Finally, after years of admiring the many talented potters here, I enrolled in a pottery class for myself. I was surprised the find how simple it was to make some things (basic hand-built vessels) and how hard it was to make others (anything thrown on a wheel).

One of the easier objects to fashion? A rustic votive holder for the holiday table. Thanks to air-dry clay, you don’t even need a pottery studio to make them yourself. Just grab a few household items and follow these steps.

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Supplies:

• Air-dry modeling clay in white (I got mine on Amazon for $28)
• A small bowl, or something similar, to serve as a mold. It must be large enough to hold a votive, but not too tight as the clay will shrink as it dries.
• A 2-inch circular object (I used the top of a jelly jar)
• Plastic wrap
• A sharp pointed tool such as an awl, skewer, or knife
• A rolling pin
• A drop cloth, piece of canvas, or craft mat
• Two “guide” items, approximately 1/8 inch thick (these can be pieces of wood or notebooks, for example)
• Wire
• Spray bottle of water if you use a cloth work surface
• Sponge (optional)

Instructions: