How to Make Polymer Clay Barrettes

Learn how to make polymer clay barrettes using a polymer clay cane veneer in this easy to follow tutorial.

Polymer clay barrettes are a fairly recent addition to my inventory of things I make. And once I’d made my first one I couldn’t wait to make another! They’re easy and fun and there’s so many different design opportunities.

For some reason I had it in my head a polymer clay barrette would be difficult to make. However, once I sat down and figured out how to make polymer clay barrettes I learned just how easy they are.

I think what put me off for so long was the worry of making sure the barrette finding would stay attached to the clay. Since using super glue on its own for earring posts usually doesn’t work, it stands to reason it wouldn’t work for a barrette finding either.

Embedding the barrette finding in clay is the obvious solution but why I didn’t think of that sooner I’ll never know.

My recent experimentation with analogous polymer clay retro canes has lead to a nice stash of canes which work perfectly for these polymer clay barrettes. In this tutorial I’ve used the cane along with solid colored clay but the barrettes I’ve made with just the cane veneer look great too!

If you don’t have a special barrette cutter, no worries! You can still learn how to make polymer clay barrettes using a shape template. Either use the template I’ve provided, or make your own in Canva.

RELATED POST: DIY POLYMER CLAY SHAPE TEMPLATES USING CANVA

Tools & Materials

• Non-porous work surface (I work on either glazed tile or glass)
• Pasta machine dedicated to polymer clay use (I use an Atlas 180 and will refer to the settings I use on my machine. If you don’t have a pasta machine an acrylic roller and some playing cards will do in a pinch, it’ll just take a little more work.)
• Analogous Polymer Clay Retro Cane
• Polymer clay scraps in three of the colors used in the cane
• Small, round shape cutters—in three sizes (I used 10mm, 7mm, and 5mm cutters)
• Paper shape template or barrette cutter
• Sharp polymer clay blade or cane slicer
• Craft knife
• Acrylic rod
• Parchment paper
• Texture sponge
• French barrette blank—I use an 80mm blank
• Super glue
• Liquid clay
• Wet/dry sandpaper in 400, 600, 800, and 1200 grits, optional

Directions How to Make Polymer Clay Barrettes

Follow the polymer clay retro cane tutorial or make a cane of your choosing.

If using a paper template print out a copy and cut out all pieces. Alternatively, you can design your own or use a barrette cutter.

Cut enough cane slices to make a veneer large enough to accommodate the larger half of the divided template. I’ve cut thin slices from my cane and laid them on a solid sheet of clay rolled out at a medium-thin setting (no.5 on my Atlas). I’ve then burnished the cane slices to the solid sheet using parchment paper and an acrylic rod. Skip this method if you’d rather just cut thicker slices from your cane.

Choose a solid color from one of the colors you used in your cane and sheet a small piece on a setting to match the thickness of your cane slices. For mine, I used the no.2 setting.

Cut out your patterned cane piece and your solid sheet using the paper template and a craft knife. I didn’t bother trimming the outside edge exactly along the template. You’ll need to trim again after burnishing anyway.

Line up the two pieces along the inside curved line and burnish them using a piece of parchment and a burnishing tool or your fingertip.

Using the largest of your chosen round cutters, cut a piece out of the solid side. Use a craft knife or needle tool to lift out the circle. Cut a circle the same size from the cane scraps and place it in the cutout you just made.

Roll out two small pieces in coordinating cane colors the same thickness as the barrette veneer.

Using a smaller round cutter, cut out another circle, slightly overlapping the first one. Lift it out and replace it with a solid circle in one of the other shades.

Repeat with a third, smaller cutter.

Burnish the circles using parchment paper and your fingertip or a burnishing tool until the seams are blended together.

Trim the edges of the barrette using the paper template.

Pull the curved, spring piece of the barrette out and set aside until the barrette is completed. Center the barrette blank on the underside of the clay. Flip over, so the right side of the clay is facing up. Place the barrette on a baking tile and tent with foil. Bake for 45 minutes at the recommended temperature for your brand of clay.

Embedding the Barrette Blank

When the cured barrette has cooled, remove the barrette blank—it should pop off easily. Place a few drops of superglue along the mark where the barrette blank was and replace the blank, gently pressing it in place. Put aside while the glue sets.

Sheet a piece of clay the same color as the clay used in the solid half of the barrette on a thin (no.7) setting. Texture with a texture sponge.

Cut the thin sheet of clay to fit around the barrette blank. I was able to find a cutter in my stash that was the right size. I just needed to make two cuts with my craft knife to fit my clay around the blank. No cutter that will work? Simply use a craft knife to cut the sheet to fit around the barrette.

When the glue has set cover the back of the clay with a thin layer of liquid clay. Lay the backing clay in place, taking care not to trap any air. Use the texture sponge to texture over any cut lines in the clay and seal them together.

Trim away the excess clay with a craft knife. Take care to trim cleanly and make sure the backing clay is neatly in place so you have less sanding later.

Second Bake & Finishing the Polymer Clay Barrette

Place the barrette on the baking tile, tent with foil, and bake at the recommended temperature for your brand of clay for 45 minutes.

When the barrette has cooled sand the edges if needed and sand the top if desired. I used wet/dry sandpaper in grits 400, 600, 800, and 1200 and then buffed the barrette with a cotton kitchen towel for a soft sheen.

Replace the spring piece and you are finished!

Now that you know how to make polymer clay barrettes are you gonna be like me and make dozens?

As always, if you have any questions or comments, I’m happy to hear from you.