Everything Else — Page 4 of 10 « Ceramics & Pottery

How To: Use Magic Glos UV resin & polymer clay

Polymer clay has become a very popular modeling material. This narrator uses magic gloss UV resin and a needle tool for this video. A silicone pad is useful for the mixing process. Once a small amount of resin has been squeezed out, you can sprinkle glitter onto it, spread it out and allow it to cure a little. Once this has happened, a pressed flower can be stuck onto the surface and sandwiched between another layer of Magic Gloss. Once hardened, the flower is encased in the clear layers. Thi...

How To: Embellish wall decals with polymer clay

Ilysa Bierer and Kira Slye with Polymer Clay TV demonstrate how to embellish wall decals with polymer clay. Wall decals come in a variety of styles. You can embellish wall decals in a variety of ways to make them your own. Take transfer paper and use parts of the design to incorporate into your polymer clay figures. Cookie cutters are handy ways to cut out polymer clay shapes. After you cut out your shapes with the cookie cutter, you can use the piece of clay with the negative space and place...

How To: Make polymer clay pocket mirrors

This video teaches you how to make small polymer clay pocket mirrors. You can put these in your purse or even wallet. It is a good gift, as you can customize them for the person you indent to give. Get small mirrors from a craft store. One technique is to make a separate cover for the mirror using clay. Another technique is to cover the whole mirror with clay. You can also create two separate covers. One on the back of the mirror and the other for the front. Stick the clay on the back of it a...

How To: Collar a cylinder

This video shows how to collar a cylinder. The collar of a cylinder is a plate or ring used under the head of the cylinder for a lock. Put the clay on the spinner. Mold the clay while spinning the spinner. Mold it first to the shape you want. Tighten the neck of the vase that you are molding. By tightening the neck of the vase, you are now shaping the collar of the vase. Shape it to the size and design you want. Enjoy making your own vase with the color you want.

How To: Do ceramic detail on trimming & sealing

Simon Leach teaches you how to do ceramic trimming and sealing. You wet the top of the pot and place it on the wheel. You push down on the bottom, sealed side, when the wheel is spinning. You use the trim tool to cut into the base side. You do this at an angle and make sure you hold the trim tool like a stake knife, not like a pencil. You empty out the leg until you are pleased with it. You round off any sharp corners and you have to put the last piece, the seal. On the bottom you take a piec...

How To: Build a small raku kiln

In this three-part how-to from everyone's favorite potter (wizard children notwithstanding), Simon Leach talks about the process of building a small raku kiln. For insight into Mr. Leach's kiln-building process, watch this helpful how-to.

How To: Finish a lidded clay box

Simon Leach of Simon Leach Ceramics shows how to finish a lidded box, thrown on a potter's wheel. When cutting into the box, make sure to do so with a cut slanting downwards so that the lid is less prone to falling off. Proceed to smooth off the exterior of the box, beginning where the two halves meet. Once the outside is smoothed, the fit of the two parts is probably not perfect, and so the joint between the two can be smoothed off. Carved features such as scalloped footing may now be added....

How To: Glaze ceramics

Simon Leach teaches the secret to glazing the inside of a bowl. You will need: brush, glaze, sponge, water, stick or whisk. Using a brush, dust the inside of the bowl to be glazed. Remove any clay that remains stuck on the bowl by using a blade or knife. Stir the glaze from the bottom using a stick or whisk Add water to the glaze if it appears too thick and stir again from the bottom. Pour the glaze into the bowl, careful not to get any over the edge. If any glaze goes over the edge of the bo...

How To: Flute a ceramic jar

Simon Leach teaches the easy way on how to flute a ceramic jar! Using the axel blade, you can make a simple straight down flute on the jar. Keep it going straight and make it as smooth as possible as you move around the jar. You can also make a flute on the lid of the jar if you prefer, but notably, less is more. Follow these pointers and you'll make a perfect flute for your jar!

How To: Prepare Raku ceramics for glazing

Simon Leach from Simon Leach Ceramics provides some great workshop footage on preparing to glaze Raku ceramic pots. This tutorial video provides answers on the beauty and function of Raku pots, as well as some great ideas for home decoration. Simon walks you through the process of glazing these pots, including important specifics about proper materials and methods, easy recipes for making your materials and tools at home, as well as common mistakes that you should avoid when glazing your cera...

How To: Decorate your ceramic pot art

In this video, potter Simon Leach offers tips on how he decorates the ceramic pots that he has made. This video offers some great suggestions on decorating pottery that you have made, or have purchased unfinished. This video does not teach any specific decorating techniques, but focuses more on the process of a potter when contemplating decorating their creations. This video does cut off at the end, so do be sure to watch the continuation of Leach's tips in which he gets into more specific de...

How To: Decorate ceramic pots

Raku pottery artist Simon Leach feels that while most people who work with ceramics are taught how to make them, very few are taught how to decorate them. Simon will show you how to draw inspiration from your ceramic pots that will lead you to the perfect decorations. He shows you both how to decorate a ceramic pot in order to enhance its shape, while also showing you that sometimes it is the decoration that truly makes a ceramic pot special.

How To: Install fiber to the exterior cage of a Raku kiln

This intriguing video is part of a set by Simon Leach that teaches anyone at home to create a Raku kiln. In this video, he takes you in a simple, step by step guide from attaching in the fluffy fiber to the exterior cage with specialty buttons and wires. All the steps are very clear, and he even repeats them just in case so that even the most novice craftsman can follow along. It's both practical and educational, as he explains why things need to be done and what purpose they serve for the fi...

How To: Use a potato peeler on ceramics

Using a potato peeler on ceramics is fast, simple and gives your piece a unique look. While your pot is still soft, take a potato peeler and "peel" your pot in small sections working around the pot. You don't want to press too light or too firm, it might take some practice. Keep your cuts random to add to the charm.

How To: Make painted plates & tiles with ceramic paint pens

Raid the thrift stores and the hardware stores and turn something that's old and useless into invaluable works of art. Armed with markers and your own artistic skills you can change fussy old dinner plates into something worth eating on. Watch this video to learn more about how to make painted plates and tiles with ceramic paint pens. Give the gift of your genius, and spread the smiles around.

How To: Set up a kiln

Before starting out on any pottery projects, you need to set up that kiln. This video how-to series demonstrates the safe and proper set-up procedure for your new kiln. Learn where to set up the kiln, unpack, and assemble. Follow along with the video and have fun with ceramics. Set up a kiln.

How To: Sculpt a clay cat and mouse digital camera cradle

Want a cool way to display your digital camera? It just takes a little clay and some time to make something really worthwhile, like this clay kitty cradle.

How To: How to throw a medieval pot

Watch this Medieval pottery demonstration by Jim Newboult of Trinity Court Potteries at an English Heritage Living History event at Kenilworth Castle. This pottery wheel is not a kick wheel. It's an incredibly silent hand powered pottery wheel. This ceramics demonstration will show you how to throw a lovely clay pot on any wheel. Learn how it's done traditionally at a historical Medieval fair. How to throw a medieval pot.

How To: Put a handle on a ceramic mug

When you're putting a handle on a mug, you need to think about the state of the clay of both the mug and the handle. The ceramic clay needs to be a bit harder and drier than right after coming off the pottery wheel or being sculpted, but not so dry that the clay won't stick. Check out this video pottery-making tutorial and learn how to attach a handle onto a ceramic mug.