Clay Teapot Ideas
The teapot as we know it today has been around for about 500 years, as historically tea was roasted. Teapots went largely unused until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Today, teapots still are used for making tea, but also are collected by some, making them a wonderful crafting idea for personal use or gifts. If you want a functional rather than decorative teapot, make sure the clay, whether its pottery wheel clay or slab clay, can be heated on a stove once the project is complete.
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Tiny Teapots
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Make tiny teapot either for personal, single-serving use or decorative use in a tea set or doll house. Add a small clump of clay to a potter's wheel, adding water with your hands. Holding the clay between your hands as it turns on the wheel, gently shape the clay by lowering and raising your hands. Do this until you have achieved the shape desired. Remove the teapot from the potter's wheel. Form the top, handle and spout by measuring to ensure they are the proper size for tiny teapot you have created. If making for a tea set, you may also want to make matching tiny teacups.
Funky Square Slab Teapot
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Some teapot designs can be made off of a pottery wheel, using slabs of clay and shaping with it your hands. For this project, you will also need "slip," a combination of water and clay particles, which can be purchased at a craft store. Begin with a slab of clay, and flatten it to desire thickness using a yard stick. Measure your base, sides and top to your desired size of a square. Ensure that all sides are equal length so once complete, your teapot is a cube. Let the clay firm for a while after cutting so that it does not flop over while you are attempting to join the edges. Score the edges with a sharp pencil to make them easier to join. Apply the slip to the scored edges. This step helps to hold the corners together. Join the slabs, adding a little water with your fingers as you go to smooth the corners. Fashion a top, ensuring there is a steam hole and create a spout.
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Whimsical Designs
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Teapots can be fashioned in nearly every shape imaginable. Using the slab method, roll out your slab of clay to the desired thickness. Score and apply slip to the edges. Start by creating a square or circular base and then use your hands to create a unique teapot. Nearly any object can provide inspiration for a teapot: a football, a palm tree, a baseball or a favorite pet. A whimsical teapot is an opportunity to stretch your imagination.
Porcelain Purse Teapot
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Design your purse on paper, cutting out the pattern you desire. Roll out porcelain clay until it is approximately 1/8-inch thick, then allow time for it to firm. Starting with the bottom and sides, cut out two matching pieces to form the front and back according to your design. Score and apply slip to the edges. Join the edges, applying a small amount of porcelain to the inside edges to strengthen the seam. Form a spout on a potter's wheel, holding a small amount of clay between your hands, moving them up and down on the clay to form the desired shape. Cut a lid out of slab porcelain clay to fit the top of your purse, attaching porcelain balls to the lid to form the "clasp" of the purse. Spray with water, cover with plastic, and let dry over night.
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