Let Your Creativity Flow By DIYing Kitchen Cabinet Knobs Out Of Clay

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Have you sat with small children playing with clay and mused about how much fun they're having? Molding this pliable stuff into whimsical shapes can be a grown-up thing, too. Justify your time reverting to childhood by crafting cute clay designs that will become smile-inspiring cabinet knobs — not that working with colorful clay needs any justification!

Creative TikToker Nikki Adams shows off adorable kitchen cabinet knobs they made from bakeable polymer clay on their channel @nikkis_garden_adventure. Colorful and glossy fruits, vegetables, and baked goods look good enough to bite into; instead, they'll have you opening cabinets and drawers in quirky style. Copy Adams by using a product like CiaraQ Polymer Clay Starter Kit that equips you with an array of colors. Adams also follows up with a layer of polyurethane for both shine and protection. For a no-bake version, try a product like this ARTPAR Airdry Clay kit topped with a coat of epoxy resin or varnish to give it more strength.

There's no need to add new hardware to your shopping basket, either. As long as the knobs you already have aren't larger than your clay adornments, they can serve as bases for your creations. Just give them a good scrub first. You can use vinegar to make your kitchen hardware sparkle and ready it for a strong bond with glue. You'll need a highly-durable adhesive to hold the clay ornaments in place. E6000 is a glue you should keep in your home, and is a champ at bonding different materials with major strength. Besides these supplies, you may also want some clay sculpting tools, cookie cutters, molds, or just a table knife.

Roll up your sleeves for some old-school play time (Or shall we say "clay time"?). Lay out a piece of printer paper or parchment paper to keep the clay from sticking to your work surface. Tape the edges down to hold the paper in place as you work. Now, give your imagination free rein.

Go full-on cute with mini foods like cinnamon rolls, bagel bites, or stuffed olives. If this eclectic decor idea is too twee for your taste, there are scores of other directions to go in. Try a simple piece of clay overlaid with a textural pattern. You can purchase texture sheets or rollers or make use of items you already have. Roll out a shape, and press a plant leaf, a doily, or another unexpected item into the clay. Scraps of clay in different colors look pretty amazing kneaded together into marbled shapes, as well.

Once you're content with your designs, press the original knob handle into the back of the shape to make an indent. Bake your pieces or let them dry according to the directions on the clay you're using. Top clay forms with polyurethane or varnish, and attach the knobs securely to the indents in the back of each piece with E6000. Let the glue cure for up to 72 hours to ensure the strongest hold. Screw your hardware upgrades onto your cabinets, and let them inspire a smile every time you open a door or drawer.