St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Pin Craft

by Laura Torres | More from this Blogger

03 Mar 2006 10:31 PM

If you don't want your kids to get pinched on St. Patrick's Day, either fish out that old green T-shirt or help them make these cute shamrock pins to wear. They're so easy, you'll want to make a batch for all the little leprechauns in your life.

A sidenote: Did you know that American schoolchildren came up with this little tradition of pinching on their own? Wearing green is strictly a U.S. custom, as the color green is not popular in Ireland. Green is connected to the old green flag and a time when Ireland was not free. For more interesting St. Patrick's Day information, click here.

You will need:

Green polymer clay

Glass or ceramic baking pan

Toothpick

Wire

Needle nose pliers

Wire cutter or fingernail clippers

Safety pin

1. Soften a chunk of green polymer clay, about the size of a large marble, by kneading it in your hands. You just want to get it soft enough to work with, not all warm and mushy.

2. Make four pea-size balls of clay and press them together in a square, like so.

3. With a finger, smoosh each ball almost flat.

4. Roll a small snake of clay and press it on for a stem. Use a toothpick to make an indent at the top of each leaf.

5. Cut a piece of wire about 3/4 of an inch long with the wire cutters or fingernail clippers.

6. With the needlenose pliers, turn a loop on one end of the wire.

7. Poke the other end deep into the shamrock.

8. Bake according to the package directions.

9. Thread the shamrock charm onto the safety pin.

Wear it and hope for the luck of the Irish!

Learn more about Laura Torres

Laura Torres is the best-selling author of many books for kids and teens, and a party planner. Check out her website at lauratorres.com.

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