How to Make Cups Out of Clay

You can make all kinds of cup designs from clay.

Clay is one of the most versatile crafting materials. With clay, you can create decorative objects for the home, or practical items like pots, containers, mugs and cups. Pottery-making is a skill that is not difficult to learn; however, you can always invest time developing additional techniques that will make your designs look even better. Make clay cups in any size or shape as gifts, for decoration or simply to have a customized set of cups for your own home.

Things You'll Need

• Clay
• Pottery wheel
• Spray bottle
• Clay shaping tools
• Electric kiln
• Clay glaze (optional)
• Ceramic pot
• Tongs
• Plastic scraper

Instructions

Shaping the Cup

1. Knead the clay on a smooth surface until it is soft and pliable.

2. Spray some water onto the pottery wheel to prevent the clay from sticking. Form the clay into a ball in the center of the wheel.

3. Coat your hands in water. Start spinning the wheel; wrap your hands around the clay. Work the clay into a cone shape that reaches the height you'd like your cup. Raise and lower the clay into a cone several times to maintain a perfect circular shape.

4. Place your index finger inside the center of the clay to open the center hole for the cup. Steady your finger with your other hand. Leave about one-half inch of clay on the base. Widen the hole into the desired shape.

5. Pull the sides of the clay upward between your thumb and forefinger. Make the sides of the cup about one-half or one-quarter inch thick.

6. Flatten the top of the cup slightly with your finger to create a cup lip. Stop spinning the wheel.

7. Form a handle for the cup by hand. Make the handle about one-half inch thick and about 1 to 2 inches wide. Attach it to the side of the cup with a small dab of water. Press the top and bottom of the handle into the sides of the cup carefully.

Firing and Glazing

1. Fire the clay in a kiln in order to dry to a bisque finish, which should take about one or two hours. A bisque finish is when the clay just starts to harden and turn a lighter color.

2. Bake the clay in a pottery kiln a second time for about five or six hours; this round bakes the inside.

3. Melt glaze in a large ceramic pot. Dip the cup into a melted glaze using tongs to give it a glossy finish.

4. Fire the clay in the kiln again, until the glaze hardens over the surface of the cup, which should take about one to three hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Making a clay cup is not difficult, but it does require some specialized tools, such as a pottery kiln and other clay-drying tools. If you do not have these supplies at home, you can make the cup at a clay-making studio or school. A clay-making studio will often fire the clay and glaze it for you.

• Use a plastic scraper to help lift the cup off the pottery wheel after forming it into the desired shape.

• Take care not to spin the pottery wheel too fast, or the clay will fly off of the wheel.

References

• Clay Times: Forming Techniques
• Memorial Art Gallery: How to Work with Clay