Creating a Mummy for an Art Project

Walk like an Egyptian.

Around 2600 B.C., Egyptians began mummifying the dead, according to Encyclopedia Smithsonian. Egyptians thought the body housed the soul and spirit but mummification was an expensive process, so only pharaohs, nobility and officials received this treatment. The mysteries of ancient Egypt and mummies are a fascinating subject for any age group to study. Making a faux mummy as an art project, regardless of what your age, is simple to accomplish with the proper materials and tools.

Things You'll Need

• Newspapers
• Prop skeleton (can be purchased at a seasonal decorative store)
• Rubber cement
• Double-sided tape
• Scissors
• 15 yards of white torn cotton fabric or bandages (available at medical supply stores)

Instructions

Creating A Mummy

1. Cover a large surface, such as a table or counter top, with newspaper to protect the area from adhesive. If any newspaper rubs onto the bandages during the mummification process, it will make the bandages look more authentic.

2. Cover the crevices of the skeleton and difficult-to-reach areas, such as the neck, elbows and knees, using rubber cement. This will ensure the bandages stay in place and do not reveal the skeleton.

3. Wrap the skeleton, starting at the top of the head, with a strip of fabric and work your way down the mummy's body. Use the scissors to cut certain strips of fabric to fit the body parts accordingly. Continue wrapping the skeleton until only bandages are visible and the mummy is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Many states regulate sale of inhalants, which includes some adhesives, to people younger than 18. For this reasons, if you are under 18, you may need a parent or guardian to purchase rubber cement.

References

• Standing Mummy
• Encyclopedia Smithsonian