Polymer Clay Shamrock Pin St. Patrick's Day Craft

By: Jenny Barnett Rohrs from Craft Test Dummies

Polymer clay may seem like a complicated material to use, but this Polymer Clay Shamrock Pin St. Patrick's Day Craft is actually really easy. Make this lucky St. Patrick's Day craft right away and wear it all spring long. You'll feel so lucky to have found one of the best St. Patrick's Day crafts around. To create the shamrock, using metal leaf and alcohol inks. The clover is actually made from a heart-shaped cutter, which is so innovative. This is a great craft to make before the holiday and also serves as a fantastic gift for any St. Patrick's Day fan.

Primary TechniqueClay

Intermediate

SeasonSpring

Materials:

Black polymer clay
Translucent polymer clay
Metal leaf (silver or gold is ok)
Alcohol inks in yellow and green
Mini heart-shaped cutter (found in the cake decorating aisle)
2 part epoxy resin (I like ICE Resin)
Pin back
“Super”-type glue (I like Poly Bonder by Lisa Pavelka) (optional)
Polymer clay tools such as an Xacto blade, tissue blade, acrylic roller

Instructions:

Condition and roll out your black clay to 1/8 inch thick cut a 2 ich square. Set aside. Then condition and roll out your translucent clay to about 1/8 inch thick. Lay a sheet of metal foil over the top and burnish lightly.
Add a few drops of alcohol inks to the top of the foil. swirl around with a q-tip. Spritz with blending solution or rubbing alcohol.
Once the inks are dry- it won’t take long- roll a bit more so that the foil crackles. Cut 3 mini heart shapes and place on the black square to form your shamrock.
With the tip or your tissue blade or craft knife, cut a “j” shape to be the stem & apply.
Bake according to the directions on your clay package. Once it’s cured and cooled, mix up some ICE Resin (just a tablespoon will do, and you can coat 2-3 pins) Carefully apply a layer of ICE Resin to the top of the pin, covering the shamrock and background completely. Let this cure overnight.