Ever wonder what goes into creating one of our engraved tumblers? Spoiler alert: it's a lot more than pushing a button. Every cup is carefully designed, engraved, cleaned, and packaged with precision — and a little flamingo flair.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how your tumbler comes to life:
1. Creating the Design
Every tumbler starts with a spark of creativity. Whether it’s a mermaid tail, constellation wrap, or spooky seasonal vibe, the design is built to wrap seamlessly around the cup. I don’t just think about how it looks on screen — I build it with the engraving process in mind. That means line weight, engraving depth, spacing, and flow all have to work together for a clean final result.
2. Visualizing the Wrap (Mockups)
Before committing a design to the laser, I often use mockup software to preview how it will look wrapped around a tumbler. This lets me tweak alignment, scale, or visual balance without wasting a physical product. It's a critical step in making sure what looks good on screen also looks great in real life.
3. Engraving the Cup
This is where the magic (and precision) really happens. I carefully align the design to make sure it wraps smoothly around the tumbler, without cutting through logos like Stanley or Owala. Some brands have multiple logo placements or texture variations — so each cup requires a different approach. No guesswork. Just careful setup, test runs, and adjustments to make sure the design lands exactly where it should.
4. Cleaning & Polishing
After engraving, the tumbler is left with some soot and residue. While this is totally normal it's not the look we’re going for. Each cup is washed thoroughly, using a magic eraser and LA Awesome to remove the soot. I then polish the engraving with a bit of Bar Keepers Friend (liquid, applied gently) and a blue scrub sponge to bring out the shine. Then it’s rinsed and washed again, with soap and water, to remove any residue from the cleaners.
5. Packaging & Shipping
Once the cup passes inspection (yes, I actually inspect them one by one), it’s time to wrap it up. I use wine bottle-style bubble sleeves to protect each brand name tumbler during shipping — they cushion the cup and keep it looking perfect all the way to your doorstep. From there, it’s packed carefully in a branded box and shipped out with tracking.
A Lot of Care in Every Cup
There’s no factory line here — just intentional design, tested engraving, and hands-on quality control. I want your tumbler to feel just as good in your hand as it looked online. That’s the Forging Flamingo standard.