These are Our Favorite Underglaze Transfer Decals (2025)

When it comes to my pottery style, I always say the more whimsical the better. My Pinterest board is chock full of delicately painted designs and bold glaze treatments—if I wanted a bland beige mug, I’d pay a visit to HomeGoods, after all! Though my heart sings for painted patterns, I don’t fancy myself an artist in that regard. My painted lines often come out a bit too chunky for my liking, and I tend to rely on stencils for the precision I desire. So, when I heard about underglaze transfers, I was IMMEDIATELY intrigued. 

What is an underglaze transfer? It’s applied much like a temporary tattoo—it’s a decal that you sponge onto a leather hard or bisque fired piece, and when you peel away the thin paper, you reveal a beautiful design. So, with minimal time and effort, you can create your version of Delft pottery or decorate a mug with a fun mascot. Dunk in a clear glaze, and you’ve got yourself a decorated pot. 

I’ve rounded up my favorite underglaze transfer decals so you can try your hand at this surface decoration technique. Or, if you’re a DIY kinda gal like me, I found a few tutorials to make your own! Better glaze days ahead ⬇️

Blue & White Decals

Much like Picasso, I’m in my blue period. With an entirely blue apartment from my cabinets to my couch, I tend towards this hue when crafting my pieces. So naturally, I’m in love with a good old fashioned blue and white floral partner. I love how you can apply these underglaze transfers to an entire surface, or cut out a few flower decals for a more subtle look. 

Bonus blue underglaze transfer: Another obsession of mine? Ginkgo leaves. Consider this beautiful Gingko leaf decal added to my cart. 

Witchy Underglaze Transfer Decals 

I dread having to include any text on a piece—I don’t have a steady enough hand, and sometimes you just don’t want to stamp. Underglaze transfers with text are a GENIUS way to get precise type forms on your piece—just make sure they’re printed in reverse so they show up the right way 😉

Beyond my excitement over having an easier way to apply typography, my inner halloween lover is stoked to use these to make my own decor this year. 

Neighborhood Underglaze Transfer Decal

I love the idea of having an appliqué that can form a band around a piece—and these little houses are oh-so charming. While I could certainly paint freehand house shapes, I was so struck by the detail these little homes held. The shingles, the shutters, the many windows—underglaze transfers provide all the details that are hard to capture with simply a paintbrush. 

Mountain Forest Underglaze Transfer

Like my admiration for the wrap around houses, I can totally see myself created some awesome pieces with this mountain deval. Imagine this wrapped around a mug—perfect for feeling like you’ve escaped to a Lincoln Log-style cabin and are drinking a cozy cup of tea while watching the snow fall atop the mountains. 

Cartoon Cat Decal 

This one’s for the feline fanatics. I love the range of underglaze transfers—from elevated and fanciful to cartoonish and quirky, there’s so much variety. These little cats definitely fall on the fun end of the spectrum—I love the different types of cats represented, and they’d make for a fun mug motif! 

Butterfly Underglaze Transfer 

Do you have a motif you adore that continually pops up in your life? Butterflies are mine, and I always say it means good things are on the horizon. Between sculpting to stamping to underglaze transfers, I love finding new ways to incorporate this imagery. And this black and white decal set delivers a whole new way to bring butterflies to life! 

DIY an Underglaze Transfer 

Want something a bit more custom? Check out this video from the Oregon Potters Association. They’ll walk you through the materials you need to make and implement your own! 

Check Out Underglaze Transfers 

Underglaze transfers are your secret weapon for making your pots stand out. Whether it’s a singular icon or an all over print, it can transfer your piece from a-okay to a-mazing. Check out our recs, search the web, or make your own—whatever tickles your fancy! Be sure to follow up and let us know how they turn out in the comments 🙂