Polymer Clay
Does anyone use Polymer Clay in their felting or fibre arts? I know I’ve mentioned using Fimo buttons a few times, but I don’t think I’ve mentioned that I make my own. I first tried Fimo about 20 years ago, I managed to make a few marbley incense stick holders and snake type things 🙂 I just couldn’t get the stuff soft enough to use, my hands would ache, they’d be caked in Fimo and I’d give in! About 6 years ago, I started to get interested again and was happy to find that not only did the Fimo seem softer, but they also did a ‘soft’ version. I mostly made mosaic tiles back then, but after spending weeks making batches of different sizes to make a couple of mosaic mirrors, I hadn’t imagined just how hard it would be or how long it would take to laboriously lay out all the tiles and cut slices to fill gaps in, and that was before I then I had to glue them into place. And then my cooker broke. I didn’t realise it was so hard to find one with a very low heat setting these days. And by the time I did, I didn’t have the same enthusiasm for Fimo any more.
Then I discovered felting and never really went back to making Polymer clay…until one day I needed the perfect button for a textured felt bag I made. I realised my old stash of Fimo buttons and embellishments was practically non existent. I’d used a few pieces on felt pieces before and liked how it looked so I decided to get all my Fimo tools out again to make a few buttons and other embellishments. I kind of got a bit carried away…
It was nice to be working with polymer clay again, and good to find that it was all still workable after being left in a drawer for a few years.
I mostly made buttons in a variety of sizes in a few different colour schemes.
But I also made a few fancy ones, and larger/different ones for more unique projects that might crop up (such as covering a magnetic clasp!)
And I also made a few brooches, pendants and fridge magnets since I had all the stuff out anyway 🙂
I’d love to see your photos if you use polymer clay, it doesn’t necessarily have to be fibre related 🙂
19 thoughts on “Polymer Clay”
They are amazing buttons and look as if they were made by a full-time button maker!
And the right button on a piece of felt really is magic.
Thanks, Lyn 🙂
Making loads of mosaic tiles and trying to get them all the same thickness gave me a lot of practice.
Beautiful buttons! I have messed with fimo but no photos. Fiber is better 🙂
Thanks, Ruth 🙂
Wow! The button are gorgeous! I’ve never tried Fimo and am not going to but admire your job!
Thanks, Galina 🙂
How cool! I am amazed by those looking like …bronze? It is nice to make your own buttons, right. Just have one more skill you can apply to your main craft.
I used to make wooden ones, simple, rustic looking. And now I make my ceramic and porcelain ones. But you need a big kiln for that. Polymer clay has the advantage and convenience of only needing a regular oven.
lovely work!
Thanks, Mariana 🙂
I’d love to be able to make porcelain like yours 🙂
There are some techniques that polymer artists do that I would love to have the time and patience for-like mica shift, but it is nice to be able to make a button the exact size and colour I want in less than an hour 🙂
The buttens are great. I have used a few of the ones you sent me and they look great on felt. I like the metalic ones best too.
Thanks, Ann 🙂
Love the buttons zed and really love the bronze ones, i’ve still got a couple left from the ones you sent me but i’m still waiting for just the right project to use them on. your very clever 🙂
Thanks, Kaz 🙂
My imput is minimal really, it’s all down to nice stamps and mica powder.
When I 1st started reading the post, I was sure that I would see buttons that were multi-colored. I was pleasantly surprised to see that your buttons are solid colors. I have purchased multi-color polymer clay buttons & I like them. But, there are times when a solid color with a nice design would be a perfect compliment to a project.
A few years ago, I tried working with polymer clay, but never really finished any projects. I’m happy to hear that the fimo keeps for many years. Someday, maybe, I’ll get back to that project.
Thanks, Sherry 🙂
Aswell as using stamps for the designs, I use a lot of things from around the house like drawer pulls and old jewellery, some of them were made with roughly coiled wire, anything that has a texture is good.
I love your buttons. I kinda went the other way around to this. I used to sew alot and then gave it up when I had kids. Then I got into polymer clay when they got a bit older and made beads and such. I love clay, only I got addicted to buttons again recently and now I can’t seem to stop making polymer clay buttons. They are fun and I’m getting back into the fiber arts so they will be part of it for sure. Sometimes I have to pinch myself, this is all too much fun to be real.
Thank you 🙂
I was never any good at making beads, but tiles and buttons are fun 🙂
I would love to see a tutorial. I have tried these and they don’t look this pretty. Do you use a mold? Beautiful job.
Thanks, Dawn 🙂
I was thinking of doing a tutorial maybe a few weeks into the new year when I’m not so busy. I mostly use rubber stamps or objects from around the house to make the patterns-drawer pulls, old brooches…anything with texture. I even made some of my own with old fimo, Makins do some good cutters.