Decorating porcelain tea cups

Step 1

To get the best results, first clean the porcelain with water (ideally in the dishwasher) and then wipe with methylated spirits. It’s important to do this thoroughly in order to remove any protective film that the manufacturer may have applied to the china, as well as fingerprints or traces of grease. As you decorate, make sure there are no unnecessary fingerprints underneath the ink as you apply it.

When adding your design, please don'not paint inside your cups. Make sure you also leave the outside area just below the rim of your cups and jugs clear.

The highly flexible tip of the porcelain brushpen means that both fine and broad strokes are possible. Finer details such as dots around the edge of the lid are easy to achieve with the brushpen.

Step 2

If you wish to apply colour layers, let the first colour dry before applying the next to prevent the colours from mixing. If you make a mistake, simply wipe it away with a damp cloth or cotton-wool bud. You can make corrections at any time up until your design is baked in the oven. Once the design is ready, leave it to dry for 15 minutes. Next, fix the design by baking in a pre-heated oven at 160°C for 25 minutes. Place the  porcelain on a cold rack, slide it into the oven, and leave it in the oven to cool afterwards. After baking, your tea cup patterns will be dishwasher-proof.

Daily cleaning tips: avoid friction and rubbing by positioning the items in the dishwasher so they're not in contact with other items of crockery or cutlery. You can also decorate milk jugs or other items at the same time to create a unique matching set.

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