Deanna Ranlett
Pottery & Ceramics Professional
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Co-authored Articles (19)
Homemade Plaster of Paris: Best Materials & Casting Tips
Plaster of Paris recipes to help you make easy homemade arts and crafts Looking for your next fun DIY crafting project? Plaster of Paris is an easy craft material you can make at home. All you need is water and plaster o...
How to
Paint Ceramic Plates
Best tips for creating painted designs on your favorite platesHand-painted ceramic plates make beautiful decorations for your home or office. They also make thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Painting your own design is an...
How to
Harden Modeling Clay
Modeling clay comes in many forms, including polymer and self-hardening, which are often used for making fun projects like dishes, jewelry, and other crafts. You can easily finish your modeling clay craft by hardening po...
How to Bake Polymer Clay in a Conventional or Toaster Oven
The best ways to harden polymer clay to avoid scorching The world of polymer clay is truly endless, as you can create anything from beads and charms to sculptures and mugs, and all it takes to finish a project is a bit o...
Differences Between Stoneware and Ceramic Dishes
What is stoneware, and is it the same as ceramic? All your questions, answered You see the word “stoneware” plastered on kitchenware of all sorts, from casserole dishes to plates and mugs. But what is stoneware, exac...
How to
Color Air Dry Clay
Air dry clay is a great way to sculpt without dealing with a kiln or oven, but coloring it can be a little more complicated. Depending on the method you choose, you can add designs and color to clay before or after you d...
How to
Revive Dry Clay
Clay is a wonderful sculpting medium due to its versatility and pliability. While clay is a marvelous medium to work with, it can be frustrating to return to your clay stores only to find a hardened, dried-out lump. Fort...
How to
Slab Clay
Slabbing clay is a hand-building pottery technique that has been around for centuries. Before potters began using pottery wheels, simple tools were used to create clay pottery. Slabbing clay is a technique that includes ...
2 Ways to Fix a Broken Terracotta Pot
Make your clay pot whole again with some epoxy or wire Terracotta pots are an asset to many home gardens, but not when they’re cracked and broken. Before you pick up a new pot from your local gardening store, check aro...
How to
Make Pottery
So you've got a set of plates, bowls, and cups that you love -- but it's even better to make your own in a process we call "pottery." Finding a cute set at the store is nice, but being able to put your own twist on objec...
How to
Paint Clay Pots
If you have lots of plants, either indoors and outdoors, you may get tired of the basic red of clay pots. Painting clay pots can take a few days due to drying time, but it’s easy and worth it for the added decoration. ...
How to
Make Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile can be a beautiful addition to your home or garden. It begins with just a lump of clay, which is mixed with other ingredients to create a medium by which to form the tiles. Pigments and designs are added bef...
How to
Make Plates
Making plates isn't the easiest thing to do, but you can handle it if you learn a little ceramics. To make a ceramic plate, you'll need to roll out clay or throw it on a potter's wheel, create a shape, let it dry, and fi...
How to
Glaze Pottery
Pottery glazes are complex mixtures that fuse to pottery when placed in a kiln at high temperatures. Glazes are responsible both for decorating the pottery and for creating an attractive glossy surface that protects the ...
How to
Paint a Terracotta Pot
Terracotta pots are common fixtures in gardens, along windowsills, and on front porches. While they’re certainly practical and affordable, their brown-orange color doesn’t match much décor, much less make any sort o...
How to
Mend a Crack in Pottery
Pottery is a subset under the broader category of ceramics, and it's commonly used for everyday life, like eating and drinking. Pottery and ceramics in general can often be repaired using the same methods. So, the next t...
How to
Make a Clay Elephant
Clay is a great way to express your creativity, whether you’re teaching a child the basics or you’re just experimenting on your own. A clay elephant is a really easy project to start with, and a great way to practice...
How to
Throw a Pot
Making a pot can be tricky but equally fun for those enthusiastic about pottery. A little care while holding the clay and working with it on a potter's wheel can bring satisfying results. Unleash the potter within you by...
How to
Fire Raku Pottery
True Japanese Raku refers to pottery made by a specific family in Japan for pottery that is specifically made for the Japanese Tea Ceremony. This article will discuss Western-style Raku, developed by Paul Soldner in the ...
