I have kitties.

Lots of kitties.  Okay four, that’s lots, right?

My fur babies all stay indoors, but I still feel safest if they’re wearing a name tag with our address and phone number on it in addition to their city tags.   They’re sneaky, ya know?

After numerous lost collars, a couple of which turned up years later under a pile of boxes in the garage, I started making replacement tags instead of buying.  It’s easy and inexpensive.

The first one I made is about two years old now and is still in perfect shape!

You’ll need:

• Polymer clay (like Sculpey or Fimo; also called polyclay)
• polymer clay pasta machine OR poly clay rolling pin
  **please note: if using a pasta machine, it needs to be used only for polymer clay. DO NOT use the same machine that you’d make pasta with**
• parchment paper
• 1 to 1 1/2″ cookie cutter with a uniform shape (don’t be tempted to make the tag larger, the larger it is, the more likely your pet will be able to get into his or her mouth)
• Bic Cristal Pen lid
• toothpick or skewer
• alphabet stamps (optional)
• small cookie sheet
• regular or toaster oven
• acrylic paint
• large jump ring
• Sculpey Glaze

Knead a small amount of clay, then roll out with a clay roller or pass through pasta machine on the next to thickest setting.  On my machine, that’s an 8.

For more information about handling polyclay see Working With Polymer Clay on Crafts-For-All-Seasons

Place clay on a small on the parchment paper.   Press the cookie cutter straight down, making one blank.  If you’re making more than one, now is a great time to cut them all out.

Tag blank.

If you have alphabet stamps, use them to stamp on your pet’s name by gently pushing the stamp straight down and lifting straight up.  Shown are jewelers stamps, which need to be cleaned well if used with polymer clay.

If not using alphabet stamps, use the directions for finishing the back of the tag.

Finished front with a fun star stamp added.

Take the lid off the Bic pen.  It makes a perfect circle cutter for the jump ring hole.

Press the pen lid down into the clay, removing gently to avoid distorting the tag shape.  Remove the plug from the lid with a toothpick.

For the back (and the front if you don’t have stamps), use the toothpick to gently write your address or phone number.

Place parchment paper with tag(s) on cookie sheet and bake according to manufacturer’s directions.

Once the tags are cool, rub a small amount of paint onto the front and backs with a paper towel, wiping away the excess.  This will make the letters stand out.  Allow that paint to dry for a few minutes (it won’t take long) and then coat with glaze.  Allow to dry.

Add jump ring.

Because your pet will be wearing this and safety is always first, let the tag dry at least 24 hours before attaching it to his or her collar.

Merlin, wearing his custom kitty tag

As always, if you make any pattern or craft from sewhooked,  I’d love to see a photo. Email me or add it to the Friends of sewhooked flickr group.

Happy crafting

also posted on cut out + keep

Don’t forget about the Friends of sewhooked challenge!