Polymer Clay

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Etsy Feature – 20 Printable Pottery Templates for Ceramics

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One of the trickiest parts of working with clay—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned potter—is getting consistent, well-proportioned forms. Freehanding shapes can be fun, but when you want precision (or you’re making multiples), a template can feel like a lifesaver. That’s why I love this set of 20 printable pottery templates—it’s like having a studio assistant tucked into a PDF file.

What It Is

This Etsy listing gives you instant access to 20 different pottery templates, designed to help you shape clay slabs into functional and decorative pieces. You simply print, cut, and use them to guide your clay work. No guessing, no awkward lopsided bowls—just clean, repeatable forms.

The set also includes tutorials, directions, and examples, so even if you’ve never used templates before, you’ll know exactly how to get started.

Why It’s So Useful

  • Consistency: Perfect for when you need multiple matching forms, like a set of cups or vases. 
  • Beginner-Friendly: Clear templates take the intimidation out of slab building. 
  • Variety: With 20 designs, you can experiment with lots of different forms without buying new tools each time. 
  • Budget-Smart: Instead of purchasing expensive pre-made molds, you’re getting printable guides you can use over and over. 

Inspiration Ideas

  • Use the templates for vases and planters—great for creating matching sets or playing with glaze combinations. 
  • Create bowls, plates, and trays with consistent proportions, perfect for gifting or selling. 
  • Experiment with decorative forms like sculptural vessels or unique candle holders. 
  • For polymer clay or air-dry clay makers, scale down the templates to create miniature versions for jewelry or home décor accents. 

Why Makers Will Love It

Pottery is as much about the process as it is about the result, but sometimes a little structure helps unleash creativity. With templates, you spend less time wrestling with symmetry and more time on the fun stuff—adding textures, carving designs, experimenting with glazes, or stamping details.

And honestly, if you’ve ever had a piece slump because the walls weren’t even, you’ll appreciate how these templates keep your work balanced and functional.

You can grab the full set here: 20 Printable Pottery Templates on Etsy.

This article is part of my Etsy Feature series, where I share tools and treasures that make life in the studio more enjoyable and inspiring. These templates are one of those resources that quietly transform your practice—you don’t realize how much you needed them until you start using them.

Have you read?

Book Review Wednesday: Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook

This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook by Jacalyn K. Myron, and this is another one of those crossover craft books that could easily live in more than one corner of CraftGossip.

It is not strictly a jewelry making book, but the cover does mention jewelry projects, and air-dry clay is a lovely material for making lightweight pendants, charms, ring dishes, earrings, beads, and little decorative pieces. So I’m letting it sneak into the Jewelry Making series because, honestly, half the fun of handmade jewelry is experimenting with materials that were not necessarily “jewelry supplies” to begin with.

Air-dry clay is especially appealing for beginners because you do not need an oven, kiln, torch, or specialist setup. You can shape it, texture it, let it dry, sand it, paint it, seal it, and turn it into something sweet and useful. It is very approachable, which makes it a nice option for crafters who want to try clay jewelry without jumping straight into polymer clay baking or resin mixing.

This book looks like a practical beginner guide covering air-dry clay techniques, tools, tips, and projects, including jewelry, home décor, animals, figurines, and small sculptures. I like that mix because it gives makers room to play. You might start with a simple ring dish or pendant and then wander off into little bowls, ornaments, charms, or handmade gifts.

For jewelry makers, I’d see this as a gentle introduction to clay-based accessories. Think handmade pendants, textured earrings, little clay charms, or small dishes for storing rings and earrings. It would also pair nicely with our Jewelry Making projects and the more clay-focused ideas here.

My Shellie-style take? Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook looks like a calm, beginner-friendly craft book for anyone who wants to try clay without too much fuss. It may lean more general craft than pure jewelry, but there is enough jewelry potential here to make it useful for makers who enjoy handmade accessories, gift projects, and pretty little things made by hand.

You can find the book here: Air-Dry Clay Making Handbook.