Ceramic Mug/Sharpie Myth Busted

I recently posted Personalized "Sweetie" Mugs. My friend Rach commented that you can make personalized mugs using any ceramic mugs and a Sharpie. You can decorate your mug using the Sharpie, bake the mug at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and then the decorations would be permanent. In addition to Rach's comment I had seen this pinned again and again on Pinterest. A couple of friends recently got married and I decided to use this method to create a gift for them.

I started with plain ceramic mugs.

I then added "Mr." and "Mrs."

Next came the lips and mustache.

I finished the decorating portion of my crafting with adding their wedding date on each handle and "<3 the Tyler's" on the bottom of the mugs. I then baked the mugs for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Once that was done the mugs were set aside to cool off.

Next came the big test....hand washing. I used a sponge and a scrubber....both took off the design!! I do not have a picture of the somewhat ruined mugs but I do have a warning...do NOT use the Sharpie method thinking it will be a permanent solution!  I even called up Rach to tell her of my mishap. She was shocked because she had used the Sharpie method on a cookie jar. She got out her cookie jar and washed it just to test her product. It too came off! She was super bummed and so was I! We don't want you to be bummed so please, heed our warning! :) Find another way to decorate ceramics...for example, use a ceramic marker like the one that came with the Starbucks mugs I did for me and Ryan. :) We have had those mugs for 2 years and have washed them by hand with a sponge, with a scrubber, and washed them in the dishwasher hundreds of times and they are still perfection. :)

Good luck! :)

Have you ever done a craft that you found online only to have it disappoint? ...just curious. :)