... and Handmade Buttons (a ThermoMorph Review)

We were delighted to be asked by the makers of ThermoMorph to review their product by adding our own crafty twist to it*! There are many possible uses to this product, as we will explain, but straight away we decided to make our own BUTTONS!

* DISCLOSURE - we were given a jar of ThermoMorph for the purposes of this review. All opinions are our own.

Here's how the makers describe ThermoMorph:
ThermoMorph is an amazing new moldable plastic compound that can be used in numerous different ways. Hack things, fix things, make things and sculpt things, with ThermoMorph it’s all possible.
It’s super easy to use, boil a kettle of water and pour some into a bowl, sprinkle the required amount into the water and wait until it turns clear. Once clear ThermoMorph becomes pliable for around two minutes, mold into the desired shape using your hands or tools and then wait to cool to room temperature at which point it sets rock hard again.

We found the ThermoMorph incredibly easy to use. The instructions are clear, and as long as you watch out for the boiling water (and let it cool down a bit as advised) there is nothing complex about using this product.

We sprinkled a tablespoon of the pellets into a bowl of hot water, and straight away they began to go clear. When they had transformed, we fished out the mass (now clumped together) and were able to mould it straight away. When it starts to harden, it goes from clear to opaque and we found this to be a good indicator of how much time we had to play with - but the best bit is that if it goes hard before you are ready, you can just put it back into the hot water!

After a few practise plays, we got out our newest purchase, this Silicon Resin Button Mould from Amazon (which we purchased ourselves) and set to work!

Our first attempts were not great, but this was due to our inexperience and NOT the product (we don't usually use polymer clay, or any other kind of modelling tools). We used these first attempts to experiment with our paint samples to see how to best colour them.

We found enamel paints and tester pots for wall paints worked quite well, but our favourite (because of the look we were going for) was nail varnish! Acrylic paint was OK, but only if used undiluted. We have seen another review where the crafter moulded powder food colouring in whilst still warm and this looks fab too.

Some of the buttons were a bit straggly at the edges when we popped them out, but the ThermoMorph was still pliable enough to carve with a craft knife, and we were able to finish them off nicely. We also freestyled and made some beads using the ends of our paint brushes and balls of ThermoMorph.

The 500g jar of ThermoMorph contains more than enough to last you a while - we used a tiny fraction of it to make the buttons and beads you see here. And any that is left over can be put back into the jar to be re-melted when you next need it.

We think this is a brilliant crafting product, and is very versatile. It could be used in jewellery making, shapes for cards / scrapbooking, as well as general model making. 

You can find out more about ThermoMorph from their Website and if you can buy ThermoMorph from Amazon

Product Name: ThermoMorph

Price: £19.95

Size: 500 grams

Material: Polymorph granules

We will definitely be using this again (we have so much more of it to use!) and with Christmas coming up, we think it would be great for ornaments, gifts and embellishments! Why not give it a try yourselves?

We are linking up to these parties!

29th October 2013: Update - this post was featured here at Ashley's Dandelion Wishes

 

25th January 2014: Update - this post was featured here at Fabric Bows and More