Want to make your very own soap dish? We LOVE this easy clay project idea for beginners and experienced ceramicists alike.
Supplies:
-
ceramic clay this will hold up best for a soap dish
- an existing soap dish to act as a mold, or a dish with the shape of your desired soap dish
- cloth canvas (or a cut piece of denim) surface to work on
- small cup of water
- paper towel or sponge for smoothing
- sharp pencil or pin tool (optional)
- empty wine bottle or rolling-pin for rolling out your slab of clay
1. Find an existing soap dish that has the same shape as your desired finished product. You will use this dish as a "mold" to create your own. Roll out a clay slab large enough for your dish mold to lay on.
2. Using a pin tool, or a sharp pencil, cut out the shape of your mold. Leave a little extra space when cutting the slab to retain the depth, as you'll be draping the slab over the mold later.
3. Gently lift the excess clay from your canvas. Place extra clay in a ziplock bag or container for continued use. Retain a small amount to roll out the coil "foot" of your dish.
4. Place a thin piece of paper towel, or toilet paper on top of your mold. This is necessary otherwise the raw clay will stick to the non-porous surface and tear as it dries.
5. Gently place your oval slab over your tissue-covered mold. Use both hands to minimize warping and place as close to the center as possible.
6. Once you've placed your slab as evenly as possible over the mold, begin gently pressing in the walls. Make sure you're rotating your canvas or working your hands around the mold as you go. This will ensure even folding, and prevent the clay from tearing.
7. Continue pressing the walls down and in until your slab is snuggly fit to your mold. It should look similar to this. Leave the unfired dish on the mold to provide support as you work on the bottom.
8. Using your spare clay, roll out a coil for the foot of your base.
9. Cut the coil to size. You'll need to leave a small gap for water to drain out.
10. Blend, or scratch-and-attach, the coil to the base of the soap dish. You can use your fingers, a clay-specific tool, or even a butter knife!
11. Using a pin tool or sharp pencil poke some holes into the base of your dish.
12. When you're all finished the bottom of your soap dish should look like the photo above, with drainage holes and a foot with a drain gap. Let the dish rest on the mold as it dries.
13. Fire, glaze, and enjoy!
Looking for video tutorials? Watch our entire Clay Time series
here.
Ready to try your hand at clay but want some gentle guidance?
Sign up for one of our in-person
workshops hosted at our storefront in Portland, Oregon. They're an easy and fun way to learn about clay and connect with your local community.
And remember, it's about the process, not the product!
