Okay, so I got this idea to make a tea set, complete with a tray, because, why not? I figured it’d be a fun project, and hey, who doesn’t love a good tea time? So, I started by gathering some stuff I thought I’d need. I’m no expert, mind you, just a regular person who likes to get their hands dirty with DIY projects.

First things first, I needed some clay. I grabbed a big chunk of air-dry clay from the craft store – the kind that doesn’t need a kiln because, let’s be real, I don’t have one of those lying around. I also picked up some basic pottery tools. Nothing fancy, just some shaping tools, a sponge, and a wire cutter. Oh, and I made sure to get a rolling pin from my kitchen – gotta flatten that clay somehow!

I started with the tray. I rolled out the clay to about half an inch thick, trying to keep it even. Then I used a large plate as a template and cut out a circle. For the edges, I rolled some more clay into long, thin coils and attached them to the base, blending them in with my fingers and a bit of water. I wanted a slightly raised edge, you know, to keep things from sliding off.

Making the Cups and Teapot

• For the cups, I took smaller pieces of clay and shaped them into cylinders. I pinched and pulled until they looked like something you’d actually want to drink from.
• The teapot was trickier. I made the body by shaping a larger piece of clay into a sphere and then flattening the bottom.
• For the spout and handle, I rolled out more coils and attached them, smoothing out the joints as best as I could. It wasn’t perfect, but it was starting to look like a teapot!

After everything was shaped, I let it all air dry for a few days. It took a while, but I wanted to make sure it was completely dry before moving on. Once it was hard, I sanded down any rough edges with some sandpaper. Then came the fun part – painting! I picked some nice, calming colors and went to town. I even added some patterns to make it look a bit more unique.

Finally, I sealed the whole set with a clear, food-safe sealant. You know, just to make sure it was safe to use and all that. And there you have it! My very own homemade tea set. It’s not perfect, it’s a bit wonky in places, but I made it, and that’s what counts. Plus, tea just tastes better when you’re drinking it from something you made yourself, right?