Whimsical Clay Buttons

These whimsical buttons are easy to make and fun too! Make by yourself or have your little ones help, they'll love to be included in the process. When finished attach them to your favorite jacket, sweater or blouse. For more creative looks attach them to suspenders, overalls, hats, collars, purses or anything else you can think of.


You will need:

1 oz oven hardening clay, such as Fimo, Polyform or Sculpey
Exacto knife
Acrylic paints - you will need white and any other colors you choose
#00, #3 and #5 paintbrushes
Clear gloss lacquer or shellac
Thin cardboard (weight of an index card) or heavy brown paper
Scissors
Rolling pin
Cutting board
Toothpicks
Baking sheet
Aluminum foil


Instructions:

Draw desired shapes onto thin cardboard or heavy brown paper and cut out. Using a rolling pin, roll out the clay to 1/4" thickness on cutting board; place pattern shapes on top of clay. With a sharp exacto knife, cut the shapes from the clay.

Carefully pick up each clay shape from the cutting board and poke two holes with a toothpick in the widest or "meatiest" part of the figure, most times the center. Make sure the toothpick goes all the way through the clay.

Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay clay buttons on foil and bake, following manufacturers directions. (clay may turn brown as it bakes.) Holding each button by a toothpick inserted into one hole, paint button with a base coat of white paint using #3 or #5 paintbrush. Let dry.

Using the photos as a guide, paint each button, using a #3 or #5 paintbrush for the background colors and #00 paintbrush for the detail colors; let dry. With button still on toothpick, dip into lacquer or shellac. Shake off the excess and allow to dry completely.

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