Besides a pottery wheel, the easiest way to manipulate clay is to threaten to rebury it in the dark, sandy hole where you found it. Make sure clay turns to putty in your hands with today's Groupon: for $15, you get a one-hour Intro to the Wheel pottery class, including supplies, painting & firing, at Kiln Pottery in Brecksville (a $35 value).

The skilled staffers at Kiln Pottery help students festoon tables and cupboards with handcrafted ceramics through wheel-throwing and painting sessions for every skill level. After ushering each student to a personal potter’s wheel, slick hands get acquainted with basic throwing techniques such as slip application, opening a piece at its center, and fending off clay snakes with a fire amulet. Over the course of 60 minutes, beginners take hold of the wheel and manufacture up to two pieces, which they can paint on a later date. Unsuspecting vessels are then lured into a heated kiln with promises of sugared cereal, and fired pieces are ready for pick up in a week or less.