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Holli Mostella

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Tattoo Tumbler Tutorial: How To Make A Tattoo Tumbler

April 8, 2021 by Holli Mostella Leave a Comment

How To Make A Tattoo Tumbler

This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Click here to read the full disclosure.

If you’re anything like me, then you probably remember using temporary tattoos as a kid. I used to have one design or another on all the time, and now as an adult, I just wear them permanently, but I’ve got a whole new use for the temporary tattoos nowadays…

Let me introduce you to the Tattoo Tumbler, Sis!

These babies are SO good – and best of all, SO easy to create. And today, I’m going to show you how!

Let’s get started!

Tattoo Tumbler Making Supplies

Here’s what you’ll need:

    • Stainless Steel Tumbler (spray painted the color of your choice. I used Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover in French Lilac)
    • Temporary Tattoos (you can use any temporary tattoo you’d like!)
    • Aileen’s Tack it Over and Over
    • Glitter (I’m using an opal glitter on this tumbler)
    • Cup Turner (I love my Deno’s turner)

Step 1: Prepare and Glitter Your Tumbler

I used the Tack-It Method to glitter this tumbler. If you’ve never used this method before, you can find my full step-by-step tutorial on how to do that right here.

For this tumbler, you’re going to stop right before you get to the epoxy step of the Tack-It Method. You will simply glitter your tumbler and let it dry. Then we will be ready to apply the temporary tattoo right on top of the glitter – no epoxy necessary!

Step 2: Apply the Temporary Tattoo

You can use any temporary tattoo you want for this step! I found this really beautiful floral tattoo that I’m using for this cup on Amazon.

Cut Out Temporary Tattoo for your Tumbler

Begin by cutting away any excess paper or any other tattoos that may be on the sheet because anything that has the ink on it will transfer to your tumbler. Now we’re ready to be applying it to the cup.

Cut Tension Lines Into Your Tattoo

Pro Tip: Since this happens to be a pretty big tattoo, I’m going to take my scissors and cut little tension lines into the paper (don’t cut through any of the design!) so that it wraps around the cup easier without any bubbles or wrinkles. Bonus Tip: This hack works perfectly for adhesive vinyl too!

Remove plastic film from temporary tattoo

Remove the clear plastic film from the top of the tattoo, gently wrap your design around the cup, and smooth it down.

Apply Temporary Tattoo to your tumbler

Continue applying your temporary tattoo for your tumbler

Once you’ve got it laid down where you want it, you will transfer it using warm water and wet paper towels or a clean washcloth. Use a little bit of pressure here so that the design fully adheres to the tumbler.

Remove paper backing from your Tattoo

Gently Press Your Temporary Tattoo Onto Your Tumbler

Now it’s time to peel away the backing. You want to take this part really slow, taking extra care to make sure that all of the design is sticking to the cup. If you notice it start to lift, you can lay the backing paper back down, rub it a bit, then peel again. You can also use your finger to very gently pat any pieces into place.

Use a Paper Towel To Gently Pat Your Temporary Tattoo Onto Your Tumbler

Pro Tip: Once you’ve removed the backing paper completely, use a dry paper towel or coffee filter to lightly dab over your entire design to remove any little bubbles, wrinkles, or lifted pieces you may have.

Step 3: Clear Coat + Epoxy

Next, I’m going to spray the entire tumbler with a clear coat to prevent the temporary tattoo from moving or sliding. 

Once that is dry, you’re ready to apply your epoxy, clean up the inside of your cup, and you’re done!

Your Tattoo Tumbler is Finished!

When I first saw this method, it seemed really intimidating and looked like it would be pretty difficult but it’s actually one of the easiest tumblers I’ve ever made.

And the results? I mean, they’re just gorgeous, don’t you think?!

Enjoy Your New Tattoo Tumbler

I’d love to see your take on tattoo tumblers! If you give this a try, come back and share a picture in the comments down below or tag me on Instagram @hollimostella so I can show you some love!

If you enjoyed this tattoo tumbler tutorial, head over to YouTube to see the steps above in action! And while you’re there be sure to subscribe to my channel for lots of crafting tips, tricks, and more tutorials just like this one.

Want to see more tumbler tutorials here on the blog? Drop me a comment down below and let me know what you’d like to learn how to make next!

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Filed Under: Blog, Crafts, DIY

Previous Post: « Tumbler Making Tip: How to Clean Up Your Epoxy Tumbler Rim
Next Post: Episode 04: A Letter To My Younger Self »

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Meet Holli

Holli is an everyday crafter and mama of two. Her passion is driven from deep roots in crafting. She works hard to inspire and encourage crafters of all skill levels. Holli is an Official Product Expert for Cricut, and specializes in resin art.

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