Turtle Shell Inspired Coasters

One of the best things we can use for inspiration for the creation of products is nature. This time, I wanted to make a project that could include various shades of green and then I thought about the beautiful combinations of green that turtles usually have, creating incredible patterns and drawings on their shells.

This Instructable is inspired by them, I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Step 1: Supplies

1. Yellow polymer clay
2. Blue polymer clay
3. Acrylic sheet
4. Acrylic tube (to use as a roller)
5. Polymer clay extruder
6. Cutter Aluminum foil
7. Green foam sheet
8. Scissors
9. Liquid silicone
10. Circular box (whatever size you want the cup holders to be)

Step 2:

Cut the polymer clay into several sections and create groups with different proportions of blue and yellow to create different shades of green.

Mix each group until a uniform tone is obtained.

Step 3:

Create a cylinder with each created color.

Step 4:

Cut thin sheets (approx 3 to 5 mm) and join them in a random order.

Step 5:

Put the created cylinder inside the extruder and use the square shape to extrude.

Step 6:

Extrude the material and cut approx every 8 cm.

Step 7:

Join the pieces and cut sheets of approx. 3 or 5 mm. (For this you can cut several thick sheets and cut in half again, repeating this process until you get the desired thickness)

Step 8:

Join the pieces to create a single sheet.

Step 9:

With the help of the acrylic tube, smooth and join the joined parts, creating a single sheet.

Step 10:

In addition, create a green sheet, which will later be attached to the sheet that we have created with texture.

Step 11:

Place the textured sheet over the green sheet and roll the acrylic tube over them to join them.

Step 12:

Use the circular box as a cutter to create the circular coasters.

Step 13:

They are ready to be baked.

Step 14:

With the leftovers I decided to make a turtle.

To do this, knead the polymer clay creating a sphere and cover it with part of the sheet that has texture.

Step 15:

Then, cut this sphere into two parts, a larger one that will be the shell at the top and the smaller one will be the bottom. Add a thin cylinder around the largest part.

Step 16:

With one finger, mark the part from which the turtle's head will emerge.

With green polymer clay create a large drop shape, this will be used as the head and neck of the turtle.

Step 17:

Create four smaller drops and curve them as shown in the images, then flatten them a bit, these will be the legs of the turtle.

Step 18:

Join the part that was cut from the initial sphere, as the bottom part of the turtle.

With the cutter mark the shape of the mouth and the hexagons of the shell.

Step 19:

For the eyes, create two white and two black spheres, flatten them a little and attach them to the head of the turtle.

Step 20:

Place the pieces to be baked on aluminum foil, on a baking sheet, and bake according to the instructions for the polymer clay used.

Step 21:

When the figures are ready and cold, apply liquid silicone to the bottom of the coasters and stick them to the foam sheet.

Step 22:

When the silicone is dry, cut the edges of the foam sheet.

And your coasters are ready to be used!

Step 23:

As a complement to decorate or give them as a gift, you can add a fabric ribbon to hold them together.