How to Make Clay Plant Markers

Make clay plant markers with polymer clay, a pasta machine and some craft paint that will add character to your garden. Polymer clay comes in a variety of colors or you can begin with white or beige clay and paint it as you wish. The soft clay is easy to manipulate and easy to cut, so make your plant markers any shape you like. You can find a selection of clay shape cutters in the clay aisle of your local craft store, but your cookie cutters at home will work just as well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Polymer clay
• Clay cutter
• Pasta machine
• Template or cookie cutter
• Embossing letters
• Craft paint
• Future floor polish
• 12-gauge wire

1. Knead a 2-inch ball of polymer clay in your hands until it softens. Flatten it out with the heel of your hand until it is 3 to 4 inches square. Run the square through the largest setting on the pasta machine.

2. Place your template on top of the rolled clay and mark around the perimeter. Cut the outlines of the plant marker with the clay cutter. If you prefer using a cookie cutter to make the shape of your marker, press down in the center of the rolled clay with the cutter. Peel away the excess clay and set it aside for the next marker.

3. Press the embossing letters into the soft clay to spell out the type of plants you are marking. Get creative with your letter placement, arching a single word or staggering the letters of a two word plant. If you would rather paint your words or phrases onto the clay without the indentations made by the embossing tool, skip this step.

4. Cut two sections of 12 gauge craft wire, 10 inches long. Insert 1 inch of wire into the bottom edge of the clay, about ½-inch from the side edge. Insert the other wire ½-inch from the other side. This will be your plant marker stand that can be pressed into the ground.

5. Lay the clay marker and the wire on a cookie sheet covered with foil. Make as many plant markers as you can fit onto the cookie sheet and bake according to the clay manufacturer's directions. Let the plant markers cool.

6. Apply craft paint into the embossed letters of the plant marker, or paint the words or phrases onto the marker. Let the paint dry.

7. Coat the plant marker with Future floor polish to protect the clay and to give it a shiny finish. Add as many layers of polish as you need to create the desired sheen. You could use the glaze sold specifically for polymer clay, but Future floor polish works just as well, if not better, and costs less. You can find Future in your local grocery or discount store.

Tips & Warnings

• Metallic or glitter paint makes your wording stand out even more.
• Not all floor polish works as well on clay as Future, so do not substitute.

Resources

• Local Craft Store