Do you have a special someone whose photograph you want to display with love? Would you like to give a special someone an extra-special gift that lets them know how treasured they are by you? Then this heart picture frame is the pottery project for you.
You will need:
- Clay (approximately 1/2 to 1 pound) -- I used a peachy-tan mid-range stoneware clay body for my heart picture frame because I like the warmth of the color. However, you may want to use a white clay body. I would suggest avoiding speckled or dark clay bodies for this project. Temperature range is your choice, although you are likely to have less difficulty with warping if the picture frame is fired in the low-fire range.
- Glaze(s) -- I used Amaco's Chun Plum, from their cone 5-6 Potter's Choice series of glazes. You may also choose to go with a single glaze, overlap glazes to create designs, or you may want to paint designs with underglazes, then cover with a clear glaze.
- Working Surface -- a piece of heavy canvas will make an good work surface for this project. If you think the picture frame will have to dry flat on its back, you will also want a wire rack, like a rack used to cool cookies, so that air can circulate all the way around the piece.
- Tools -- You can use minimal tools for this project: a rolling pin, two 2-foot lengths of firing strip, a potter's needle, scissors or utility knife, a plastic drinking straw, and a brush for slipping and glazing. I also used a hard fettling knife, a very sharp cut-out tool, a SurForm blade, and fine-grit sandpaper.
