School is winding down for us. My kids are ready for summer and so am I! We spend a nice chunk of summer on Lake Erie with family and friends. But, this year we have some additional travel planned. Most of our non-travel time will be in August. How many days do you think they will last at home before saying, “I’m bored?” Polymer clay often comes out on those “bored” days. Tasha really enjoys making polymer clay charms, a great activity for kids of any age! (This post may include affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you purchase something I recommend at no additional cost to you)
Welcome to the Summer Family Fun Blog Hop
We have teamed up with a few of our blogging friends to bring you some fun summer activity ideas for children of all ages! From June 4th through June 8th, we’ll be sharing 3 new projects each day. Our goal is not only to survive the summer break but provide some enriching activities to keep the boredom at bay as much as possible because moms have the best ideas! Just take a look at what these Mom bloggers have come up with and you’ll see what I mean! But first, enjoy the tutorial I am sharing for polymer clay charms!
Shirley Intelligent Domestications • Erlene My Pinterventures
Jenny Cookies, Coffee And Crafts• Donna Two Chicks And A Mom
Marie DIY Adulation • Sam Raggedy Bits • Emily Hunny I’m Home DIY
Rebecca The Moments At Home • Victoria Dazzle While Frazzled
Aleisha & Marie The Inspiration Vault •Michelle Our Crafty Mom
Heather Glitter On A Dime • Emily Domestic Deadline Habiba @Craftify My Love
Supplies
If you haven’t used polymer clay, pick some up next time you hit the craft store. Trust me, it’s a great craft supply to have on hand. Sculpey is my favorite and for just having on hand I like to pick up a sample kit to replenish our stock, unless we know we want specific colors.
I started using polymer clay when I was in high school (that was a really long time ago…) so over the years I have acquired several tools which may show up in these pictures. But, there doesn’t need to be a huge investment to get started playing with polymer clay. And what I do recommend, can easily be found at most dollar stores.
A few years ago I picked up some flexible chopping mats from Dollar Tree. Each of us uses one to work on. These protect the table when we cut the clay. If your kids are old enough to use a knife, designate one to only be used for clay. A plastic or butter knife can be used by a younger child to cut off a chunk of clay, but I find the older kids may want to have smooth slices when working on something more detailed.
Toothpicks or skewers are great for making holes before baking. Especially handy if you’re making a pendant or charm! For many years I grabbed a few toothpicks whenever we sat down to play with clay. The kids usually broke them after one or two holes. More recently I picked up a pack of metal barbecue skewers that have turned out to be used for more than just making holes. Tasha actually uses one to sculpt!
Once your clay creations are finished, they need to be baked in the oven. Much like a knife, I don’t want my baking sheet to go back to being used for food after baking clay. I moved one baking sheet to clay use when I got a new pan. When I decided I wanted a second pan for clay use, I found it cheaper to buy one at the dollar store than to get a used one at the thrift store.
Obviously, there are lots of other options out there, we even have a full set of dental tools! My mom asked our dentist for a set he was going to get rid of and all these years later, they still come in handy. Plus there are molds and texturizes and all sorts of other things. But with clay, a cutting mat, knife, skewer, and baking sheet, you’re set for getting started.
Oh, and an old small rolling pin or something to roll clay flat is also helpful!
Get Creative
Using polymer clay isn’t much different than playing with playdough. It’s a little stiffer and softens as you kneed it and work with it, but the concept is the same. If you can roll and create with playdough, you can create with polymer clay too! Instead of it drying out if left out, however, it will stay pliable until baked.
The kids always just dig in. O-Man has been relegated to the scrap box because he usually plays with any color combination until it’s completely melded into a new color. Tasha thinks about what she wants to make and is very concerned about her color selections.
I think using the roller is O-Man’s favorite part of polymer clay. Tasha, by the way, is looking on Pinterest for ideas!
He and I made new colors from the scraps for him to play with.
Polymer Clay Charms
Seriously, the beauty of polymer clay is just letting the kids play with it and create.
Tasha started with the plan of making a bunny.
I guess it evolved into something else because she ended up with a robot!
There is no real tutorial here, just let the kids play and have fun. I think we probably spent 2-3 hours playing! Tasha also made a succulent charm. Both have a little eye hook from the jewelry department so they can be hung on a necklace.
O-man, on the other hand…..
Me: “I thought we were making charms?”
O: “Nope, I just made something charming!”
I have no idea what it is! But, he is incredibly happy with it and that’s what counts.
Visit my blogging friends below for more summer family fun ideas!
Monday
How To Install A Ring And Hook Game @Intelligent Domestications
Fairy Garden Fun for Kids @Two Chicks And A Mom
Tropical Shrinky Dink Charms and Pins @My Pinterventures
Tuesday
DIY Painted Rocks That The Kids Will Love To Make @Our Crafty Mom
DIY Sharpie Mug Bird Feeder @Glitter On A Dime
How To Turn Admission Tickets Into A Bookmark@Craftify My Love
Wednesday
DIY Giant Backyard Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe Game @DIY Adulation
Book Themed Outdoor Play Ideas for Kids @The Moments At Home
5 Easy Ways to Have Fun with DIY Bubbles This Summer @Hunny I’m Home DIY
Grandma Camp @Intelligent Domestications
Thursday
Easy Kids Obstacle Course Ideas @Cookies, Coffee And Crafts
How to Make a Fun Kids Swim Towel @Dazzle While Frazzled
Polymer Clay Charms @Domestic Deadline
Friday
Nerf Battle Paint Splatter T-Shirts @The Inspiration Vault
How to Make Easy Farmhouse Planter Herb Markers @Raggedy Bits
Now I am inspired to expand our summer crafting to include polymer clay. We have not tried this and I think the children would love it. My two youngest grands like to check Pinterest for ideas also. lol, we have taught them well. Thanks for the dollar store tips!
These charms are so adorable! And it looks like your kids had a lot of fun making them. I’ve never used polymer clay, so I’ll have to pick some up next time I’m at the craft store!
My girls have used air dry clay and love i. I’m sure they would love polymer clay too. Clay is such a great creative medium as there are so many creative possibilities!
These are SO cute!!! And the creative possibilities are endless, too – you could create entire lines of charms for any occasion, really! How neat! #HomeMattersParty
This is such a great tip, Emily! I’ve done brooches when I was in highschool. But haven’t used it ever since. The fun Thing is, that I have a view packets in my crafting stash as I wanted to mess around with it again. Not brooches, but simply go where my creativity will bring me. I especially love, that you can entertain Kids of all ages at the same time with this craft. Not that I have any, yet. But that’s what Pops up in my head, lol.
Super cute (love the robot) and great idea to keep kids busy. Visiting from Celebrate and Decorate.
This would be a great way to spend a rainy afternoon with the kids. Or a group of girlfriends over coffee. #HomeMattersParty
These charms are really cute! I love the robot! I have a stash of polymer clay, and this is a great use for it!
My middle son recently got into making things out of Polymer clay and he loves following along with Youbut videos to make favorite Pokémon characters and things. I could never get the hang of the stuff but always want to dig in with him and try. There is something very relaxing about molding clay.
Clay and playdough were always favorites of my children on rainy days or summer vacation!
This is a good reminder for the summer with the kids. Maybe you want to make some real pasta with the O man. He seems to have the knack. I pinned to my kids board and my summer board.
These are adorable! I can’t wait to try these out on the next rainy day with my kids! TFS!