Materials Needed:

• 8” Clear Square Glass
• Black Glass Line Pen
• Pattern (attached)
• Clear Glue
• Q-tips
• Frit Colors: Assorted yellows, oranges, reds, and greens

Instructions:

1. Place the Sunset pattern behind the 8” clear glass base.
2. Trace the lines with your Black Glass Line Pen, starting on the opposite side the hand you are using (ie. if you are right-handed, start on the left side in order to avoid smudging). Allow to dry.
3. Write your name or initials in the bottom corner of the piece with the Black Glass Line.
4. Squeeze a small amount of glue into the first section and spread evenly throughout that area with a Q-tip. There should be a light coating of glue on the entire area.
5. Pour your first color of frit into the cap of the bottle. Shake this cap carefully over the section that you’ve put glue. Use your Q-tip to spread the frit evenly around the section until it is entirely covered. Any excess frit that has spilled over into another section can be wiped away.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until each section of your glass is covered in various colors of frit.  (Tip: Be most the careful when sprinkling frit along the black lines. It may be easier to sprinkle the majority of your frit in the middle of the section and slowly push it outward.)
7. Let a sales associate know if you would like your piece to have hooks fused into it for hanging, or slumped into a shape (such as a bowl, votive, or plate).

Materials Needed:

• Large Rimmed Dinner Plate
• Black Paint Pen
• Paintbrush
• Sponge
• Pencil
• Glaze Colors: Robins Egg, Cobalt*, Grape*, Hot Tamale*

(* = feel free to replace with your own colors)

Instructions:

1. Dip your sponge in Robins Egg glaze and lightly tap it across your entire plate, leaving spaces in the shape of clouds. Allow to dry.
2. Using a large brush, coat your little one’s foot with Cobalt (toes), Grape (arch), and Hot Tamale (heel) glaze and press gently but firmly onto the center of the plate, wiggling each toe down individually to insure a good print. Repeat with the other foot, and then wipe off your child’s foot with a damp sponge for temporary cleaning (Our glazes are completely non-toxic, and the rest will come off easily in the bath!)
3. Optional Step: Feel free to lightly sketch in the details with a pencil before painting. If you make a mistake, do not use the eraser, as this may keep the glaze from sticking later on. Either ignore the marks or rub them with your finger, and try again. Any pencil marks will fire off in the kiln and completely disappear! You will also want to sketch the butterfly’s wings, body, and any inscription along the top/bottom rim of the plate.
4. Trace your sketches or freehand the details of your plate with your Black paint pen. Allow to dry. (Tip: we recommend starting at the top of the plate and moving down to prevent accidental smudging.)
5. Sign your name on the back, or write your child’s name and year underneath their snowmen footprints, and you’re done!

We thought we’d celebrate this nerdiest of holidays with a special blog post, featuring several keepsake plates dedicated to our favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies and shows. So, let’s get started… and May the 4th be with you!

So every parent and grandparent needs a good hand or foot print of their youngster or newborn, so that they can always remember just how tiny those fingers and toes were. And, honestly, there is no limit to the kinds of things you can do with your children’s prints. These next few examples really prove that point.

No matter what your interests, there’s a print for that… we pretty much guarantee it. Take, for example, this epic “May the Force Be With You” plate, where the handprint was painted into R2-D2, and the footprint becomes C-3PO.

More of a fan of the Hobbit? Try this “Second Breakfast” plate on for size! You don’t have to be Gandalf to magically conjure a hobbit out of your toddlers handprint.

Simply paint the fingers in Earth brown, the palm in red, add a flesh-colored circle on top. Decorate with an elvish green cape, walking stick, and the fashionable ‘one ring’ necklace around your neck, and suddenly you’ve got yourself a Frodo!

One ring not included.

Are there any Whovians in the house?

We certainly hope so! You too can turn those little toes into your very own Time And Relative Dimension In Space (T.A.R.D.I.S.) with the simple flick of some Cobalt glaze and a Black paint pen.

You’ll be on your way to join The Doctor to save more planets and stop time from dying before you can say “Allons-y!” or “Come along, Pond.”

Last, but certainly not least, if you don’t get some of these references, don’t worry about it. Just remember, Bowties Are Cool.

To see our first five ideas, please click here to read our previous post.

Idea #6: The Gift of “Me Time” with a Tea-For-One Set

Tea time is “me time” in Mommy language. Sometimes it’s hard for moms to separate themselves from the kids, even if they really need to.

Give the mom in your life a hand-painted “Tea For One” set, which includes a small tea kettle and large mug. It will remind her to take some time for herself to relax.

Spice up this gift even more by hiding an assortment of sample tea bags in one section and perhaps some hand-made “Mom’s Night Off” coupons (with ideas like “Dad takes the kids to the movies” or “One Free Ladies Night Out”) in the other.

Idea #7: Fuse a glass candle votive

You don’t need to be an artist to combine beautiful colors and shapes into a design that will make a stunning candle votive. Pick out Mom’s favorite colors, chip them into pieces, and then put them back together in a mosaic pattern. Glue the pieces down, and once you are finished All Fired Up will fuse the glass (once to make it flat, and again to mold it into the votive shape) and return it to you in 10 days.

Complete this gift by buying her some nicely scented candles that she can burn in the votive. Maybe add a bit of bubble bath into the mix, and she’ll have steamy visions of a soothing bath by candle light.

Idea #8: Handprint Bouquet Keepsake Plate

Transform those little hands into a Mother’s Day bouquet that will last a lifetime. All Fired Up’s helpful staff will help you get the perfect print.

Better yet, come in on Thursday, May 2nd (open 10am-8pm) and we will help you get the perfect print from your infant or toddler and turn it into a beautiful Flower Handprint Bouquet keepsake plate. This design works for both footprints (recommended for infants) and handprints (for toddlers and above) and makes a GREAT Mother’s Day gift! Cost is only $30 per plate. We strongly recommend calling ahead to reserve a half-hour appointment.

Idea #9: Create a Fuzzy Yarn Vase (and fill it with flowers!)

Creating a fun and functional vase is super easy when you use our Fuzzy Yarn Technique! You and the kids can all participate in making this stunning centerpiece!

Simply paint a base color, wrap with fuzzy yarn, paint your base color again (to stick the yarn down), wait for it to dry, and paint a darker contrasting color on top. Once dry, unwrap the yarn and a very cool design will be uncovered!

Once fired, fill this cool vase with fresh flowers and present to Mom on Mother’s Day! She will be impressed by your creativity and ability to create such a chic, modern design (without any help from her).

Idea #10: Plan a Paint Date!

Even if you still aren’t sure what Mom will want for Mother’s Day, buy her some quality time with the entire family. Purchase an All Fired Up gift card that she can use any time to create her own masterpiece.

Come in on Mother’s Day and Moms receive 20% off their walk-in project, which includes all pottery painting, wet clay building, and glass fusing projects.

In the meantime, thanks for considering All Fired Up to create the perfect Mother’s Day gift!

Mother’s Day will be here before we know it, so don’t get caught buying a last minute gift! Show the Mom in your life that you wanted to create a special memory that will last a lifetime. This tray design is perfect for capturing Mom’s favorite fingers and toes on a tray that can be used in a variety of ways (including bringing her breakfast in bed on the morning of Mother’s Day)!

Materials Needed:

• Large Serving Tray w/ Handles
• Glazes: Hyacinth, Lima Bean, Marigold, Blue Yonder, Black
• Black Paint Pen
• Q-tip
• Assorted paintbrushes

Instructions:

1. Wipe down your piece with a damp sponge to make sure no dust or dirt has settled on your piece.
2. Use a medium sized paint brush to paint a stripe of Hyacinth from the bottom rim of the tray up to the top edge.
3. Select another paint brush and repeat with Marigold, then Lima Bean, and then Blue Yonder. Continue all the way around the inside edge of the serving tray.
4. Once the first coat has dried (it will look chalky and be dry to the touch), go over your colors a second and third time. (Depending on the age of your children, they can help with this part. Remember, it’s okay if it’s not perfect!)
5. Paint your hand with one layer of paint (your child will love to help paint your hand – just help make sure it’s not too much paint and is spread evenly!) and press it firmly on the bottom-side of the tray. Individually press and wiggle each finger to make sure it’s a good print.
6. Paint your child(ren)’s hand(s) and repeat the process from step #5. (Tip: If you need to overlap handprints because of space issues, do the larger hands first with a LIGHTER color. For example, Lima Bean and
7. Marigold in the background with Blue Yonder and Hyacinth stacked on top for the smaller handprints.)
8. Dab a Q-tip in the black paint and then “stamp” it along the inner edge and top rim of the tray, adding more black paint as needed.
9. Sketch out your message in pencil, such as “You’re the best Mom, hands down!”, on the bottom of the tray. You can then use a black paint pen to go over your writing, or feel free to ask one of our staff to do it for you (paint pens can be tricky if you’re not used to them).
10. Leave a message, write the date, or sign the back of your tray, wishing Mom a Happy Mother’s Day!

The greatest thing about painting pottery is that each item is unique, personal, and cannot be simply bought in a store! It shows just how much love and thought you put into this Mother’s Day and it’s a handmade gift that will withstand the test of time.

Here are 5 ideas of ways to integrate paint-your-own-pottery into this Mother’s Day:

Idea #1: Paint a Coffee Mug.

These mugs from Anthropologie are easy to recreate using flexible stamps.

Whether they prefer coffee or tea, chances are the mom in your life could use either an extra dose or caffeine, or a way to wind down at the end of a long day.

Painting this Anthropologie mug couldn’t be easier when you find a beautiful color, a flexible stamp, and their first or last initial. Simply sponge a bit of paint, press firmly onto your mug of choice, and ‘ta da’! A lovely mug is born. She will get to use it every morning or night as a reminder of just how well you know her tastes! (And if you’ve never heard of Anthropologie, trust us – she has!)

Want to kick it up a notch? Pair this gift with a bag of her favorite roast of coffee beans, or a pack of her favorite flavor of tea and you will have one happy mama!

Idea #2: Little Fingers and Toes

A hand print on just about anything will make her heart melt… but add a simple quote to take it to the next level! (From Super Saturday Crafts)

Your kids seem to grow right before your very eyes, don’t they? Capture those hand and foot prints before they grow another milometer!

Press those little fingers and toes on just about anything, and Mom’s heart will definitely melt. Add a simple quote and… well, you might want to have a couple tissues handy. We suggest something along the lines of “A child’s hand touches a Mother’s heart” or “These hands will hold my heart forever.”

A simple 4″ tile can be transformed into a plaque on display or a coaster to use in the family room. You can even use them to redecorate your bathroom (although you might want to ask permission first before you make that a ‘Mother’s Day Surprise’)!

Idea #3: Glass Coasters

These glass coasters from shirlee16 are a great example of the kind of festive, colorful creations you can try!

Speaking of coasters, why not design a set of beautiful glass coasters? At All Fired Up we also have glass fusing projects, and what better way to surprise mom?

Guys, we know sometimes it’s hard to understand why glasses don’t go directly onto wood surfaces, but show Mom that you’re willing to respect her wishes, even if it doesn’t make any sense to you!

Amp up this present a bit by buying mom a new, elegant set of glassware to refresh the old, chipped ones hiding in the back of the cupboard. You might even go so far as to buy a bottle of white wine to try them out with.

Idea #4: Love grows in a Mother’s Garden.

These flower pots from HappyMooseGardenArt are a simple way to add color and fun to an outdoor space.

Does the Mom in your life LOVE the outdoors? Does she spend most of her free time in the garden rather than be cooped up inside? This gift a fresh way to bring a bit of the outdoors in.

Select the perfect sized flower pot and paint on bright pops of color. There’s no need to get too fancy here, because you want the main attraction to be the beautiful plant that will live inside!

Go to a local garden shop and (instead of buying cut flowers that will die in less than a week) purchase a potted version of her favorite flower. With a little tender love and care, these flowers will bloom for the rest of the summer!

Idea #5: Wet Clay Plaques

Dprintsclayful on Etsy shows us a perfect example of making a modern wet clay plaque!

Why stop at pottery painting when there are still so many options out there? Wet clay offers a 3-dimensional option to your All Fired Up repertoire.

Bring in your little one and we can print those fingers and toes into wet clay. We love this example of little feet riding a surfboard, but really the possibilities are endless! With a little imagination and paint, those precious imprints can be styled into just about anything. Tie it into the theme in your child’s room, or make display it publicly for all to see.

I’ve still got a lot more ideas when it comes to great Mother’s Day gifts with a pottery painting twist. Be sure to check back next week for even more great ideas from All Fired Up!

Materials Needed:

• Traditional Bowl
• Glaze Colors: White, Scarlet, Black, Marigold, Kiwi, Parakeet, Chocolate Milk, and Pooh Bear
• Four Flowers Stamp
• Brushes
• Sponges on a Stick

Instructions:

1. Wipe down the piece with a damp sponge to make sure that no dust or dirt has settled on the piece.
2. Apply 3 coats of White to the inside of the bowl. Allow to dry.
3. Using the Sponge on a Stick, load the sponge with Black. Tap the Black onto the Four Flowers Stamp then press the stamp gently onto the piece no more than two flowers at a time, filling in the inside of the bowl. Tap single flowers to fill in the remaining spaces, even if only a portion of the flower is shown. Take care not to overlap onto the previously stamped flowers. Paper can be used to mask off the stamped work.
4. To fill in the even smaller spaces use the small patterned stamp with Black. Dry.
5. Using a small brush and one stroke of color for each petal, paint the flowers the following various colors: Scarlet, Pooh Bear, Parakeet, and Marigold. Use Kiwi for some centers.
6. Paint Chocolate Milk, Kiwi, or Marigold onto the background of the flower, staying in the square shape.
7. Apply 3 coats of Scarlet to the back of the bowl. Allow to dry.
8. Write your name or initials on the back of your piece with a paintbrush or paint pen. (Please note: Pen or pencil will not show up after the firing process.)

(Thanks again to Mayco for this great project idea! We had fun transitioning it into a pattern that our customers can use!)

Spring finally feels like it is on its way! Last month we had an Adult Technique Class teaching you how to make this step-by-step, but we wanted to share the pattern with anyone that wasn’t able to make it to our class. We hope you enjoy and share your beautiful design with us!

Materials Needed:
Salad-sized Square Plate
Brush
Pencil
Pattern (see below)
Carbon Copy Paper
Black Paint Pen
Glaze Colors: Black, Marigold, Pooh Bear, Sage, Kiwi, Orange Sherbet, and Candy Apple

Pattern:
(click the image below to blow it up to full size)

Instructions:

1. Wipe down the piece with a damp sponge to make sure that no dust or dirt has settled on the piece.
2. Paint three coats of Black glaze around the rim of the plate. Allow to dry.
3. When a pencil and carbon paper, trace on the pattern.
4. With a pointed round brush, paint from the center of each petal outward. In this way, apply two coats of Marigold with some Pooh Bear for shading. The darker petals have more Pooh Bear.
5. Using a small brush, apply two coats of Sage to the green leaves with Kiwi for shading. The reddish leaves are two coats of Orange Sherbet with one layer of Candy Apple on top.
6. Using a black paint pen, outline and detail the design, keeping the lines very thin.
7. Using a fan brush, splatter White glaze overtop the Marigold yellow flower only. Apply more black paint to them if the splatter gets on the black (if desired).
8. Write your name or initials on the back of your piece with a paintbrush or paint pen. (Please note: Pen or pencil will not show up after the firing process.)

Time to Enter:  April 15-May 15
Voting: May 20-30
Winner Announced: June 1
Art show: June 6

• Vote for your favorite entry »
• Contest Details »

We offered this “Lucky To Be Yours” plate as our Youngster & You class in March, but it’s not to late to paint one yourself! Here are our step-by-step instructions on how we made this adorable St. Patrick’s themed keepsake.

Materials:

• Large Rimmed Dinner Plate bisque
• Mid-sized paintbrushes (about 6)
• Pencil
• Glazes: Hot Tamale, Tang, Lemon, Parakeet, Blue Yonder, Hyacinth, and Kiwi
• Paint Pens: Spruce, and Black

Instructions:

1. Wipe down the piece with a damp sponge to make sure that no dust or dirt has settled on the piece.
2. It may help to first lightly draw four X’s towards the center of the plate in pencil, where you want each hand print to land. This will help guide you with where to place your child’s hand after it’s covered in paint! Paint your child’s hand thickly with Kiwi green glaze and press firmly onto your first X, with the fingers pointed outwards toward the rim of the plate. (Footprints work just as well for this step!) Repeat 3 more times, once on each X.
3. Use your pencil to lightly sketch your lucky clover, with each leaf centered around one hand print. (Tip: the hand prints do not have to fit neatly inside each clover leaf. See picture above as an example.) Trace your pencil marks with a Spruce paint pen and add a name or date, as desired, at the base of the clover.
4. Paint a Hot Tamale stripe from the inside to the outside rim of your plate, followed closely by Tang, then Lemon, Parakeet, Blue Yonder, and Hyacinth. (It will help if you have a different paint brush for each color, so you don’t have to wash your brush each time you make a stroke.) Continue this pattern around the entire edge of the plate until you reach the beginning again. Repeat, until you have three coats of each color on the rim. Allow to dry.
5. Once dry, use a pencil to (very lightly) sketch out your inscription along the top/bottom of your rainbow rim.
6. Write your name or initials on the back of your piece with a paintbrush or paint pen. (Please note: Pen or pencil will not show up after the firing process.)