Hot Cocoa Mug Gift with the Cobalt Cricut Explore Air 2

Looking for a sweet homemade gift to give this Christmas? This hot cocoa mug gift is perfect for almost everyone on your list! Easily make custom gifts like this using your Cricut Explore Air 2, now in gorgeous Cobalt!

This post was sponsored by JOANN + Cricut.

If you’re looking for some last-minute gift ideas, this hot cocoa mug gift is easy to make and perfect for so many people on your list!

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I made it using my favorite Christmas crafting tool—my Cricut Explore Air 2! JOANN recently released an exclusive new color of the Explore Air 2—cobalt blue (no longer available)!

Easy Christmas Gifts with the Cricut

It’s clear from my blog that I absolutely love my Cricut (okay…Cricuts. I have, like, five). While there is so much to love about the machine, my favorite thing is that it has made crafting so much easier. I’m a mom of two little boys and I don’t have a ton of time like I did before they came along. I need quick, easy, and fun gift ideas, and the Cricut makes that possible! The Explore line of machines cuts more than 100 materials, from cardstock to vinyl and iron on, to specialty materials like poster board, metallic cardstock, cork, foam, and more.

Here are just a few ideas that you can make using your Cricut Explore—it should definitely be on your Christmas wish list if you do don’t have it on there already!

• Personalized t-shirts and onesies
• Home decor signs
• Customized kitchen tools and towels
• Gift boxes and gift wrap ideas
• Intricate, handmade cards
• Mugs, tumblers, and wine glasses
• 10 More Projects to Make with your Cricut Explore!

Let’s make one of those cute mugs! All told, it took me less than 10 minutes to make and assemble this mug, making it everything I like in a handmade gift—quick, easy, and cute!

Hot Cocoa Mug Gift Supplies

• Cricut Explore (the Cobalt color is exclusive to JOANN but is no longer available!)
• Blue or green cutting mat (a blue mat comes with the Explore)
• Three colors of permanent vinyl
• Weeding tool
• Transfer tape
• White mug
• Hot chocolate ingredients
• Crinkle paper filler (to give the items in your mug height)
• Ribbon for decoration (in store)

Hot Cocoa Mug Gift Instructions

Being able to upload my own designs to Cricut Design Space (for free!) is another feature I love about my Cricut. I have this cute “Cup of Cheer” SVG file for you to use to make your hot cocoa mug gift.

Download the Free Cup of Cheer File under SVGs C163

This file can be found in my Free Craft Resource Library. The file number is: C163.

Want access to this free file? Join my FREE resource library! All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below!

Upload it to Cricut Design Space using the Upload tool in the Design Panel on the left of your canvas (learn more about uploading SVG files). You’ll want to re-size the file, based on your mug size. I changed mine in the Edit Toolbar at the top to be 3″ wide. You can also change the colors if you are using different colors of vinyl.

Then cut on your Cricut. Note that regular adhesive vinyl does not need to be mirrored like iron-on vinyl (HTV). Cut out each piece and weed the excess material away from your images.

Cut a piece of transfer tape a little larger than your words. Peel back the paper on the transfer tape and place it over your words, rubbing the transfer tape to burnish it to the vinyl.

Peel back and your letters should stick to the transfer tape. Line up the transfer on your mug, and starting in the middle, press your decal to your mug. Peel back the transfer tape and your vinyl should stick to your mug! If it doesn’t rub a little harder and it should stick. For the mug and the two hearts, I actually didn’t use transfer tape—I just picked them off the backing paper and applied them like stickers. Easy!

Fill your mug with paper filler at the bottom, and then all the goodies to make hot chocolate—hot chocolate mix, mini marshmallows, and a candy cane are a must. Tie with a ribbon and your gift is ready to give!

If you are interested in more Hot Cocoa designs, check out my blog for the Hot Cocoa SVG Bundle!