Smooth the surface with your thumb, fingers, or a smooth rib tool. You can also pat the area with a wooden paddle to make a very smooth seam.
Place the clay piece onto the table surface and gently pull the mold from the center. Pull slowly and the mold should slide away from the paper. Once the mold is removed, pull the newspaper from the clay.
Once the pot is completely dry, it can be stained, painted with acrylic paint, or sealed with spray paint. When using spray paints or sealers, you must spray in an outdoor area. Read safety instructions on the can before using spray paint. Hold the can 12 inches from the surface and lightly spray across the width of the pot. Turn the pot as needed. Allow to dry. As with all pottery painted with the materials other than glazes, the pot is not food safe. It is purely decorative. It should also be used indoors because it is not weather-proof.
Use fingers to smooth and finish the edges. Place the pot on a board or tray so that it can be moved. Drape a plastic grocery bag over the top of the pot, allowing it to remain open at the bottom. This slows the drying time so that the clay will not dry too quickly and crack. Allow it to dry for two to three days until it reaches a leather-hard state. See page 23 under Basic Instructions. Do any final trimming of the clay with your tools while the pot is in a leather-hard state. Smooth all rough edges by dipping your finger in water then smoothing it over the clay. When finished, sit the pot in the open air until it is completely dry.
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