How to Decorate Mugs
Have you ever had an idea for your own favorite coffee or tea mug? You might want one with a pattern of lines, polka dots, flowers or words. The possibilities for design are infinite. When you are done, you'll have an original piece to use yourself, give away as a gift or put on display for decoration. No matter what you decide to do with your new creation, you will end up with your very own piece of art on an ordinary, everyday item.
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Things You'll Need
- Bisque-ware mugs
- Utility knife
- Sandpaper
- Sponge
- Pencil
- Paintbrushes in several sizes
- 1 fan-shaped paintbrush
- Colored underglazes
- Clear overglaze
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Ceramics stores usually have an example of a finished result for each color, because the color of the glaze will not be the same after it's fired in the kiln.
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2
Choose a bisque mug or a set of them to decorate. Bisque mugs have already been made and fired in a pottery kiln. They are completely ready to paint with your glaze.
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3
Sand out any imperfections in the mug or mugs, and wipe them with a wet sponge to remove the dust. Let them dry completely before decorating.
Decorating
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4
Paint the background of your mugs using your decided base color. Apply three coats of the base color to ensure a rich, deep result. Allow the glaze to dry between coats to avoid imperfections.
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5
Draw your design on your mug with a pencil. The pencil will not show up in your finished design. If you are designing your first piece, it may be easier to stay away from small, intricate designs, because they may be difficult to paint with the glaze.
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6
Paint the design with your glaze. The design may look discolored, but the glaze will be the correct color when fired. To make sure that you get an even coat, use three applications. Allow the glaze to dry between coats.
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7
Paint the entire mug inside and out with your clear glaze and your fan-shaped brush. Use three coats again, letting the coats dry in between applications. The clear glaze will remain light green or bright pink until fired in the kiln.
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8
Allow the mug or mugs to completely dry, and take them to the ceramics shop to be fired in a pottery kiln.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit niallsco: Flickr.com
