The idea of crafting flowers with molds (moulds) has stuck with me since I was in elementary school when I enjoyed using a clay flower molding gadget to produce lovely clay flowers. While handmade clay flowers serve as toys for kids, they also have great utilitarian purposes for adults. Flower molds are small containers that give shape to and leave the intricate details of an actual flower on a substance poured in it to harden. Flower molds make excellent gifts particularly around holidays like Valentine’s Day when Roses, Chrysanthemums, and Daisies are popular. Clay flowers crafted from molds may be used for buttons, hairpin studs, pendants/charms, magnets, and soap as described below.
Buttons
Making flower buttons from molds comes in handy especially for sewers. Colored polymer clay such as “Sculpey” is an ideal material to use since it is designed for crafting jewelry and miniatures. You will need to use flower molds that are less than one inch, depending your button size preference. This hardening clay and a silicon mold can be oven-baked together at up to 395 degrees. A great idea is to apply glaze to the polymer clay prior to baking for a shinier finish. Then, if you did not use a mold that punctures holes in the center of the clay, you have the option of gluing plastic button shanks with loops on the back to the backs of the clay flowers.
Hairpin Studs
As a kid I enjoyed decorating my hair with clay flower-studded hairpins during special occasions such as Easter. “Sculpey” colored polymer clay is also suitable for this craft. After oven baking a clay flower in a silicon mold of around ½ inch, it can be attached to a large hair pin with super glue. This makes a great craft and gift for girls.
Magnets
Your choice of small or large flower molds may be used to make fantastic gifts like magnets that may be used to decorate refrigerators and office cabinets. A variety of hardening clays are appropriate for molding magnets including Plaster of Paris: calcium sulfate in the form of a white powder that is mixed with water to form a hardening paste. A popular name brand of an air-drying hardening clay is “Sculptamold” that sets in 30 minutes when mixed with water. After your clay has dried, you may paint it and attach a magnet backing with super glue.
Pendants/Charms
Those who are skilled in jewelry-making will love the idea of molding flowers from clay or plaster to add to their handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Again colored polymer clay is an ideal material that may be glazed and oven baked. Afterward, plastic button shanks with loops on the back may be glued to the back of the clay flowers so that they may hang on a monofilament beading cord or a necklace chain.
Soap
A great craft that I have enjoyed since I was a preteen is molding soap using a kit. The easiest process involves melting a bar of soap base in the microwave, mixing in fragrance and liquid colors, and pouring this mixture into a flower mold to air-dry. More challenging soap-making kits where soap is made with chemical compounds and oils are also available in craft stores and on websites such as Amazon.com.
Most of all, by engaging in these crafts you will discover that they are simple and so much fun. Molds and various types of clay are available on websites such as Etsy.com or in local craft stores such as Michaels. It is also possible to make your own clay molds from Polymer. Especially valuable, your finished clay flower creations may be given as gifts as well as be sold on craft websites or craft bazaars.
Sources
“Clay Basics: Artist’s Studio Education.”Michaels Stores, Inc.
