Skip to Content

DIY Father’s Day Coffee Mug

With the special day just around the corner, we wanted to share this simple DIY Father’s Day coffee mug idea and free SVG file to use with your cutting machine.

Holding a black mug with "I heart my Dad" written on the front.

DIY Father’s Day Gift Ideas Made Easy with Cricut

Ever since receiving our Cricut Joy, we’ve been busy exploring all that this new, miniature cutting machine can do. From home organization labels to wood slice garden markers, it’s compact size and portability makes it easy to get things done!

We prepared this free I LOVE MY DAD SVG cutting file so simply download it here and upload it to your cutting machine to make your own father’s day coffee mug. He can use it for his morning coffees or place it on his desk to hold pens. The mug with the vinyl decal can be washed by hand but do not place in the dishwasher.

Holding the finished DIY Father's Day mug.

More DIY Father’s Day Gifts

For more creative handmade gift giving ideas that dad will love, consider making him a rock’n Father’s Day picture frame, Grill Master BBQ seasoning mix jars, personalized map keychain with resin, leather cord organizers, Fathers Day crafts from kids, or any one of these 7 non-stuff gift giving ideas.

Materials Needed

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Should you choose to purchase through them, we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

Materials needed to make a DIY Father's day mug, including a Cricut Joy machine, ceramic mugs, weeding tools and permanent vinyl.

How To Make A Father’s Day Coffee Mug

Gather supplies and thoroughly wash mugs with soap and hot water and let them dry completely before using.

Preparing the Images

Open Cricut Design Space.  Click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.

Click on the “Upload” button from the toolbar and browse your downloaded files to insert the SVG file. Fore more help with this, visit our post on how to upload an SVG file into Cricut Design Space.

An arrow pointing to the upload button in Cricut Design Space.

The cut image will appear on the canvas. 

Upload button on the front of Cricut Design Space.

With the image selected, click on the “Weld” button to secure all parts of the image together for cutting.

Maintain the size (2.75” high) or adjust to fit your mug. To adjust the size, highlight the image and click on the size box in the top toolbar. Change the measurement to suit your mug size accordingly.

Adjusting the size of the SVG "I heart my Dad" on Cricut Design Space.

Cutting the Permanent Smart Vinyl:

Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.

If using Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl, choose “no mat” for cutting.

Selecting "without mat" option on Cricut Design Space.

Note the size of the Smart Vinyl needed and cut the length of the vinyl accordingly. In this case, cut the vinyl to 4.25” long.

Cutting the permanent vinyl.

Choose the Smart Vinyl, Permanent from the list of options in the drop down menu.

Choosing vinyl from list of options on the Cricut Design Space.

Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the image in vinyl.

Using the Cricut Joy machine to cut out the vinyl.

How to Assemble the Mugs

Cut around the image with a pair of scissors

Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images and discard. 

Using a weeding tool to peel away excess vinyl around the cut image.

Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image. 

Cutting a piece of transfer tape.

Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape overtop of the cut image. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape. Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.

Peeling away the vinyl backing and leaving the image adhered to the transfer tape.

Carefully consider the placement before applying as the permanent vinyl CAN’T be removed if placed incorrectly (I learned this the hard way!). Position the image with the transfer tape on to the smooth side of the mug and press in place. 

The "i heart my dad" image adhered to the transfer tape.

Press the image down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the mug.

Pressing down the image and transfer tape onto a black mug.

Slowly remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the mug.  

Removing the transfer tape and leaving the "I heart my dad" vinyl image on the black mug.

And that’s it, the fathers day coffee mug is complete! I think most dad’s hearts would melt when he sees this I Love My Dad mug gift.

Like it? Pin it for later!

Close up of the "I heart my Dad" black mug with text overlay "DIY Father's Day mug with free SVG cut file."
Holding the finished DIY Father's Day mug.

DIY Father’s Day Coffee Mug

Jane and Sonja
Use the free SVG cut file to make this thoughtful Father's Day coffee mug gift.
5 from 1 vote

Materials
  

Instructions
 

  • Upload the SVG file into Cricut Design Space blank canvas.
  • With the image selected, click on the “Weld” button to secure all parts of the image together for cutting.
  • Maintain the size (2.75” high) or adjust to fit your mug.
  • Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.
  • Choose the Smart Vinyl, Permanent from the list of options in the drop down menu.
  • Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.
  • To assemble the mugs, cut around the image with a pair of scissors.
  • Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images and discard.
  • Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image.
  • Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape overtop of the cut image. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.
  • Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.
  • Position the image with the transfer tape on to the smooth side of the mug and press in place.
  • Press the image down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the mug.
  • Slowly remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the mug.
Like this craft? Leave some stars!& mention @SustainMyCraftHabit or tag #sustainmycrafthabit on Instagram!
Tutorial Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.