Make Mugs

Template:AccuracyMaking mugs are a wonderful and unique project for experienced potters. It would be a great inexpensive gift that shows you took time creating this, and you can personalize it however you wish! Make sure you have experienced adult supervision if you are a child.

Steps

1. Buy a good brand of clay. Try to get polymer clay (Play-Doh wouldn't be a good choice for this). Examples of common and good polymer clay brands are Fimo, Premo, Sculpey, Kato Polyclay, and Cernit. Avoid modeling clay because it is referring to kid's clay that never dries out; when baked, it will melt.
2. Mold the clay into a mug form. First start shaping the container. This can be tricky. Make sure everywhere is smooth with no bumps. Use a potter's wheel if you have one. Then create the handle and attach it to the container mug. It should be curved like an ear shape.
3. Bake it in a preheated oven. Turn it at {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} for about 15 - 20 minutes per quarter of an inch of thickness at the thickest area. Place your clay mug on a sheet of paper on a metal baking tray.
4. Let it cool down. After the mug is fully hardened, remove it out of the oven while wearing oven gloves. Let it sit for a few minutes.
5. Smooth out the mug by sanding it. Using sandpaper, make the mug appear matte and smooth, with little to no bumps.
6. Glaze it. Get polymer clay glaze. Use a paintbrush and brush the glaze all over the clay mug. Don't glaze the bottom because it will stick to whatever you dry it on, ruining the mug.
7. Let the mug dry for one to two hours. Place it somewhere where nothing can ruin it.

Tips

• Have an actual mug or a picture of one as a reference.
• If you choose to make a saucer, use the same techniques in the above steps.
• Have an assistant to help you along the way. It will make work much lighter and less stressful.
• If it is for a gift, personalize it! Using acrylic paint, paint designs on it. The recipient will be very pleased to know you spent so much time on this gift.

Warnings

• Polymer clay can darken, scorch, or burn if baked hotter than required. So bake it at the right time.
• Have an adult preheat the oven if you are not sure how to use it.

Related Articles

• Make Photo Mugs
• Personalize Glassware

See also

• Sculpt Using Sand and Portland Cement
• Make a Clay Magnet
• Make Anasazi Pottery
• Build a Mayan Temple Out of Sand
• Mix Plaster for Sculpture
• Make Dough Vegetables
• Make a Soap Carving
• Make a Plaster Mask
• Make a Clay Rose
• Make a Rubber Mold

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What links here

• Make Photo Mugs