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MadDog Mike's Platterful of Pupule - Pupu Pufferfish

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M

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.

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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

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Clay wrapped around the ball and smoothed out

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A "foot" added to the bottom to make it stable

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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

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The foam ball removed and the pieces test fitted together. The lid cut out.

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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.

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Edges pushed together and fused together with a needle tool

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Then the outside smoothed again

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While the halves were apart, I added a lip around the hole so the lid wouldn't fall in

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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.

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Added some details like screws and a center seam. Pained on dark gray and black underglaze and fired

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Then brushed it with clear gloss glaze (goes on green but fires to clear)

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Finished!

And here's a video of it in use with me and Phineas
https://youtu.be/VJT_EH9a6D4
D

That is a must-see video. So much fun. Good mug, great video. I hope it shows on fb too.
M

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
Pupu Pufferfish 1

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.
Pupu Pufferfish 2
H
Hamo 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

The puffer is adorable. He's holding some fun treats too. Keep them coming!
M

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 😉

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D

You poor human being. Drink lots of water.
H

Go Mike go
H

Aloha MDM

Love my 3D printed jade tile coasters

U rock

IMG_3115IMG_3123

Yup, he makes n sells em people!!!

Order now

Now, if you could just start printing the life-size jade tiles for my bar, that would be great 😆
M

Thank you H10T <3 In theory, I could them up to 8 inches square but I don't think they would look like the ceramic ones

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