How to Make a Whirly Toy with Polymer Clay - Kids Will Love this Toy!

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Introduction

Maybe you played with this toy as a kid, using a button and string. I will teach you how to make this fun Whirly Toy out of polymer clay. Kids will have hours of fun watching the clay twirl. This is a great summer project. Read the instructions and then let your kids use their imagination to come up with different designs for their own personalized toy!

By: PolyClayPlay

Length: 0:00

Comments: 3

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Instructions

Text Size: +
Difficulty: Easy

Tips & Warnings:

  • Make any design you like on the clay button!
  • See what happens when different colors and designs spin.
  • Add different colors around the cane before you cut it making the sides of the toy multi-colored for a fun view from the side.
  • IMPORTANT Use either Future® Floor Finish (found in your grocery store) or Varathane® Diamond Floor Finish or some other varnish that won't react adversely with polymer clay. (See http://www.polyclayplay.com/TipsTools/PCPVarnishing.pdf)
  • Adult supervision is recommended. This toy twists quickly. If it is pulled too tight, it will break. If it is spinning too fast when it breaks the button could fly across the room.
  • If it is used a lot, the string will wear out and break.
  • This toy is not for children under the age of three.
Step1
Cut two 1” X 3” sheets from PM1 Sculpey™ prēmo! Pearl Red, Pearl White and Pearl Blue Clay. Note: In all the instructions for Poly Clay Play Projects, PM stands for Pasta Machine and the number stands for the thickness setting. On the machine I use and sell through polyclayplay.com #1 is the thickest setting.
Step2
Stack the same colors together, red on red, blue on blue and white on white, to make double thickness of each color. Stack the double thickness on top of each other making one stack.
Step3
Press the end so you can get the jelly roll started.
Step4
The uncut, raw end of a jelly roll cane. Roll the stack together into a log, pushing air out as you go. Roll the log on your work surface to make it round. You have just made a jelly roll cane!!
Step5
Inside the first cut. Trim the end off and then cut about a 1/4" thick slice from your cane.
Step6
If your slice isn’t round, lay it on your work surface and use a large circle cutter. The toy works best if it is round. The cutter I used is the largest of the 3 that come in the Makin's® package of circle cutters. You can find lots of different shapes and sizes of cutters at Poly Clay Play.
Step7
Lay the slice on your work surface and determine the center of the circle. You may want to use a button as a guide.
Step8
Use your Button Hole Tool to make holes centered in the cane slice. Get them as close to the center as you can. In the Poly Clay Play Kid's Club, their kit comes with a corn cob holder and instructions for decorating it to use as a Button Hole Tool.
Step9
Use a clay blade as a kind of spatula to pick up the circle. Be sure the holes go all the way through.
Step10
Lay your cane button on your baking sheet and another tile on top to keep it flat.
Step11
Bake the button following the clay package instructions. Because it is so thick, it is a good idea to let it cool completely in the oven.
Step12
When it has cooled, varnish your button. This will make the sparkles in the pearl clays really shine.
Step13
When the varnish has dried, run a string in through one hole and out the other making a big loop.
Step14
Tie the loose ends together and let the whirling begin!
Step15
To play with the toy, hold the two loops, one on your first or middle finger of each hand and pull your hands apart.
Step16
Position the button so that it’s centered slack on the string. Start spinning the toy away from you until the string on either side has several twists in it.
Step17
Once the string is twisted, pull your hands apart with a little force (not too hard or the string will break). This will make the button start spinning, and when the string has unwound, the disc will continue to spin, winding the string in the opposite direction. This makes a sideways yo-yo effect and the toy will keep spinning as you move your hands apart when the string is twisted and back together as it starts to untwist.

Photo/Video Credit

This project is a sample from the Poly Clay Play Kid's Kit Club! PolyClayPlay.com

Comments

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on 9/1/2008 Excellent instructions, Thanks.

IcyCucky

IcyCucky said

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on 8/5/2008 I remember this toy! What a wonderful thing to know how to make one..5 stars

abbyleeb

abbyleeb said

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on 4/30/2008 I am going to try this with my little man as soon as graduates' preschool. Only three weeks left!

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eHow Article: How to Make a Whirly Toy with Polymer Clay - Kids Will Love this Toy!

Article By: PolyClayPlay

PolyClayPlay

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