Creating pottery at home can be both exciting and therapeutic. You don’t have to spend a fortune on fancy equipment. With a dash of creativity and some everyday household items, you can kick off your DIY pottery adventure. Whether you're looking to express your artistic side or simply create something special for your home, let's uncover some surprising household items that can help you make beautiful pottery.
1. Old Clothes & Fabrics
Have some old clothes or ripped bed sheets laying around at home? Don't throw them out! Cut them up into cloth sizes pieces which are perfect for wrapping delicate pieces in when you transport to the kiln, propping up handles while they dry and also as cleaning cloths to keep your workspace clean!
2. Kitchen Utensils
Take a look around your kitchen. You might be surprised by the useful tools it offers for pottery making! Be warned though, most of my kitchen utensils have been appropriated for pottery at some point, once you start looking around your house it seems that everything can be used for pottery!
Forks make great scoring tools! The tongs allow you to score your edges quickly before applying slip and joining them together. They can also make some great patterns and textures.
Spoons can be used for carving and smoothing out the clay, and spatulas and wooden spoons make great shaping tools to gently tap pieces into shape.
3. Plastic Containers
Before throwing out leftover takeout containers, consider their potential in your pottery projects!
These containers are perfect for storing slip, wet clay and keeping your materials fresh. Beyond storage, they can also be used as molds. Fill a container with your clay, shape it, and let it set. For example, a round takeout container can help you create a perfect bowl. If you're looking to embrace creativity, you can even stack containers to form more complex shapes. It's a practical way to explore new forms!
4. Household Sponges
Sponges are often overlooked but can play a critical role in your pottery-making toolkit.
Their soft and absorbent texture is great for blending and smoothing clay surfaces. Dampen a sponge, then gently press it against your pottery to smooth out rough edges. Additionally, when pressed into the damp clay, sponges can create intriguing textures that lend a unique touch to your pieces.
5. Stamp or natural items
Start looking around for items that you can stamp into your clay to create texture or patterns. A leaf, a piece of bark or even a stick that you can roll over your clay can all create unique textures.
A potato cut in half can serve as a unique stamp when you carve a design into it, unlocking endless possibilities for patterns in clay!
6. Rolling pin
For those of us who have done some baking at home it's likely you have a rolling pin! These are great for rolling out a slab of clay, just make sure you thoroughly wash it if you plan to use it in the kitchen again!
7. Plastic credit or membership cards
Your expired plastic cards aren't trash, they're treasure! Give them a second life as pottery tools. A few simple cuts can turn them into custom ribs. With four sides to work with, you'll have endless possibilities for adding texture to your clay creations, or leave an edge straight to use as the perfect smoothing tool.
Creative Pottery Awaits
Embarking on a pottery journey at home doesn’t have to break the bank. With items you likely already have you can create stunning pieces of art without needing expensive materials or classes.
If you've assessed all your options at home and looking for more inspiration and op shop or charity shop is always a great place to explore! You can often pickup pieces for less than a dollar. The kitchen sections are especially great but also have a look through the clothing and homewares sections, could that crochet tablecloth leave a nice imprint? Or an old bowl become the perfect mold.
So, take a moment to explore your home, gather these surprising treasures, and let your creativity soar. You may discover a hidden talent and create beautiful pieces that you proudly display. Happy crafting!
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