Hey everyone! I'm brand new to crafting and I want to make a handmade mug for my mom as a special gift. The thing is, I've never worked with air-dry clay before (or any clay, really). I'm looking for some beginner-friendly tips on which brands of air-dry clay are good for creating a sturdy mug. Is it safe to use air-dry clay for a mug? I'd also love to get some recommendations on essential tools I might need, like sandpaper, sealers, or brushes. If anyone has a simple step-by-step guide for making the mug—from forming the body to attaching the handle, drying, and finishing—I would really appreciate it! Thanks a bunch!
3 Answers
As a beginner, making pottery can be quite tricky all on your own. I’d suggest looking for pottery classes nearby or even pottery-party places where you can get some guidance. What matters most to you in this project? Is it about making the mug itself or how it looks with decoration?
Just a heads up, air-dry clay isn't really suitable for making a usable mug. You need to glaze and fire clay to make it strong enough and to hold water. So if you want your mug to actually work, that's something to consider!
Jajajaja thank you for the honesty! I thought that might be the case!
If you're looking to make something that's food safe, air-dry clay won't cut it. Most dishware needs to be fired twice to be sealed and made non-porous. You might want to check out a local studio where you can paint pre-fired bisqueware. If you really want to stick with a handmade project, maybe consider making a pencil holder instead, since that won’t need to deal with water or food.
There are some studios close to my house that have 3-hour classes! Do you think I can make one mug in that time?
It's the actual mug! I gave her the one she had before, but it broke recently. Since I'm moving away soon, I wanted this to be my farewell gift!