After reading (and listening to and re-reading) the Hunger Games trilogy, I needed a Mockingjay pin for the midnight premiere (and every day). I browsed Amazon & etsy and came up disappointed by the options. So, I made my own.

Below the jump, you’ll find instructions on how to make your own. Alternatively, if you don’t want to make your own, you can click that picture and buy one of mine.

For this project, you’ll need polymer clay (I used Sculpy), a printout of the Mockinjay, gold spray paint, clear acrylic coating, strong glue, a pencil, an xacto knife (or clay cutting tools if you’re better at using them than I am), pinbacks, headpins, sandpaper, (not pictured), wire cutters, and an oven.

Step 1: Roll out clay. You may have a tool specifically designed for this, but I’m more prepared for cocktails than crafts, so I used my cocktail shaker.

Step 2: With your printouts placed on top of your clay, trace around the edges. Make sure to trace over the wings, to create an imprint.

Now you know where to cut!

Step 3: Using the imprints as your guide, cut out the Mockingjay. Don’t worry about the arrow shaft – just cut out the arrow’s feathers & arrowhead.

You should have something like this.

Step 4: Push your headpin through the ring, beak, & wing so that it becomes your arrow shaft.

Step 5: Using wire cutters, trim the head part of your headpin away and insert it into your arrowhead.

Step 6: (not pictured) remove the headpin (you’ll put it back after cooking).

Step 7: (not pictured) cook your clay according to directions. (For Sculpey, it’s 15 minutes for every 1/4″ of thickness at 275 degrees Fahrenheit).

Step 8 (not pictured) reinsert the headpin once the clay is cool.

Step 9: dab a little bit of your glue on the end of the headpin.

Step 10: Reinsert pin into arrowhead.

Step 11: Use your sandpaper to smooth away any rough spots.

Step 12: Go outside. Spray paint one side of your Mockingjays. Let dry. Spray paint the other side. Let dry. Spray both sides with acrylic coating. Let dry.

Step 13: Catch up on SNL while you wait for your pins to dry.

Once dry, you should have something like this.

Step 14: Glue the pinback to your Mockingjay. Let dry.

Step 15: Wear proudly.

And that’s it! If you use this tutorial, I’d love to see your results!