Category: Crafts (Page 3 of 9)

Over a decade ago, on my way back from some activity in some European country, I had layover at Heathrow, where I chanced about the British Museum Store. There I found a “Fun with Amulet” kit, which allows you to make all sorts of Egyptian amulets with clay. I got it for my sister, who was then a teenager.

Apparently she didn’t like it, because she doesn’t seemed to have opened it – but she kept it and this year gave it to Camila for Xmas. We finally opened it today and I’m surprised at how well the clay kept, and how cool the kit is.
In reality, the kit is very simple. It has a mold with different amulet shapes, 3 rather small clay bars, a few backings for the amulets (to make into pins, earrings, etc.) and a little booklet. But the girls had fun making the amulets (though I had to help, specially with the smaller ones) and I think they may even wear them. Well, maybe (Mika doesn’t believe in magic or amulets, and thus sees no point in having them, or so she said today).

In all, I’m quite happy that I bought the kit and that my sister kept it all these years 🙂

BTW, the kit is available through some sellers at Amazon. I thought it was quite expensive at first (about $30 after shipping), but I probably paid just as much when I bought it and I think it’s really worth it giving how cool it is.

Update

We are throwing an Ancient Egyptian party for Mika’s 8th birthday and the kit is coming very handy. I’m making ankh necklaces for everyone and small scarabs to put with the invitations. I will probably use some of the other amulets as part of the scavenger hunt.

Update 2.

While I love the amulets we made, they are *very* fragile, both those I made with the enclosed clay and those that came with the Sculpey clay I bought. None of the keychains we made survived purses or pockets, and some of the ankh necklaces we made broke already (I’m making extra for the party). I think the problem is that they are too thin – or am I underbaking them?

The amulets we made: