Fairy House

Instructions

1) Using rolling guides, roll out 1kg of clay onto a plastic

covered surface and allow to dry to a leather hard state

(The clay can be moved and bent into shape but does

not leave finger marks when picked up). On a piece of

paper, draw and cut out a circle 6cm in diameter, this

will be the template for the roof and base.

2) While the clay is leather hard, mark and cut out a

rectangle 8cm x 20cm and two circles using your

template (leave as much clay as possible in tact as this

will be used for decoration). Cover the remaining clay

with a layer of plastic to be used later on.

Base

3) Take one of the circles of clay and using the texture

matt apply medium pressure to create the patterned 

base.

*Tip - Take care to line up pattern edges when using matt

multiple times.

House

4) Taking the rectangle, bend into a cylinder shape with

the edges slightly over-lapping each other.

5) Using a knife, carefully cut down over-lapping clay at

a slight angle and remove excess clay.

6) Score the angled edges and brush with water and join

together. Gently rub over the seam to create a smooth,

round cylinder. This is your house.

7) On paper, draw and cut out a small door shape and

use as a template to mark a door shape onto the house

(do not cut all the way through the clay).

Use the texture matt to create a cobble stone effect 

around the door, cutting out random parts and sticking

to the surface with water.

Using a hole cutter or fettling knife, cut out windows

around the house and add any desired detail to the door.

8) Score the bottom of the cylinder and brush with water.

Place on to the base. Using a wet brush, run around

edge where they meet on both inside and out.

Roof

9) Using the remaining clay circle, cut a line from centre

of the clay to outer edge. 

10) Overlap edges to form a cone shape, check against

the house to make sure it will fit on top. 

11) Cut off the excess clay and join seams in the same

way as you did when making the cylinder.

12) Using a fettling knife, cut out random areas in the

cone. This will allow light to show through roof tiles

later on.

13) Uncover remaining clay and using a roller, roll clay

to around half its thickness.

13) Using a ruler, mark out rows of squares 1.5cm x

1.5cm and cut into strips.

14) Using a knife, cut half way up between each marked

square, this will create rows of roof tiles.

15) Starting at bottom of the cone, wet with brush and

add a row of tiles, gently smoothing onto the cone.

16) Continue with the next row slightly overlapping the

bottom row. You might find it easier to break the rows

of tiles into smaller strips rather than adding one long

strip.

When you get to the cut out gaps, add one tile at a

time, leaving spaces for the light to shine through.

Continue adding tiles up to the point of the cone.

17) Ball up a small piece of the remaining clay and shape

into a teardrop shape. 

18) Flatten the bottom with your thumb. If the clay is too

dry, water can be added to help shape it.

19) Cut into bottom of teardrop to make tile shapes and

add to the top of the roof (you can make this top part

as fancy as you wish!).

20) Make sure the roof does not stick to the house as it

dries out, it needs to be removable to put the light inside.

21) Allow to dry completely and bisque fire at 1100°C.

22) Once bisque fired, glaze using Vitraglaze earthenware

glazes, applying 2-3 coats. 

23) Making sure to wipe away any glaze from under the

roof and the top edge of the house to stop them becoming

stuck. Fire at 1040°C.

Glazes used in picture - White zircon, Copenhagen

grey, soft lilac, Pink blush, Ice grey and Lavender blue.

*Note-when using tea lights inside fairy houses, you

may hear glaze ‘pinging’ as it gets hot.

*Caution, roof will be come very hot once candle is lit.

We recommend using battery operated tea lights or

miniature fairy lights inside. 

Products Used

VitraClay Raku Clay

VitraGlaze Earthenware 

White Zircon

Copenhagen Grey

Soft Lilac

Pink Blush

Ice Grey

Lavender Blue

Impression Matt - Cells

*Any of our VitraGlaze Earthenware colours 

could be used.