Hearts for Heroes – Polymer Clay

September 11th is upon us once again and I wanted to share with all of the clayers a great way to remember our fallen soldiers.

If you don’t know about the Hearts for Heroes already, it’s a group of people that make, well, just what the name says, Hearts for Heroes. The hearts are made from polymer clay and are sent to the remaining soldiers in remembrance of all our lost friends and family members.

It all started in 2004 due to a news story about our soldiers in Iraq who had recently passed away. It showed pictures of the deceased soldiers which touched one woman so deeply that she wanted to give something back to the troops. Her idea was a heart that represented her love and appreciation for them and was small enough for the soldiers to carry with them where ever they went.

She wasn’t the only one that had affection for the soldiers that were over there fighting for freedom and justice for all. It didn’t take long before other polymer clay artists rallied around her idea and this started what is known today as “Hearts for Heroes” .One of the artists was able to find a source to send the hearts to for distribution and they are still being sent today. It isn’t any kind of non-profit organization or “volunteer” group, just a group of people making hearts out the goodness of their heart’s to show support for our troops.

If you want to make hearts to send to our troops, visit the “official” website for more details and to view some of the hearts that have been sent overseas.

Next Polymer Clay Idea:

DIY Homemade Clay with Cornstarch – The Best Recipe…

Every good hostess knows a serving platter is the secret weapon at a party. It corrals snacks, makes everything look intentional, and saves you from running back and forth with little bowls. This DIY divided platter takes that idea one step further: each section is labeled with hand-drawn illustrations, making it both useful and irresistibly charming.

The original inspiration came from these tapas-style platters, but we’re creating an English version featuring everyday snacks and nibbles. It’s fun, it’s functional, and it makes even store-bought crackers look Pinterest-worthy.

Materials You’ll Need

White ceramic clay (or air-dry clay if you don’t have access to a kiln)
Rolling pin or slab roller
Oval platter base template (downloadable below)
Divider templates (downloadable below)
Scoring tool + slip for joining clay
Sponge and rib tool for smoothing
Cobalt blue underglaze pencil OR blue underglaze with a fine brush
Kiln + clear glaze (for ceramic clay) OR a food-safe sealant (for air-dry clay)

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Shape the Base

Roll a slab of clay about ½ inch thick. Place the oval platter template on top and cut out your base. Smooth edges with a damp sponge.

Step 2: Add Dividers

Use the divider templates to cut strips of clay. Attach them to the base by scoring and slipping. Smooth joins and curve the edges slightly for a handmade look.

Step 3: Refine

Let the platter dry until it’s leather-hard. At this stage, you can tidy the walls, soften corners, and make sure the surface is smooth.

Step 4: Draw Your Illustrations

Here’s where the personality shines. Using an underglaze pencil or fine brush, sketch quick doodles into each section. Keep them loose and playful, not perfect. Our platter has:

Cheese – wedges with holey details
Ham – loose stack of wavy slices
Anchovies – three slim fish outlines
Sardines – larger, striped fish drawings
Salami – one log plus a few round slices with dotted speckles
Olives – oval shapes with pits, some sliced open
Tomatoes – little cluster of round tomatoes tied together

Note: Drawings are slightly altered from the original for a fresh, unique design.

Step 5: Fire and Finish

For ceramic clay: bisque fire, add clear glaze, and glaze fire.
For air-dry clay: allow to dry fully, then paint with a clear food-safe sealant if you’ll use it for food. Otherwise, it makes a perfect decorative tray.