Clay Plant Markers

Supplies
Green polymer clay
2-in. leaf cookie cutter
¼-in. letter stamp set
Plastic mat or waxed paper
Clay roller
Oven or toaster oven
Foil-lined baking tray
Brown acrylic paint
Sponge brush
Rags or paper towels
Small bamboo skewers or sticks
Tacky glue

Directions

STEP 1. Condition clay before beginning by kneading with your hands until it's soft and easy to work with.

STEP 2. With clay roller, roll clay into a 1/4-in. thickness on plastic mat or waxed paper.

STEP 3. Use cookie cutter to cut out desired number of plant marker leaves from clay.

STEP 4. Using letter stamp set, make letter indentations for plant names centered on each leaf.

STEP 5. With bamboo skewer or stick, make a ½-in.-deep hole at the base of each leaf. Remove skewer, which you will reuse in Step 9.

STEP 6. Place stamped leaves face up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake following manufacturer's instructions. Let cool.

STEP 7. With sponge brush, coat the front of each leaf with a layer of brown acrylic paint. Use a rag or paper towel to immediately wipe excess paint off surface. Leave paint only in the letter indentations to color them. If necessary, repeat process until all letter indentations are coated with paint. Let dry.

STEP 8. Following manufacturer's temperature recommendation, put leaves back into the oven for 5-10 minutes to set the paint. Let cool. Wipe off surface to buff.

STEP 9. Put a dab of tacky glue inside the hole at the base of each leaf. Insert a bamboo skewer. Wipe away excess glue at base and let dry.