Tiki Central / Other Crafts

MadDog Mike's Platterful of Pupule - Pupu Pufferfish

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M MadDogMike Grand Member (8 years) The Anvil of the Sun Joined: Mar 30, 2008 Posts: 11274	M MadDogMike Posted posted on Mon, Feb 2, 2026 10:32 PM Working on a simple ceramic "BOMB!" mug. Nothing elaborate, more of a visual gag or drink presentation (more on that later). Step by step descriptions in the photo captions. One of my favorite techniques is to roll out slabs of clay and form them over objects. Can be pre-made forms like a bottle or this Styrofoam ball. Sometimes I'll carve my shape out of foam or 3D print an object to cover. I cover the object with a couple layers of damp tissue paper so the clay releases easily Clay wrapped around the ball and smoothed out A "foot" added to the bottom to make it stable Once the clay has dried and firmed a bit, I cut around the middle and pull the halves apart. You can see the brown tissue paper The foam ball removed and the pieces test fitted together. The lid cut out. The inside is cleaned of any tissue paper and smoothed. The edges of the clay are scored and brushed with slip (water thinned clay) so they will stick. Edges pushed together and fused together with a needle tool Then the outside smoothed again While the halves were apart, I added a lip around the hole so the lid wouldn't fall in A fuse holder on top and straw hole. A center seam and some rivets for visual interest. Up next, as the clay hardens it can be smoothed and cleaned up more. Added some details like screws and a center seam. Pained on dark gray and black underglaze and fired Then brushed it with clear gloss glaze (goes on green but fires to clear) Finished! And here's a video of it in use with me and Phineas https://youtu.be/VJT_EH9a6D4
D danlovestikis Grand Member (8 years) Joined: Jun 17, 2002 Posts: 9864	D danlovestikis Posted posted on Tue, Feb 3, 2026 10:06 AM That is a must-see video. So much fun. Good mug, great video. I hope it shows on fb too.
M MadDogMike Grand Member (8 years) The Anvil of the Sun Joined: Mar 30, 2008 Posts: 11274	M MadDogMike Posted posted on Sun, Feb 15, 2026 11:05 AM in reply to danlovestikis Thank you Wendy, that was fun :D New project, a Pupu Pufferfish! Pufferfish has 35+ toothpick sized holes where his spikes should be. Here he is bisqued but not glazed And here he is finished and loaded with appetizers. These are Greek themed but could easily hold more traditional Tiki Pupus. 2 spaces in the top hold 2 different dipping sauces.
H Hamo Grand Member (3 years) Colorado (via Iowa) Joined: Aug 22, 2016 Posts: 2139	H Hamo Posted posted on Sun, Feb 15, 2026 2:13 PM I disappear for a few months and return to find you've completed another 72 projects. Cool stuff.
D danlovestikis Grand Member (8 years) Joined: Jun 17, 2002 Posts: 9864	D danlovestikis Posted posted on Sun, Feb 15, 2026 7:30 PM The puffer is adorable. He's holding some fun treats too. Keep them coming!
M MadDogMike Grand Member (8 years) The Anvil of the Sun Joined: Mar 30, 2008 Posts: 11274	M MadDogMike Posted posted on Wed, Feb 18, 2026 10:42 PM in reply to danlovestikis Hamo and Wendy, thank you 😊 In case anyone is curious, here is a picture of my hometown where the sun beats relentlessly on us from May through October 😉