Deanna Ranlett

Homemade Plaster of Paris: Best Materials & Casting Tips

Plaster of Paris recipes to help you make easy homemade arts and craftsLooking for your next fun DIY crafting project? Plaster of Paris is an easy craft material you can make at home. All you need is water and plaster o...

How to

Harden Modeling Clay

Modeling clay comes in many forms, including polymer and self-hardening, which are often used for making fun projects like dishes, jewelry, and other crafts. You can easily finish your modeling clay craft by hardening po...

How to Bake Polymer Clay in a Conventional or Toaster Oven

The best ways to harden polymer clay to avoid scorching The world of polymer clay is truly endless, as you can create anything from beads and charms to sculptures and mugs, and all it takes to finish a project is a bit o...

How to

Revive Dry Clay

Clay is a wonderful sculpting medium due to its versatility and pliability. While clay is a marvelous medium to work with, it can be frustrating to return to your clay stores only to find a hardened, dried-out lump. Fort...

How to

Make Pottery

So you've got a set of plates, bowls, and cups that you love -- but it's even better to make your own in a process we call "pottery." Finding a cute set at the store is nice, but being able to put your own twist on objec...

2 Ways to Fix a Broken Terracotta Pot

Make your clay pot whole again with some epoxy or wireTerracotta pots are an asset to many home gardens, but not when they’re cracked and broken. Before you pick up a new pot from your local gardening store, check aro...

How to

Paint Clay Pots

If you have lots of plants, either indoors and outdoors, you may get tired of the basic red of clay pots. Painting clay pots can take a few days due to drying time, but it’s easy and worth it for the added decoration. ...

How to

Color Air Dry Clay

Air dry clay is a great way to sculpt without dealing with a kiln or oven, but coloring it can be a little more complicated. Depending on the method you choose, you can add designs and color to clay before or after you d...

How to

Paint Ceramic Plates

Hand-painted ceramic plates make beautiful decorations for your home or office. They also make thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Painting your own design is an easy way to customize a set of ceramic plates. All it takes i...

Differences Between Stoneware and Ceramic Dishes

What is stoneware, and is it the same as ceramic? All your questions, answeredYou see the word “stoneware” plastered on kitchenware of all sorts, from casserole dishes to plates and mugs. But what is stoneware, exac...

How to

Slab Clay

Slabbing clay is a hand-building pottery technique that has been around for centuries. Before potters began using pottery wheels, simple tools were used to create clay pottery. Slabbing clay is a technique that includes ...

How to

Paint a Terracotta Pot

Terracotta pots are common fixtures in gardens, along windowsills, and on front porches. While they’re certainly practical and affordable, their brown-orange color doesn’t match much décor, much less make any sort o...

How to

Make Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile can be a beautiful addition to your home or garden. It begins with just a lump of clay, which is mixed with other ingredients to create a medium by which to form the tiles. Pigments and designs are added bef...

How to

Make Plates

Making plates isn't the easiest thing to do, but you can handle it if you learn a little ceramics. To make a ceramic plate, you'll need to roll out clay or throw it on a potter's wheel, create a shape, let it dry, and fi...

How to

Throw a Pot

Making a pot can be tricky but equally fun for those enthusiastic about pottery. A little care while holding the clay and working with it on a potter's wheel can bring satisfying results. Unleash the potter within you by...

How to

Mend a Crack in Pottery

Pottery is a subset under the broader category of ceramics, and it's commonly used for everyday life, like eating and drinking. Pottery and ceramics in general can often be repaired using the same methods. So, the next t...

How to

Glaze Pottery

Pottery glazes are complex mixtures that fuse to pottery when placed in a kiln at high temperatures. Glazes are responsible both for decorating the pottery and for creating an attractive glossy surface that protects the ...

How to

Fire Raku Pottery

True Japanese Raku refers to pottery made by a specific family in Japan for pottery that is specifically made for the Japanese Tea Ceremony. This article will discuss Western-style Raku, developed by Paul Soldner in the ...