Polymer Clay and Other Craft Ideas
Whether you love making homemade gifts or you like having an activity to do while watching Netflix, having a craft project is a great way to relax and be creative. Plus, there are a plethora of different materials to choose to work with! Either bake a polymer clay creation, use paper and pen for origami or calligraphy based activities, or use beads, string, and bits of metal for craft you can wear.
Polymer Clay
Polymer clay is modelling clay that is not technically clay. This plastic material is hardened when put in the oven giving it its “clay” name, but is actually made from polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It’s the perfect crafting medium because of its pliability, versatility, and simplicity.
Project Ideas
- Pottery. Like natural clay, Polymer clay can also be used to make pots, plates, and vases. Once baked, the material can be sanded, buffed, glazed, or painted.
- Jewellery. Either mould a bracelet or head band you can easily take on or off, or add clasps and earring danglers if you want to make something more intricate.
- Doll House Items. Polymer clay is perfect at making mini replicas of real-life objects. From pretzels, to picture frames, to cheese boards.
- Figurines. Whether it be a cartoon character or a corgi, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using polymer clay.
Other Craft Ideas
Polymer clay isn’t the only craft material on the market. Here are some other ideas for creative projects.
Friendship Bracelets
Friendship Bracelets are made by braiding together multi-coloured pieces of string. There are simpler versions that consist of twisting or plaiting, and more complicated versions that can create intricately woven patterns. They are the perfect thing to make while listening to a podcast or watching tv as once you get into the motion of the activity it’s very easy to keep going for hours on end.
Jewellery Making
Like polymer clay, jewellery making can take many different forms. Simple jewellery requires beads and cuttable thin metal which can be shaped into bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. More advanced jewellery making can include cutting sheet metal, tumbling rocks, and hammering rings.
Embroidery
Embroidery can utilise the string used for making friendship bracelets. You can embroidery pretty much anything including a t-shirt, a tote bag, or a cushion. There are patterns on the web that you can follow, or you can create your own unique designs. It’s helpful to learn the different types of stitches before you start your main project so you know what mistakes to avoid.
Origami
Origami is the art of paper folding and is often associated with Japanese culture. Starting with a flat square sheet of paper, a finished sculpture is created through folding and shaping. It doesn’t require cuts, glue, or markings to make this sculpture: only the paper. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds one thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish from the gods.
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is as old as written language. It is the design and creation of lettering with a broad-tipped pen, brush, or other writing tool. You could use calligraphy to create your own font, announcements, posters, or even use it in your bullet journal weekly spread. Like polymer clay, this art form is very versatile!
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