Vol-022-2 Making Your Own Custom Buttons PcT (Intro)
Video #147: “My friend at work keeps suggesting that I try making buttons and cufflinks.” ~Susan-B
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** This post is an introduction to one of our paid tutorials.
Buttons are one of those things you can never have too many of. In fact, they are often collected and passed on from generation to generation. My mom has already given me several jars of buttons that her mom left for her.
Besides their obvious use in sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting, buttons can also can be added to scrapbook pages, and even worked into jewelry designs.
With polymer clay, you can make your own custom buttons in an unlimited variety of styles to suit any creative project you happen to be working on.
Listed below are some of the many “Tutorial Yes Votes” that were originally posted at this article: Making Polymer Clay Buttons for Sewing, Knitting and Scrapbooking
“My friend at work, with whom I share an office, keeps suggesting that I try making buttons and cufflinks with the small disk beads that I use for necklaces. So a tutorial from you on buttons would be simply wonderful! My vote is “YES”!” ~Susan-B
“Buttons? Yes! It’s one of the items on my to-do list. I’d love a video.” ~Rose-M
“Oh, me too for the tut!! On a related note I would love to hear about people’s experiences selling at bead (and button) shows. I placed my beads at a church bazaar late last year and they sold well. I also sold some (on consignment) in a shop here in El Paso with good results. I am now thinking of doing a larger (and expensive) bead show later this year. It makes sense to me that pc beads ought to sell like hotcakes, being so beautifully unique and different from the usual bead show fare, but then I wonder if people would be willing to pay for their worth. (Cindy, knowing that people offer single buttons for $38 is encouraging). Anyway, any and all advice, feedback, recommendations would be most appreciated. As I am jewelry design challenged, bead shows make more sense for me. Thank you.” ~Elizabeth-S
“I’ve always loved sorting through button collections. Count me in, I’d love to see how these are made. I’ve been curious, but wasn’t sure how or if the buttons would hold up strength-wise. $38 for a button, wow!” ~DJ
“Hi Cindy and all, I have made buttons before, some flowers and some with a crystal in the centre. I was very pleased with the results, although matching the colour with shop buttons was a problem. I only used them on hand wash garments. How good if we could use them in the washing machine I don’t see why not on a cool wash. I vote yes please for a video tutorial.” ~Ritzs
“I vote yes on buttons… Looks pretty interesting to me!” ~Lisa-W
“I recently approached local shops about selling my jewelry. Their initial concern was they already sell so much jewelry; yes indeed it all looks alike. After seeing what I made they decided this was A LOT different and want in in their store. I want to continue exploring other projects to expand my offerings. Button sounds like a great idea.” ~Anna-S
“Wow! I just recently turned my interest to buttons and have made a few sets now. I would love pointers on making buttons and I’m going to have to try out these buttons that I have already made for durability.” ~Melinda-H
“Yes, please, a tut on buttons. I’ve also been wondering how sturdy polyclay buttons would be.” ~Linda-K
“YES, YES… I am also interested in this Tut. Greetings from Germany.” ~Janine-K
“You get a big YES from me, Cindy. You might even throw in how you made the button card! Presentation seems to be everything in the sales game.” ~Carolyn-F
“WOW! I was just thinking about making some buttons! This sounds awesome! I know there is quite an interest in custom made buttons. Can’t wait!!” ~Catalina
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Hi Cindy, just want to say thanks for all of the button advice that you provided in this tutorial. Now I can be confident polymer clay buttons will stand up to rough handling.
Elaine F
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Cindy, I love this button tute. Thanks for the inspiring ideas you bring us. Great idea to keep them on a card... they're easier to find that way and/or to sell. I must make some as presents for my patch working friends... they'll love them. I don't use many buttons, but I am going to find uses for them just for the fun of it.
Elizabeth K
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Thanks Cindy and Doug. The buttons are made even more special by sewing them on the cards. I'd love more lessons about displaying your wares tastefully for sale (SEE VOl-048-4). I have some ideas, but somehow, in the rush to get the items finished, I often neglect the presentation portion. I'm just glad to get the pieces done on time!
Maria C
Transcript coming soon...
Transcript coming soon...
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Wonderful to hear from Jan,
The $37 beginners course is definitely the place to start if you have not yet done anything with polymer clay. The 39 videos will provide you with a ton of cost-saving advice all in one place, about what tools and supplies to start out with. The course will also help you to avoid making common “trial & error” mistakes that can get expensive if you decide to learn everything on your own… not to mention the frustrations when your pieces don’t turn out quite like you were hoping they would.
If you have time, take a look at some of the course feedback comments posted at this link:
What Others Are Saying About the Polymer Clay Tutor Beginners Course
And here is the link where you can purchase the course if you feel it is right for you:
Polymer Clay Tutor Beginners Course
I look forward to getting to know you better.
~Cindy
Hi Cindy… I had the most amazing experience last night… met a lady that has subscribed to your videos and makes the most beautiful buttons. She sews them on handmade felted wool mittens that her daughter makes. She gave me your name and I watched the 3 free videos. I have been a scrapbooker, card maker, paper bead maker and am now looking to learn another craft. I am a mother of 8 grown children and didn’t start crafting until a few years ago… I am 69 yrs. old and love to make beautiful things. I do need to have instruction A-Z as I learn differently than most. I am thinking about subscribing to your videos for $37 but not sure how to go about it. Money is a definite issue (I should say a “lack of it”) so I will have to go about this new venture slowly. Maybe after viewing all the videos I will have a better idea if this is for me. Thanks for the opportunity to learn about polymer clay.
Thank you Carolyn and Joyce. Yes, it’s my first baby, I’m so happy that I can do something hand-made for her, as I never thought of myself as a “crafty” kind of gal hehe. Cindy does make it easy. I will go ahead and post the pix on facebook.
@Rada: Rada, saw your pictures…your baby’s beautiful! And the buttons turned out wonderful, making the cutest knitwear. You’re doing great…congratulations again! :D
BTW, I’m so happy that the “reply” button is working again. It took me awhile to notice, as I’d missed Cindy’s announcement. So I’m mentioning it here, just in case. Poor Cindy & Doug…that certainly put them out. Thank goodness it’s over now — Yay!
@Rada, Congratulations on both counts, the new baby coming and the accomplishment of making the buttons to make these item even more memorable one day. Remembering the items I’ve made and are in storage for my granddaughters when they are ready to claim them….happy trails ahead….
@Rada – How exciting. Is this your first baby? I love Alaska – have been there a few times and may try motorhoming up there one of these years. Anyway, could you possibly photo the buttons for the baby’s ‘wardrobe’ and share them on Cindy’s Facebook? facebook.com/polymerclay?v=wall
So since my baby is coming very very soon, my mom came to Alaska from NY and she’s been knitting non-stop. She offered to put some buttons on her creations and then I thought to myself, “why not make some because I just watched Cindy’s video”. :) They came out pretty neat (for a first set anyway) :) I’m very excited about this. Thought I’d share.
One trick you reveal in this video has totally enhanced my claying, both enjoyment and skill wise.
The cut through the cling wrap is the BEST ever. The whole sequence of setting the clay on paper, cutting, then removing is so easy using this approach. Cannot say how many I fumbled due to wrong set up, but, I sure want them all back now.
@Jocelyn: LOL! I know, Cindy’s nifty “time & effort-saving tips” leave a person going, “Darn, I wish___” (and fill in the blank, something to do with wasted time or effort in the past!) Cindy not only knows how to figure out the best method for accomplishing tasks, but she also knows how to explain the steps so well. The woman is just GOOD.
NEW PHOTOS JUST ADDED:
Hello to Everyone,
Some new Spotlight project pictures that relate to the topic of this page (Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope Buttons), have just been added in another post. They were submitted by Carole Holt. The link by my name will take you to where you can see them, along with a bit of a write up. Hopefully they will inspire you to achieve great things with your own polymer clay projects.
BTW: Thanks to everyone above, who took the time to comment. Your feedback, support and fun conversations are always such a wonderful part of my day. Although I don’t get a chance to address each of your comments individually, please know that I do read them all. ~Cindy