Mugs · everyday gifts
Hand-painted mug, truly one of a kind.
I paint mugs to order with special ceramic paints. Water-resistant, durable, temperature-safe. Every piece is unique - even copied, it wouldn't come out identical.
Why a mug
A gift someone holds every day.
A hand-painted mug is a portrait you use every day. It's there each morning with the first tea or coffee - a gift that doesn't end up forgotten on a shelf, but gets picked up daily.
It works for birthdays, name days, Mother's Day, Women's Day, Christmas, thank-yous, a promotion, graduation, a housewarming. It also works with no occasion - as a gift to yourself or to someone who has everything.
Every mug is a unique piece. Even if I painted the same motif twice, it wouldn't come out identical. Whoever gets it owns the only one like it.
What I paint
Portrait, illustration, your idea.
A pet, a person, a couple, a motif or a quote. We combine elements so the mug fits the occasion, the subject and the person who'll hold it every day.
- 01
Pet portrait
Dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig. The most popular option - a gift for the owner who loves their animal to bits.
- 02
Pet pair portrait
Two dogs, a cat and a dog, two guinea pigs. Single or double silhouette - depending on how you want to show them.
- 03
Illustrative portrait of a person
A single person or a whole family, in my original narrative portrait style. A gift for an anniversary, birthday, holidays.
- 04
Two- and three-person portrait
A couple for a wedding anniversary, child with a parent, siblings, best friends. I compose figures so the relationship shows.
- 05
Custom design
A quote, a slogan, a botanical motif, a scene from a holiday, an inside joke between a couple. If you have an idea, I'll bring it onto a mug.
- 06
Botanical or pattern design
Flowers, leaves, patterns, a motif in your style - a mug doesn't need a portrait to feel personal.
Selected work
See my sample realizations.
Technical side
Ceramic paints, fired in a kiln.
I paint with paints designed for ceramics, approved for contact with food. After kiln firing they're water-resistant, durable and temperature-safe. They work in the dishwasher, though painted mugs really prefer a wash under the tap.
Base vessels are chosen for durability: beige ceramic, classic Ikea, retro enamel in two sizes, a cup with a saucer. We pick together for the occasion - a mug for grandma's 80th birthday will differ from one for a wedding anniversary.
Painting time depends on the complexity - from a few hours for a simple motif to a few days for a detailed portrait.
How collaboration works
How a mug takes shape.
4 steps, clear milestones, no surprises. From the first email to a parcel in your hands.
- 01
You send an inquiry
You describe who or what I'm painting, on which vessel, for what occasion. You can attach photos of a pet or person, or we can just talk through the idea.
- 02
We agree on details and quote
We pick the vessel (ceramic, enamel, cup), motif, mug count and timing. I tailor the quote to what you actually need.
- 03
I present the design for approval
I create a graphic design and show it for your review. You flag notes, we lock the details, pose, colors - together.
- 04
I paint, fire, ship
I paint with ceramic paints, fire in the kiln (fixes the pattern), pack safely and ship across Poland. International shipping available on request.
Client opinions
What my clients say.
"I'm enchanted by the sketches. I'm impressed by how the illustrations capture emotion. Congratulations on the ideas and talent!"
"Ms Anna, I have to admit I teared up seeing the whole thing. Exactly the mug I had dreamed of."
"Yes, they came out beautifully and I can't wait to see them in person. Thank you for the patience with revisions."
Pricing
Custom quote.
Price depends on design complexity (a quote and a portrait are two different worlds), mug count (a set or a single piece), base vessel and timing. I tailor it to what you actually need.
You get a quote after submitting the form. I reply within 48h. Shipping across Poland, packed safely. International shipping available on request. VAT invoice.
Frequently asked
Paints, shipping, durability.
The questions clients ask most often when ordering a mug as a gift. Missing something? Write to me.
01 Is a hand-painted mug a good gift idea? +
A hand-painted mug is a great gift for a loved one (or not so loved). First of all it's one of a kind, so it works for birthdays, name days or any other occasion - including no occasion at all.
02 Do you ship mugs internationally? +
Default shipping is across Poland - Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Rzeszow, Poznan and every smaller town or village. International shipping is available on request - I quote carrier cost separately based on destination. Mugs are packed safely with bubble wrap in a rigid box that protects against breakage.
03 What occasions does a painted mug fit? +
Birthdays, name days, Women's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, Easter. It also works as a thank-you, a housewarming gift, a promotion or graduation gift - or simply as a gift for yourself.
04 Are the paints safe? +
Yes. I use ceramic paints specifically designed for contact with food. After kiln firing they're durable, water-resistant and safe for the user - they don't change the taste of the drink and don't come off in contact with hot water.
05 What makes hand-painted mugs special? +
The mug or cup as a base is very durable, and so are the special paints I use. Every piece is unique - even if I painted the same motif twice, it wouldn't come out identical. The owner gets something nobody else has.
06 How long does the painting take? +
From a few hours to a few days, depending on how complex the design is. Simple motifs can be ready in one day, more detailed projects need more precision and time. We agree on the deadline up front - if the mug is for a specific date, we plan with a buffer.
07 How do I care for a hand-painted mug? +
Best to wash by hand, with warm water and gentle dish soap. Avoid abrasive sponges that can scratch the decoration. The dishwasher and strong detergents can damage the paints over time, so better to skip them - this way the mug lasts for years in the same form.
Use cases
Where it works.
- 01
For the newlyweds
2 mugs with a shared motif or a portrait of the couple - a wedding gift mug newlyweds hold over morning coffee, not one they shelve.
- 02
For a wedding anniversary
A portrait of the two of you, or your wedding date, across 2 mugs you drink from together - an anniversary gift you reach for every morning.
- 03
A thank-you for parents
A mug with a family portrait or a motif that means something - a thank-you for parents or wedding witnesses that lands better than one more bouquet.
- 04
For a milestone birthday
A mug for grandma's 80th or grandpa's jubilee - with a portrait, the grandkids or a favorite flower. A personalized mug you won't find in any shop.
- 05
A set for the family
A set of mugs for the whole family - each with its own pet, name or character. They match, and yet no two are the same.
- 06
A cup and saucer
A hand-painted cup and saucer for someone who makes a ritual of afternoon tea - a more elegant form than a mug, with the same original portrait.
Good to know
Before you ask.
01Do you paint mugs for newlyweds or couples getting married?+
Yes, it's one of the most common reasons people order. For a couple I usually paint 2 mugs sharing one consistent motif - a portrait of the two of you, your dog, or your wedding date. Newlyweds get a wedding gift mug that ends up in the daily morning coffee, not on a shelf. Tell me through the form who I'm painting and by when, and I'll reply within 48 hours.
02Do you paint the mug from photos of a pet or a person?+
Yes. Just attach a few photos to your inquiry - ideally sharp ones, in good light, from a few angles. I work from them to create a design in my original style and show it to you for approval before anything touches the mug. We settle the pose, colors and details, and only then do I paint with ceramic paints and fire it in the kiln. A pet portrait mug always starts from your own photos.
03Can you add a name, a date or text to a painted mug?+
Yes. Alongside the portrait I can add a name, a date, a short quote, a slogan or an inside joke - anything that means something to the person receiving it. I compose the lettering together with the illustration so the whole thing holds together, rather than looking like a sticker slapped on top. If you have a specific idea, describe it in your inquiry and we'll refine it at the design stage.
04What do you paint on - only ceramic mugs?+
Not only. There are a few durable options to choose from: beige ceramic, the classic Ikea mug, retro enamel in 2 sizes, and a cup with a saucer. We pick the vessel together, to suit the occasion and the person - a custom ceramic mug for grandma's milestone birthday is different from one for a couple's anniversary. I paint them all with the same ceramic paints and fire them in the kiln.
05Can I order a single mug, or only a wedding mug set?+
Whichever you prefer. I paint both single mugs and whole sets - 2 for a couple, a set for the family, each with its own pet or name. Wedding mugs are most often ordered as a pair with a matching motif, but there's no hard rule. The number of mugs affects the quote, so tell me in your inquiry how many pieces you're after.
06How much does a hand-painted mug cost?+
Every price is set individually, because a mug with a short quote is a completely different job from an elaborate portrait. The price depends on how complex the design is, the number of mugs, the vessel you choose and the timing. You get an exact figure after filling in the form - I reply within 48 hours. I bill with a VAT invoice, and I ship mugs across Poland.
From the studio blog
More from my studio.
Blog originally in Polish - English translation in progress.
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Start a project
Got a project? Let's talk.
I make art that stays - with emotion and attention in every project. Children's book illustration delivered worldwide, wedding and B2B event live painting across Poland - every project starts the same way: an inquiry, a conversation, a decision. Write to me directly. The Bujnowłosa studio is me and a decade-plus of practice.