday at 12pm CST. Each week, I’ll be showing you something new! The lives, and the playbacks, are free to tune in, and if there are additional supplies — like door hanger templates or blanks — I’ll let you know!

Supply List for Your Hot Cocoa Mug Door Hanger

Before we get started, gather your supplies. Many of these are available in my shop, on my Amazon storefront, or at your local craft store:

• Hot Cocoa Mug Wood Blank 
• Hot Cocoa Mug Door Hanger Template
• DecoArt Acrylic paints in the following shades:
  • True Blue for the mug
  • Gray Sky for the rim of the mug
  • Dark Chocolate for the hot cocoa
  • White for the whipped cream
  • Toffee for shading the whipped cream
• Brown and white paint pens
• Flat-tip paintbrush
• Round-tip paintbrush
• Sponge pouncer
• Baby wipes (optional, but great for quick cleanups)
• Hair dryer (optional, for faster drying)
• Craft paper or a plastic tablecloth to protect your workspace

Step #1: Prepare Your Hot Cocoa Mug Wood Blank

The door hanger blanks I have available in the shop come etched, so you don’t have to worry about tracing any lines yourself. However, if you decide to cut your own blank, you can manually trace the lines using the hot cocoa mug door hanger template.

I have a full 4-step tutorial you can follow to see how it’s done!

Step #2: Paint Your Hot Cocoa “Camp Mug” Blue

The very first thing you’ll paint is your camp mug! Use a flat-tip paintbrush to apply a base coat of the blue paint I mentioned in the supply list. Cover the entire mug area, stopping at the cup rim.

Be sure to apply multiple coats, allowing them to dry in between coats, for full coverage!

Pro Tip: Want to make your blue darker? Add a drop of black paint! Want it to be lighter? Add a drop of white paint!

Step #3: Add Depth With Shading

While the blue base coat is still slightly “damp,” use a smaller flat-tip brush to add shading. I used a tiny bit of black paint on the corner of my flat tip brush, and gently blended it into the blue along the edges of the mug. 

The trick is to choose a color darker than your base coat to create subtle depth That will make your mug look more realistic!

Step #4: It’s Time to Speckle!

This is where the details start to take shape — it’s time to add speckles to make it look like a real camp mug!

Using a round-tip brush dipped in white paint, flick the brush toward your door hanger to create a splatter effect. That’s it! Have fun and don’t be afraid to get messy with this step.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have a piece of raft paper or a plastic tablecloth down, especially during this step! You’ll keep the messes at bay and be able to focus on painting!

Step #5: Paint the Top Part of the Hot Cocoa Mug

Use a smaller flat-tip brush and gray paint to paint the rim of your mug. This type of brush will help you get those smaller lines without getting paint outside of the etched lines.

Next, use brown paint and fill in the hot cocoa area, using the etched lines as a guide.

And finally, use another flat-tip brush to paint the whipped topping white. You can use a different brush, or the same one — just dip it in a cup of water and let it sit until the paint comes off. Then, dab it dry with a paper towel so you don’t mix in any of the water with your paint (it will make the paint runny and hard to see!). 

Want to add some more depth? Use the tan color to add shading around the edges and creases of the whipped cream!

Step #6: Add Sweet Lettering

Using a fine-tip round brush and white paint, carefully fill in the etched lines of the lettering. Cutting out your own door hanger blank? Use the door hanger template to trace the lines of your hand lettering. I have a tutorial for how to do that here!

To add even more detail, blend in a touch of the tan paint at the bottom of each letter for subtle shading. 

Pro Tip: Paint pens can make this process easier! 

Step #7: Add the Finishing Touches of Your Hot Cocoa Mug

Ready to add the details? Grab your paint pens! 

Use a brown paint pen to create the swirls in the hot chocolate. Then, add white accents around the rim to make it shine! You can also use your paint pen to add more speckles if you feel like it needs a bit more detail. 

Step #8: Seal and Protect

Once your paint is dry all the way, seal your hot cocoa mug door hanger with a coat of clear acrylic sealant spray. This will help protect your design and keep it looking beautiful even as time passes — and especially as it sits on your door or front porch in the winter weather!

And that’s it — your cozy hot cocoa mug door hanger is complete!

Ready for More? 

Calling all craft lovers! Get ready to set sail on the Painter’s Clubhouse Crafting Cruise! 

Join our community of crafters for a one-of-a-kind crafting experience aboard a Royal Caribbean Cruise. We’ll be sailing from Galveston, TX to the breathtaking ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. 

You’ll get to learn new painting techniques in workshops led by expert instructors (like me!), create beautiful door hangers and other unique crafts, and make a few new friends, too. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to combine your passion for crafting with an unforgettable vacation experience! Learn more about the Painter’s Clubhouse Crafting Cruise and reserve your spot here.