“How To Put Temporary Tattoos On Any Ceramic Surface”

So you’ve discovered some old temporary tattoos that were hiding in a box, or maybe you recently bought some and want to get your money’s worth by making them last longer than a few days. Fortunately, there are all kinds of things you can put them on besides skin. Ceramic surfaces are great because there are tons items made from ceramic that you can easily personalize, plus they are usually white so those colorful temporary tattoos will be nice and bold once applied and they are easy to seal. Here are some tips on how to put temporary tattoos on ceramic surfaces. 

Step 1: Prep

First you’ll want to find a ceramic item to use. The possibilities are really endless here. A dollar store mug, Christmas ornament, jewelry dish, or tile from the hardware store all work! It is best if the object is white, since most temporary tattoos are transparent and will show up best against a white background. If your item is a different color, you can use a primer first. I used Krylon ColorMaster primer because it was what I had on hand and it worked great. I sprayed two coats on a ceramic coaster and let it dry a couple of hours before applying the tattoo. Before you apply your tattoo you’ll also want to make sure the surface is clean. Simply wipe it down with a damp paper towel or rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt/dust particles. 

Step 2: Application

Once you’ve decided on the design and placement of your tattoo, you are ready to apply. Just remove the plastic film over the design, stick it to your clean, dry surface, and moisten the back with a damp towel (basically follow the instructions on the tattoo packaging). The most important part of this step is that you don’t move around the tattoo while applying or the design may rip. To avoid this, I taped down the tattoo onto my surface so I wouldn’t have to worry about keeping it still with my hand while dampening the back. After the image is transferred onto the surface, wait a few seconds and slowly peel off the backing paper. Remember to be very careful with this part too so the design isn’t damaged. Ta-da! You have now successfully tattooed your ceramic item. (but if it didn’t turn out the way you wanted, you can just remove the tattoo with rubbing alcohol to start over). Let the tattoo dry completely before touching it. I let mine dry overnight, but an hour is probably more than enough time. Once it’s dry, you’re ready to seal…

Step 3: Seal

Sealing your tattooed items isn’t absolutely necessary, but it will protect the design from getting scratched or possibly faded (I haven’t done any sun exposure tests, just a hunch). I experimented with three types of finishes: mod podge, varnish, and epoxy resin. These all worked fine for me, no smearing or color bleeding at all. 

If you’re using mod podge, apply 2-4 thin coats over the design using a foam brush, allowing 1-2 hours drying time between each coat. If you’re using varnish, follow the instructions on the bottle. I used Winsor and Newton gloss varnish spray because that’s what I had on hand and applied several coats as well. The mod podge seemed more protective to me, but I preferred the look of the varnish because it had a smoother finish. But both are good options so use whichever you are more comfortable with. 

The last finish I experimented with was epoxy resin. If you’ve never used this before, it’s basically a liquid plastic that comes into two parts (resin and hardener) which you mix together and then pour over your surface to form a thick, shiny coating, almost like the image is under glass. It takes about 24 hours to cure, and you need some extra materials (measuring cups, gloves, way to pop air bubbles in the resin, etc.) but the results are so worth it! Google is full of tutorials and each brand is a little different so make sure to research if you want to use this option. I used Art Resin because that seems to be the highest quality, non-yellowing brand. There’s no need to seal the design before coating either which is nice. Just pour, pop air bubbles, and wait for it to cure.

That’s it! For more applications and to see some of the DIY projects I’ve done using temporary tattoos, check out my most recent post, “8 Ways To Use Temporary Tattoos (Besides Wearing Them)”.