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.

Make Polymer Clay Buttons

Buttons can transform any garment. Adding artistic buttons to an old garment can give it a new look and a new life. Crafting your own buttons to match your hand made clothing will add value to your creations. Using polymer clay, you can make all sorts of buttons to enhance your RTW or handmade clothes.

Materials
Premo! or other polymer clay of your choice
Corn starch

Tools
Pasta machine (optional)
Floral mold (optional)
Jewelry sized drill bit, bamboo skewer, pen point, pottery tool, straw or other device to create holes
Polymer clay oven or toaster oven dedicated to crafts

Step 1
Gather your polymer clay supplies.

Step 2
Determine what color and brand polymer clay you want to use. In this example, we used Premo! translucent mixed with a small amount of blue.

Step 3
Condition your polymer clay before making it into polymer clay buttons by kneading it or passing it through a pasta machine (dedicated to crafts) many times.

Step 4
Dust the mold with cornstarch so the polymer clay does not stick to the mold.

Step 5
Press the clay into the prepared mold. Use your hands, alone or in conjunction with the mold, to create the shaped polymer clay buttons you desire.

Step 6
Remove the polymer clay from the mold. Use a straw, drill bit, pen point or other device to create holes in your polymer clay buttons. Shape as needed with your fingers to remove rough edges.

Step 7
Repeat to create the number of buttons you need.

Step 8
Bake the buttons in your polymer clay oven according to the polymer clay manufacturer's instructions. We usually bake our polymer clay buttons at 275 degrees for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the thickness of the polymer clay buttons.

Further Reading 
"The Complete Book of Polymer Clay";Lisa Pavelka; 2010.
"The Art of Polymer Clay Millefiori Techniques: Projects and Inspiration for Creative Canework"; Donna Kato; 2008.
"The Encyclopedia of Polymer Clay Techniques: A Comprehensive Directory of Polymer Clay Techniques Covering a Panoramic Range of Exciting Applications"; Sue Heaser; 2007.
"The Polymer Clay Techniques Book"; Sue Heaser; 1999.