Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Clay Studio Series – YouTube Video Review How to Make Heart-Shaped Bowls and Cups

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Seasonal pottery has a way of blending tradition, creativity, and heartfelt expression, and this Valentine’s Day tutorial captures all three beautifully. In this video, potter Calder Van Andel walks viewers through the complete process of making delicate heart-shaped bowls and cups. It’s a project that is not only charming but also versatile—perfect for gifting, decorating, or simply adding a handmade touch to your Valentine’s celebration.

The Video

The tutorial begins with Calder throwing a classic round bowl on the wheel. What makes this project stand out is how he carefully transforms the soft clay into a heart shape—showing that even small adjustments in pressure and angle can completely change a piece’s personality. After shaping, he covers trimming techniques and even demonstrates how to decorate using the bubble glaze technique, adding an element of playfulness to the final design.

The pacing of the video is calm and thorough, making it approachable for both beginners who are still learning the wheel and more advanced potters looking for seasonal inspiration.

What We Loved

  • Perfect for the Season – A thoughtful handmade bowl or cup makes an ideal Valentine’s Day gift. 
  • Step-by-Step Teaching – Calder explains every stage clearly, from throwing to trimming to glazing. 
  • Versatile Design – While themed for Valentine’s Day, the technique can be applied to spring weddings, anniversaries, or everyday gifts. 
  • Creative Glazing – The bubble glaze demonstration adds a modern twist to traditional pottery. 

Why You Should Watch

This tutorial is more than just a Valentine’s craft—it’s a reminder of how pottery can be both functional and meaningful. The simple act of shaping clay into a heart connects the maker to the season of love, while also producing a piece that can be used and cherished daily. Whether you’re planning to gift your creations or keep them as a reminder of your own practice, this video offers inspiration and clear instruction to bring your ideas to life.

 Watch the full tutorial here: How to Make Heart-Shaped Bowls and Cups – Valentine’s Day Special

 

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How To Make A Milk Mache Molding Compound

There are some craft projects that feel like they belong on a rainy afternoon kitchen table, and this Milk Mache Molding Compound is exactly one of them. It is part craft, part science experiment, and part “wait… did we just turn milk into something solid?”

This clever little project from CraftBits shows you how to make a simple homemade molding compound using just milk and vinegar. The idea is wonderfully old-school: when the vinegar reacts with the milk, it separates into curds and liquid, leaving you with a soft mixture that can be pressed, shaped, and dried into a hard, stone-like material.

It’s a lovely one to try with kids, especially if you enjoy hands-on STEM-style crafts that do not require a trolley full of supplies. You can use the finished compound to make small charms, beads, ornaments, rustic tags, or simple molded shapes. Just keep the pieces small and thin, as this is not really the sort of compound you would use for large sculptures or anything that needs to be perfectly smooth.

What I like most about this project is how accessible it is. Most of us already have milk, vinegar, a bowl, and paper towel in the kitchen, which makes it a brilliant last-minute craft activity. It also has that slightly magical quality children love — one minute it is liquid, the next it is turning into a moldable material.

A couple of tips before you try it: use whole milk if you can, as it tends to give a better result than skim or semi-skimmed milk. White vinegar is also the best choice, as darker vinegars may affect the colour and texture. And don’t rush the draining stage. If the mixture is too wet, it will be soggy and hard to shape; if it is too dry, it may crumble.

This would be a fun companion activity for our other kids craft ideas, especially if you are looking for something simple, inexpensive, and a little bit educational. It also fits nicely with home crafts and handmade gift embellishments if you want to turn your dried shapes into tags or decorations.

Would I call this a polished, professional clay substitute? No. Would I call it a wonderfully curious, messy, memorable craft experiment? Absolutely.

If you enjoy homemade craft supplies, kitchen-table experiments, or easy projects that make children ask “how did that happen?”, this Milk Mache Molding Compound is well worth a try.

You can find the full project instructions here: Milk Mache Molding Compound