Make Replacement Buttons Using Polymer Clay

It happened just the other day. One of my kids lost a button and there was no way to replace it. The button was a unique shape and color so our only choice was to try to replicate the button from one of those still on the garment. Depending on the the button, it may not be difficult to do.

Part 1: Make a Mold of the Button

Step 1
Make a mold of the button using polymer clay. Our favorite polymer clay for mold making is Super Sculpey Polymer Clay in Semi-Transparent Beige-Pink but any clay will do. If we are out of Super Sculpey, we often use scrap polymer clay to make molds.

Step 2
Condition the polymer clay by kneading or running the polymer clay through a pasta machine
for craft use.

Step 3
Roll the conditioned polymer clay into a ball that is larger than the button you want to make replicate.

Step 4
Press the polymer clay down so that the ball is flat on one side. This will be the bottom. It is easier to use polymer clay molds with flat bottoms.

Step 5
Cover the button to be replicated with a very light dusting of corn starch using your fingers or a paint brush.

Step 6
Place the button to be replicated on your flat, clean work surface, such as a slef healing cutting mat. Turn the clay over and press the clay down onto the work surface so that the molded item is in the center of the clay.

Step 7
Pick up the molded clay and remove the button.You may need to use a polymer clay blade or knife to remove the mold from the work surface.

Step 8
Bake the mold according to the polymer clay manufacturer's instructions.

Part 2: Use the Mold to Create a Replacement fro the Lost Button

Step 9
Mix additional polymer clay in colors that replicate the missing button. Note that it may take some time and experimentation with different polymer clay colors and brands to get he color correct.

Step 10
Prepare the polymer clay mold you made of the button with a light dusting of corn starch.

Step 11
Press the mixed clay into the polymer clay mold you made of the lost, no longer available button.

Step 12
Remove the clay from the mold.

Step 13
Use a tool to poke two or four holes in the clay to create the button. You can use a jewelry sized drill bit, bamboo skewer, pen point, pottery tool, straw or other device to create the holes for the button.

If the button has a shank rather than holes, use your hands to form a shank to attach to the back of the button. Use a pottery tool or craft stick to attach the shank to the top of the button.

Step 14
Fire the polymer clay replacement button in a polymer clay oven according to the polymer clay manufacturer's instructions.

Related Tutorial
Make Polymer Clay Buttons

Further Reading 
"Polymer Clay 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily through Step-by-Step Instruction"; Kim Otterbein, Angela Mabray; 2011.
"The Art of Jewelry: Polymer Clay: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration"; Katherine Duncan Aimone; 2011.
"Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration (Lark Jewelry & Beading)";  Grant Diffendaffer; 2011.