Minimal is out for Christmas 2026. Etsy calls the new mood "Merrymaxxing": more sparkle, more color and more fun. In its Fall and Winter 2026 trend report, whimsy items are up 110%, bedazzled kits are up 218%, whimsy ornaments are up 62% in favorites and whimsical decor is up 61% with Gen Z shoppers. For a print shop, the quickest way to match that mood is the blank itself. This guide covers the sparkling, metallic, plated, color changing and glow in the dark mug blanks that fit a maximalist Christmas, what each one costs by the case and which designs to pair with them.
Short answer: Merrymaxxing is Etsy's name for maximalist holiday style: glitter, metallics, bright color, playful characters and "more is more" decorating. It is strongest with Gen Z and younger millennial shoppers.
According to the Etsy Fall and Winter 2026 trend report, shoppers are moving away from neutral, quiet holiday decor and toward pieces that feel fun and over the top. A plain white mug with a small logo does not fit that mood. A glitter mug with a bold, bright design does, and so does a mug that changes color or glows when the lights go out.
The good news is that you do not need new equipment to sell into this trend. Every mug in this guide is pressed in a standard mug press. The difference is the surface you start with.
Short answer: Sparkling mugs have a glitter finish built into the surface, so every design looks bedazzled without extra work. They come in silver, gold, yellow and four pastel colors, plus an 18 oz bone china version with a black rim.
The sparkle shows through the unprinted areas, so designs with open space around the artwork look best. Bright, saturated holiday designs, playful lettering and cartoon style characters you draw yourself all suit this finish. The pastel pink, light blue and purple versions are a strong fit for Gen Z shoppers who want a Christmas that does not look traditional. The 18 oz sparkling bone china mug is a gift-sized piece that can carry a higher price than an 11 oz mug.
Short answer: Metallic gold and silver mugs give a full shine across the whole mug, and plated mugs add a metallic plated finish to a ceramic body. Both turn a simple holiday phrase into a statement piece.
Gold and silver read as Christmas on their own, so the design can stay simple: a name, a short phrase or a single bold icon. Pair a gold mug and a silver mug as a "his and hers" or "best friends" set. Metallic mugs press at a slightly lower temperature than standard white ceramic, so keep them in their own batch. For more help choosing finishes by customer, see which color mug sells to which buyer.
Short answer: Color changing mugs start black and reveal the design when a hot drink is poured in. Glow in the dark mugs light up after time under a lamp. Both give customers the surprise moment that makes a maximalist gift fun to open.
The reveal is the selling point, so show it. A short video of the mug going from black to full color on Christmas morning will sell more than any still photo. Hidden messages work well here: a reveal of "Merry Christmas," a family photo or a secret Santa name. The glow in the dark mug suits Christmas lights, starry night skies and snowflakes, and it looks best when the design includes bright white areas. The 17 oz color changing latte mug gives more room for a full wraparound design.
Stocking up for a Merrymaxxing Christmas? Photo USA sells by the case with a one case minimum and no minimum number of cases, and most orders ship within 24 hours from Fremont, CA and Shepherdsville, KY. We also offer a wholesale imprint service if you would rather receive finished pieces. Email hello@photomugs.com or contact us with the items and quantities you need.
Short answer: At Photo USA, metallic gold and silver mugs are $95.76 for a case of 36, sparkling 11 oz mugs are $104.36 to $114 for a case of 36 and the 18 oz sparkling bone china mug is $71.04 for a case of 24.
| Blank | Case price | Pieces per case | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 oz sparkling mug, silver, gold, yellow | $104.36 to $113.00 | 36 | Glitter finish |
| 11 oz sparkling mug, pink, light blue, blue, purple | $113.00 to $114.00 | 36 | Pastel glitter |
| 18 oz sparkling new bone china mug, black rim | $71.04 | 24 | Large gift mug |
| 11 oz metallic gold or metallic silver mug | $95.76 | 36 | Full metallic shine |
| 11 oz plated ceramic mug (silver handle, full gold, full silver) | $93.56 to $99.24 | 36 | Plated finish |
| 11 oz color changing mug (black, matte black, blue) | $110.48 to $129.92 | 36 | Hot drink reveal |
| 15 oz color changing mug, black | $162.24 | 36 | Hot drink reveal, larger |
| 17 oz color changing latte mug, black | $121.64 | 24 | Wraparound reveal |
| 11 oz glow in the dark mug | $102.48 | 36 | Glows after light |
Want to see how quickly a case pays for itself at your retail price? Our mug ROI guide walks through break-even by mug type.
Short answer: For sparkling, color changing and glow in the dark mugs, we recommend 365 to 390°F (185 to 200°C) for 120 to 180 seconds in a mug press. For metallic and plated mugs, we recommend about 350°F for 120 to 150 seconds. These are recommended settings only.
Use medium pressure and a mirrored print. Run one test mug of each finish before a large order, because specialty surfaces can show small differences from one press to the next. Temperature and time work against each other, so if you raise one, lower the other. Our time and temperature chart lists recommended settings for every blank we sell.
Short answer: Go bright, bold and playful. Original characters, oversized lettering, clashing holiday colors and lots of pattern all suit Merrymaxxing.
For the rest of your holiday mix, see what sells best at Christmas.
Merrymaxxing is Etsy's name for maximalist holiday style in 2026: glitter, metallics, bright color and playful designs. Etsy reports whimsy items up 110%, bedazzled kits up 218% and whimsical decor up 61% with Gen Z shoppers.
Sparkling glitter mugs, metallic gold and silver mugs, plated mugs, color changing mugs and glow in the dark mugs. Each one adds shine, color or a surprise effect that a plain white mug does not have.
No. Sparkling mugs are pressed in a standard mug press. We recommend 365 to 390°F (185 to 200°C) for 120 to 180 seconds, as a starting point only. Press one test mug first.
We recommend about 350°F for 120 to 150 seconds in a mug press, which is a little lower than standard white ceramic. This is a recommended setting only, so test one mug and adjust for your press.
The mug starts black. When a hot drink is poured in, the coating turns clear and the sublimated design underneath appears. It is a popular choice for hidden messages and Christmas morning reveals.
Designs with bright white areas, such as Christmas lights, stars, snowflakes and white lettering. Leave the mug under a light for a while and the design glows in the dark.
At Photo USA, metallic gold and silver 11 oz mugs are $95.76 for a case of 36, 11 oz sparkling mugs are $104.36 to $114 for a case of 36 and the 18 oz sparkling bone china mug is $71.04 for a case of 24.
The pastel sparkling mugs in pink, light blue, blue and purple, and the color changing mugs for reveal videos. Both suit the bright, playful style that Etsy reports is growing fastest with Gen Z.
One last note: the press settings in this guide are recommended starting points only. Temperature and time work against each other, so a higher temperature needs less time and a lower one needs more, and every heat press and oven runs a little differently. Press one test piece and adjust for your own machine.
