I think all of us have been seduced by lovely a teacup, but the romance may only be a one night stand when you come to find out your cup lacks a handle and is hotter than your fingers can't stand to hold on to. Maybe the lovely cup gets delegated to the back of the cupboard, maybe it ends up holding pens and pencils. How sad.

Well 6 years ago a dear potter friend made me two very special cups, but alas I could not use them because there was nothing to hold the heat away from my fingers. They sat, forlorn and unused in my cupboard - until Sugru came along - and made me happy and my teacups happy. Especially because what I did to make them useful in no way took away from their beautiful and simple design. This 'ible will help all sad forsaken teacups out there - and with very little instructions - it's all in the photos.

If you don't yet know about Sugru I will give you a little information here, otherwise move right along to the steps. So, Sugru is a really great new product made in London. It acts like sticky clay for a few minutes, then acts like clay for half hour or so, then it hardens and acts like rubber. In fact it is silicone rubber. The hardest thing about using it it to open the package and think what to do with it - once you do that though the ideas just keep coming. But don't open the package until you know what you want to do.

It bonds to itself, aluminium, steel, ceramics, glass, wood, leather and some plastics. Go to their website to find out how to buy it and for lots of great ideas on what to do with it at Sugru.

Step 1: Supplies

I teacup you love but don't use because it gets too hot to hold.
A decision on whether or not you use 4 fingers or 5, to drink tea.
1 package of Sugru

Step 2: Roll Sugru Into 4 or 5 Little Balls

Attach Sugru to your fingers and grip your teacup the way you normally would to drink from it. You may find you use all your fingers or maybe not your pinkie, that will determine how many little balls you make, either way use the whole package.

Step 3: Press On!

Step 4: Embellish Your Dots - or Not

Step 5: Pretty in Orange

Step 6: Done

I have been using my cup for a week now, I put it into the microwave (my friend Molly will cringe) to heat the water and the little dots of Sugru are hardly warm to the touch when the water is boiling hot. The dishwasher is no problem either.

I probably should have cleaned my cups really well before I applied the Sugru, maybe with some denatured alcohol as I have been using with other surfaces but in this case it did not matter at bit. The Sugru is there to stay. This is one of those things I mention that I did not do but I would recommend you doing it. Regular alcohol would probably be fine also.

So remember to rate this Instructable, consider signing up to be a pro member here at Instructables (you will see the photos much larger) and subscribe to me for more Sugru and other 'ibles coming soon.