Using molds made from many
sources that include antique buttons, beads 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, furniture and home
decor.
When AMACO asked me test the suitability of Classic FIMO for use as
buttons, I did a comparison study of buttons before and after use. 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 part of the chart showing the 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.
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These buttons have been washed more than 20 times in TIDE Laundry detergent with no bleach. They have also been through the dryer at least 20 times. The impressed buttons are stained with a mix of Varathane and acrylic paint. |
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 to great effect. The Dollar Nail Art Store is an interesting source for these. View a page about great additions to polymer clay here.
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.
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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 button style samples for view shown with bronze powder on black clay.
