Materials

• Heart-shaped cookie cutter
• A baking potato
• Sharp knife (to be used by adults only)
• Green poster or tempura paint
• Paint brush
• Craft paper, muslin bags or other surface for stamping

Directions

1. Using a plain baking potato, a heart-shaped cookie cutter and some green paint, kids can make their own custom shamrock stamp. Begin by choosing a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Once you've decided on the size of your cookie cutter, select a baking potato that is both long and wide enough to accommodate the whole cookie cutter. Slice the potato in half lengthwise. Press the heart-shaped cookie cutter onto the flesh side of one half of the potato.
2. Once you have made the outline, an adult can then use a sharp knife to cut away the potato around the heart shape. The heart shape should protrude from the rest of the potato by about one inch in order to work as a stamp. This method allows your child to hold onto the potato as he stamps.
3. Another option is to cut the heart shape entirely out of the potato. Dip the heart shape into green paint, wiping away any excess with a paper towel or sponge. Carefully stamp three hearts in the shape of a shamrock onto your work surface. Use a paintbrush or a thin slice of potato dipped in green paint to make a stem to complete the shamrock.