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How to Make Ceramic Mugs

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There's nothing like a good cup of coffee, especially when you're drinking it out of your own custom ceramic coffee mug. Ceramics classes can teach you how to make creations with a potter's wheel and kiln, but all you really need is clay, water and a kiln to do it at home.

Work the Clay

Visit a store that sells ceramic and pottery supplies to buy the appropriate clay. You will need at least a pound of clay, and remember that it's always better to get too much than not enough. Knead the clay to get rid of any air bubbles. This is an important step that leads to a much better final product, so take your time. After kneading, roll the clay into a ball.

Shape the Clay

You can make any kind of ceramic pottery without a potter's wheel. It takes a little more time, but it's also more rewarding. Roll out the clay to the desired thickness for your mug. To avoid burning your hands, you want the clay to be fairly thick. Wet your hands and keep a bowl of warm water near you to continually moisten the clay as you work.

Lift the clay and form the outer perimeter of the mug. To seal the edges together, run a butter knife or scoring tool along both edges. Moisten the edges and compress them together. Place one moist hand on the inside of the mug and the other on the outside at the edges and compress.

Next, gently fold in the bottom edges to make the base of the mug. There will be a hole in the middle. Use a small amount of clay to fit inside the hole. You will need to score all the edges just like before. Press the clay together to form the base of your mug.

Make a Handle

Now it's time to make the mug's handle. Roll a bit of clay into a worm shape. Attach this piece to the mug where you want the handle to go. Smooth out the joins so it looks even. Use moist hands to smooth and shape the handle.

Bisque Firing

The first time you fire your ceramic mug it makes it sturdy enough to paint or glaze. Your home oven can't get hot enough to fire a ceramic mug. If you don't have a kiln, you can usually pay a small fee at a local pottery shop to have them do this step for you.

Decorate Your Mug

You can paint your mug with acrylic paints or apply a ceramic pottery glaze. Unfinished ceramics also look lovely, depending on your taste. Choose between a smooth glaze or use tools to texture the glaze like many ceramics pottery artists do. If you love making ceramics, you can also look for ceramic pottery classes in your area to learn how to make different ceramic pieces.