Happy Hour Projects

Fingerprint Charm Bracelet

by 19 Comments

Since I’ve had the chance to take a look around the Project Pinterest top 12, I’ve been really inspired to make some of these projects.  Today, I’m going to show you how I adapted the Fingerprint Charm Necklace that Meredith from Wait Til Your Father Gets Home entered.  It’s such a beautiful keepsake and you should really go check out the full tutorial – she included an adorable gift box with hers.

Of course, if you know me at all, you know I didn’t make a necklace, but rather, a bracelet. :)

You will need:

  • Polymer Clay – it’s hard to tell in the photos, but I used silver Sculpey Clay
  • Small heart shaped cutter
  • A needle or paperclip for forming holes in your clay
  • A non-food-use rolling pin
  • Wax paper or parchment paper
  • Baking sheet
  • A chain link bracelet
  • Jump rings and optional charms – I used a freshwater pearl

I broke off one section of clay, and rolled it on wax paper with a rolling pin I use for clay until it’s about 1/4″ thick.

Then, I put it in front of Raya and encouraged her to put a thumbprint in it.  This took a long time.  A very, very long time.  This is 30 minutes into the project.

No thumbprints yet.

But finally, I was able to show her and get a few good ones.  Mild use of force may have been employed.  Not enough to bring tears, just indignant protest.  (Don’t worry, it was short-lived.  Once she figured it out, she loved the clay!  I will have to give some homemade play-dough a try!)

It’s hard to see with the shadow that the cutter makes, but I lined up the cutter so that her thumbprint filled one side of the heart, and then I cut it out.  You can see what I mean looking at the heart at the top.

Then, I put my pinky print along the other side of the heart.  So each heart had both our prints.  I’m saving one to give to her when she gets a little older.

Once she did a few, I could hardly keep her out of the clay.  I went ahead and made up several out of other prints she left, so that I could pick the very best ones.  Them, I used a needle to poke a hole in each one.

Each brand of clay has a little different baking instructions, so do whatever your brand tells you.  But I baked mine on parchment paper until they were done.

To help protect the charm and to give it some shine, I added a coat of Sculpey Gloss to it.  Then, I put a jump ring through the heart, and made pearl charm.  I don’t have photos of how to make the charm, but I did explain how to make a charm using a jewelry pin with a head at my Book Page Necklace post, so check that out if you need to see it explained.

Then I just added my clay heart and pearl to the end of my bracelet, and I have a sweet mother and daughter keepsake!

What sorts of inspired projects have you been working on lately?

I link up to these great parties!
~ Adrianne

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carri

    So sweet I love this…. I see another “pin” coming….lol

    Thank you for linking up to the ALL STARS BLOCK PARTY!!!

    Carri
    simplydonewright.blogspot.com

    Reply

  3. Danni Baird

    You make the best stuff! What a great idea and a great gift to give your child when she's older….and maybe less stubborn!!

    Reply

  4. Heather

    Hi Adrienne – I love this idea! Perfect for any young mom to do for their little ones. I'm so glad you shared this on the All Star Block Party. I'm also sharing it on my Facebook page!!

    Reply

  12. Kadie

    I LOVE how “in to it” Raya is!! Ha,ha The charms are adorable! I love the idea of putting both prints in them. Great job.

    Reply

  14. Terry

    Your charms look so pretty. I have tried to make some salt dough charms and they were a huge fail. I'll definitely try the clay instead. Love, love, love the photo of Raya. ha ha ha

    Reply

  15. Paula Parrish

    Hello Adrianne,
    My eleven year old daughter and I love making polymer clay charms. The clay is super fun to work with, we found a lot of great tutorial videos on youTube. I love the idea of the keepsake fingerprint hearts. Thanks for sharing. ;o)
    Smiles, Paula

    Reply

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