I just bought a vintage 52 oz mug by Aladdin, with the intention of putting a full cover decal on it. The lid and handle are a dark blue, and the inside of the mug is a light blue that I've never seen on a mug. So I want some kind of water theme. Either beach, fully under water, or a winter scene. I'll actually leave that up to the artist. Since it's round, you won't be able to see the whole thing at once so I'll need a few characters. I want one of the great artists to do it, but I can't afford even one character with a background, from most of those artists. So I'll ask if they will do it YCH style. That way most of it will be paid for by the participants. Everybody else gets a great piece of art, and I get to use it as a decal on my mug, making it the best mug ever. Win win :D
One functional modification I'll make is to the handle. When the mug is full, that handle is a bit uncomfortable. So I'm going to get some blue leather, roll it up and pack it into the open spaces in either side of the handle. Then I'll tie it on with blue leather cord, using a criss-cross pattern. That will make the mug much more comfortable to use, and it'll look pretty damn good too ;)
Here is the actual eBay listing, so you know what the mug looks like. All that white will be covered by the decal. http://www.ebay.com/itm/381082020958
These old mugs are the best ever made. They keep ice all day, unlike the new ones, because they're filled with that expanding foam stuff instead of having a cheap styrofoam insert like the new ones do. That also makes them smaller while holding the same amount. The lid design on that model is completely leak proof, even when filled to the top. Try holding a new 52 oz mug upside down and see what happens lol. Last but not least is the taste. New plastic makes water taste like plastic. BAD, STRONG plastic taste, and it never goes away. And it makes me feel a bit ill. BPA free, my ass! Old plastic mugs don't leave any taste. Just pure water.
