How to Make a Checkerboard Heart Pin | Polymer Clay Tutorial

Alright, I’ve got a confession – I’m not terribly romantic so Valentine’s Day isn’t really my thing. Except for the chocolate, of course. But you know what I do love? Crafting cute accessories. So, check out this adorable Checkerboard Heart Pin made from polymer clay. The Blended Checks cane with these pinky-red and white colors turned out so good, I couldn’t resist turning it into a sweet little heart pin. And the best part? It doesn’t scream ‘Valentine’s Day.’ So, whether you’re a fan of the holiday or not, this step-by-step polymer clay tutorial is here to guide you in creating your own quirky lil’ pin. Grab some clay, and let’s make something adorable together – because, hey, even those who aren’t big on Valentine’s Day deserve a little love, in pin form!

To begin the process of making the pin, head over here to find the Blended Checks cane tutorial. It’s a simple cane to make, even if you don’t have much experience with making canes. You will, however, need a polymer clay extruder in your toolkit and as well as a pasta machine. Unless you don’t mind the extra work of making skinner blends without one. Once you’ve got your cane assembled the pin itself comes together fairly quickly.

Tools & Materials

• Blended Checks polymer clay cane
• Black polymer clay
• Pasta machine dedicated to polymer clay use (I use an Atlas 180 and will refer to the settings I use on my machine. If you don’t have a pasta machine an acrylic roller and some playing cards will do in a pinch, it’ll just take a little more work.)
• Shape cutters – 1.5” circle, 1.25” circle, small heart
• Sharp polymer clay blade
• Translucent liquid clay (or use the black liquid clay)
• Black liquid clay or black acrylic paint
• Dotting tool
• Texture sponge or course grit sandpaper
• Pin back
• Super glue
• Waxed or parchment paper
• Craft knife
• Kitchen sponge

Directions

• With a sharp blade, cut four slices from the Blended Checks cane about 1mm thick. It’s more important that the slices are a consistent thickness than that they are exactly 1mm*
• Butt the sides of the slices together, forming a square and making sure the checks line up. Lay a small sheet of parchment paper over the slices. Gently rub a finger along the seams, burnishing them together

• Cut a 1.25” circle from the cane slices then cut a heart out from inside the circle
• Carefully slide the clay blade under the circle to lift it from your work surface. Gently run a finger around the outside edge to smooth out any unevenness left from the shape cutter. Smooth the edges of the heart cutout with a silicone tool around the inside edges or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol
• Condition the black clay and sheet it on a medium thick setting (no.3). Texture with a texture sponge or course grit sandpaper. Cut a 1.5” circle

• Place the checkered circle over the black piece, either offset as I have done or centred if you’d prefer. Lay the parchment paper over top and gently burnish the two layers together with a finger
• Bake on a piece of card stock, tented with foil, at the recommended temperature for your brand of clay for 30 minutes
• Glue the pin back to the back of the clay piece once it has cooled and set aside to dry**
• Sheet a piece of black clay large enough to cover the back of the pin on a medium-thin setting (no.6)
• When the glue has set smear a thin layer of liquid clay over the back of the pin. Cover with the sheet of black clay. Using a texture sponge or piece of course grit sandpaper, gently press down over the surface of the backing clay, making sure it is well adhered and there is no air trapped
• Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the raw and baked clay begin to bond and then trim away the excess at the edge with a craft knife. Smooth the edge with a fingertip
• Press the pin into a clean kitchen sponge. Make a small cut with a craft knife if you need to for the pin back so it sits flat. Use a dotting tool and black liquid clay (or acrylic paint) to make a set of graduated dots opposite the heart cutout***
• Bake the pin again, on the sponge and tented with foil, at the recommended temperature for your brand of clay for 30 minutes
• Sand the edges if needed and enjoy your new pin!

Cut out some more hearts from another slice of the Blended Checks cane and make a set of earrings to go with the pin!

Notes

* If your slices are unevenly cut it’s important to even them out to avoid distorting the pattern when you burnish them together. To do this very carefully shave off the raised areas a little at a time with a sharp blade. If you find you’re going too deep back the blade out, gently press the clay back in place, and try again

** I glued the pin back to the center of the clay but I think if you glue it centered and slightly towards the top there would be less chance of the pin turning while worn

*** To make graduated dots dip the dotting tool in the liquid clay or paint only once and continue dotting until the color runs out. Practice on a scrap of paper first until you get the hang of it and if you mess up on the clay have a damp paper towel or a baby wipe close at hand to wipe it off and then try again

I hope you’ve enjoyed this polymer clay tutorial! If you try it out, I’d love to see. Tag me on Instagram @bysandracallander. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear from you.