Using molds made from many sources, including antique buttons
and rubber stamps, beautiful buttons can be made from polymer clay. How
to do this using Polyform's Super Elasticlay was detailed in my article
"Making a Great Impression" in the August
1998 issue of Bead and Button magazine. To find out even more, be
sure to read "Create A Polymer Clay Impression".
More recent still is an article in Belle Armoire Magazine, featuring the use
of RTV silicone mold making materials. I've had a life
long fascination with making molds, and I still love the way they allow for
replication and change. You can view a detailed how
to make faces and molds tutorial here.
Besides the obvious advantage of endless color choices, one advantage
to the use of polymer clay is that you can make matching earrings and beads
as well! Fabric colors and patterns can be coordinated with wonderful effects.
Buttons make a real statement on hand woven textiles, on designer fashions, and
even on accessories and furniture.
When AMACO asked me test the suitability of Classic FIMO for use as
buttons, I did a comparison study. What I found was that the buttons held
up quite well indeed! American Art Clay used the buttons in one of their ads in
Jewelry Crafts magazine , and here is the chart showing the
raw, baked and washed examples compared. You can see that the gold powders do
tend to wash away.
Premo polymer clay and Kato Polyclay also hold up well to washing.
Here are more examples of clay buttons that have been washed
and dried many times.
I make the stains
that bring out the detail in these impressed buttons with Rust-Oleum Varathane
and Liquitex acrylic paints as well as Pearl-Ex powders. By applying the stain
and wiping most of it off again quickly, the small amounts left give a depth
and dimension to the buttons, and don't wash off as easily as the gold powders
do on raised surfaces.
When
in doubt, hand washing the garment makes it easier to control how much wear
the buttons get, or you can remove them for cleaning. Dry cleaning is not recommended
for polymer clay buttons as some chemicals may interact with the clay.
Buttons can be specially created for
each individual textile, and the results are very eye-catching, particularly
when combined with tassels and beads.
Pearl-Ex powders, and FIMO metallic powders called Bronzepulvers are
used for the shimmering highlights.
Also, metal leaf and polymer films such as Jones Tone and
other acrylic nail foils can be used as well. The Dollar Nail Art Store is an
interesting source for these.
For more info about where to purchase these things visit
the Sources and Links page.
The Pearl-Ex powders are made with a mica formulation, whereas the Bronzpulver
is made with ground Aluminum, and requires careful precautions in use. ALWAYS wear a mask and move slowly when using pure ground pigments or
Bronzpulvers. Use care with all powders! The Pearl-Ex powders are available in a line of metallic, interference
colors, and pearl tones. A chart with some of the Pearl-Ex colors can be seen below. Other colors
are now available too! Note that the effect is different on dark and light
backgrounds. This can be a very useful effect.
Buttons
can be pierced or drilled for sewing, or made with a shank back. An excellent
tool for creating neat, even button holes easily is a hand tool meant to be a
small hole leather punch for hand sewing. They are made by Helby's line of
ToolSmith tools, and I found mine in a bead store. Dremel or hand drills
can also be used for making button holes, but the hand punch is amazingly
simple and effective.
You can create shank button backs with jump rings, wire, or
telephone wire, and embed them in the raw clay prior to baking. Brass and
acrylic shanks can also be purchased from companies that carry findings such
as Rio Grande or Rings & Things. Use super glue to attach them, or bake
the brass shanks into the clay. The acrylic shanks should not be baked.
These pieces can also be used without button backs as mosaic
elements. Try them in scrap booking or to make greeting cards. Making and
recording a sample of each in a button form is a good way to keep track
of stamps and molds. I've collected some of my samples for view shown with
bronze powder on black clay.
