Ladybugs, ladybugs! Making ladybugs with heart shaped cookie cutters

Ladybugs!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner!  Instead of the usual Valentines, this week I'm going to share how to make some cute polymer clay bugs with heart shaped cookie cutters.  They can be made into magnets, pins, hair clips, or as a part of a bigger project.  (They would be very cute glued to a picture frame, for example!)  We'll start off with some shiny metallic ladybugs!

Supplies!

You will need: *Polymer Clay (just black will be enough for this version of the project)  *Mica Powder (I used Pearl-Ex brand in Super Russet)  *Heart shaped cookie cutters  *Needle Tool  *Small paintbrush

A surface to work on (I use a marble tile I got at the hardware store for about 5 bucks) Something to roll out the clay with (I have a pasta machine that works well and makes it easy, but you can also use a rolling pin, acrylic roller, or fondant roller)  And an oven to bake the clay in.

Condition and roll out your clay.  I used the thickest setting on my pasta machine, or about 1/8" thick.   Cut out a heart shape with your cookie cutter. 

Use your needle tool to incise a line across the bottom corner of the heart, and two lines down the middle.  These now become the head and the wings of the ladybug.

Use a small, soft paintbrush to brush your mica powder onto the wings.  

Using the needle tool, push into the clay to create spots.  (Just poke far enough to create the appearance of spots, do not poke the needle tool all the way through the clay.) 

Bake the ladybugs according to the clay manufacturer's directions.  Brush on a clay compatible glaze if desired or if you are going to use them for something that will receive a lot of handling.  I will often use liquid polymer clay (which will require another baking) or water-based Varathane by Rust-o-leum.

Now you can glue on a magnet, pin back, or hair clip, or use them in some other wonderful project you dream up!

Click HERE for a different version of the ladybugs!