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How to Design a Starbucks Tumbler

Tumbler star design
Illustration by Ryn Gargulinski

Everyone likes their coffee a bit different, so it only makes sense that folks also get personalized coffee tumblers. Starbucks sells tumblers with removable inserts so you can design your own. Personalized tumblers can make much-appreciated gifts or provide your own perky, colorful start to the morning.

Tumbler star design
Illustration by Ryn Gargulinski

Things You'll Need:

  • Tumbler Insert Or Paper
  • Tumbler With Removable Insert
  • Scissors
  • Drawing Instruments

Remove the insert that comes with the tumbler and screw the lid's rim back on. Wash the tumbler in warm, soapy water, making sure not to get any moisture in the insert area. Allow to dry.

Cut a piece of paper the same size and shape of the insert that came with the tumbler. A standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch piece will work, with the sides cut slightly angled so it can wrap around the tumbler. Make two inserts, one for a rough draft and one for your final design.

Decide what you want your tumbler to say. You can put your name, someone else's name, your favorite quote or anything else you want to read every morning. Write the text in bold letters in the center of the insert as far down from the lip as you wish.

Create a design that works well with the long, skinny layout of the insert. Incorporate the design with any text. Draw a border with your design around the text. Good choices include flowers with flowing vines with ivy framing the text; tall, skinny skeletons and bones framing the text; animals dancing around the text. If you have no text, choose a larger, central image for the center of the page, like a star with its points wrapping back, surrounded by smaller images.

Before moving on to the final product, sketch a rough draft of your design on the additional insert you made. Insert it into the tumbler to double-check that everything is lined up how you want it.

Draw your final draft based on any changes made on your rough draft. Let any markers or ink dry thoroughly. Insert into your tumbler, and securely screw on the tumbler's lid.

Tip

Buy a Starbucks tumbler at Starbucks shops or online (see Resources). Skip the rough-draft step if you are confident in your design and layout. Use thinner paper, not photo stock or other thick card stock, so it fits into the narrow tumbler area.

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