I don't know about you but I personally don't like to spend a lot of money on embellishments but prefer to buy them cheaply or make my own.
I had bought some Fimo to try but we didn't get along very well so I decided to try an air-drying clay and also some mini cutting shapes and paperclips:
I started by rolling some of the clay until it was approximately 3mm thick and then cut out various shapes.
While the clay was still malleable I embedded some paperclips in a few shapes and used a spare piece of clay to keep it stuck together. For the other shapes I used various rubber stamps to deboss the design in the clay and also experimented by pressing an embossing plate into another piece:
Once the clay had dried (I left it 24 hours) I decorated the shapes. The paperclip embellishments were coloured with chalk inks and then a letter sticker added before covering with Diamond Glaze. The other shapes were just inked. Of course paint and other mediums could be used instead of ink:
These can be used for scrapbooking, cardmaking or perhaps you could just have personalised paperclips?!
I hope I've inspired you to try making your own embellishments. If you do make any don't forget to leave a link - we love to see your work!
Jo xx
How fun! Personalize paperclips..or what about binder-clip-thingies (I don't know what they're really called) or push pins? Very cool idea and I love yours.
Peace & Love,
~Barb~
Posted by: Barb | January 16, 2009 at 03:32 AM
These are so cool!!!
Posted by: GlitteryKatie | January 16, 2009 at 08:37 AM
I've only ever used air-dry clay once(an activity with my kids where we minted our own coins in the style of Medieval coins as part of a homeschool project) but after seeing your fab embellishments I think I may give air-dry another 'go'. They really look good. Also, I do love Fimo and have a big stash of it. I only came across this site recently but LOVE IT & have been back every day. I wonder if anyone has any ideas how I could use some Fimo faces (made in the 'cane' technique) approx 1/2 inch circles. They are a bit too 'cute' for my style to just put on a scrapbook LO so I have a pile of them that I've never used. Any ideas?
Posted by: Mandy | January 16, 2009 at 12:45 PM
lovely - thanks for sharing
Posted by: Bekka | January 16, 2009 at 06:44 PM
Clay buttons with coloured clay that goes in the oven to be baked. Cake making shops sell very small cutters,usually metal which you need for this job! It is great fun making butttons
Posted by: marianne | January 20, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Great fun... I have just bought some DAS to do the very same thing... thanks for sharing.
Warm Wishes, Sunday
Posted by: Sunday | January 21, 2009 at 07:46 PM