Polymer Clay Face Magnets

You know I love polymer clay*. These face magnets have been on my list for a while and since we’ve been stuck inside with the heat wave, it was a perfect time to make them. Don’t let the polymer clay part scare you. The process can be likened to that of making faces with playdough. The few differences are the consistency (polymer clay is firmer) and the part where polymer clay can be cured in the oven to ensure the face stays as-is forever.

And don’t you love them? I think they are bordering on squeal-worthy cuteness, especially curly Love Bug, shaggy Sweet J and our bespectacled kin. I still have a few family members to make – I want the whole crew! – but I was losing daylight for photos.

*My love for polymer clay abounds – simple polymer clay bead necklace, polymer clay artichoke bauble, my business cards, gold leaf pendants, bottle cap wine glass charms & scaly letters

These magnets aren’t going to be on stuck to anything for a while. Bug is very enamored with them. She has already sent them on a few adventures and listening to her dialogue is a riot.

Her nose is a little scuffed up from an accident earlier this week. It included saving her babies from a cardboard-tube-wielding brother and ended with a bloody nose. You might think it sounds made up but it’s not. :) 

Supplies:

-Polymer clay
-Pasta machine or rolling pin or brayer
-Circle cutter, cutting blade
-Magnets
-Glue

Roll out the clay with the rolling pin, brayer or pasta machine (here’s how to condition and roll out polymer clay with a pasta machine). Then it’s all about making faces. Bug got ahead of me and used her tools to scratch faces in the surface. After she saw what I was doing, we made small eyeballs together and she loved the glasses I added to mine so we made a pair for her too.

I love the details she added. Adding features with a tool is a lot easier than rolling clay. If you have a little one, you might think to encourage using a tool.

While making these, I realized how facially boring our family is. :) So I decided to make our hair very detailed. Bug has the curls, Sweet J the messy head and me with the long strands. Unfortunately, MJ was the first hairdo I did and it looks more Llyod-Christmas -bowl-cut than MJ hair.

Cure them in the oven according to the manufacturer’s directions and then glue a magnet on the back.

I’m trying not to be possessive about these faces but I really do like ’em. I’m trying to convince Bug that the best place for them is in my work space.

I really hope she agrees.