How to Make an Ankh Amulet

Egyptian ankh pattern.

The ankh is the Egyptian symbol for eternal life. When made from lightweight polymer clay, the ankh can be worn easily around your neck. Here is how to make one of your own ankh amulets.

Things You'll Need

• 2-oz. block of polymer clay (Sculpey Premo or Fimo)
• Rolling pin or pasta machine
• Conventional or toaster oven
• Baking tray
• Parchment paper or brown paper bag
• X-Acto knife
• Jewelry cording
• Ankh pattern
• Desktop printer

Instructions

Constructing Your Ankh Amulet

1. Begin by printing out your ankh pattern piece to the desired size. Cut out pattern piece and set aside.

2. 

   Condition your clay by kneading it in your hands. Continue kneading until clay is soft and pliable.

3. 

   Using your pasta machine or rolling pin, roll out the clay until it is no more than 1/4-inch thick.

4. Placing your clay on a flat surface, position the ankh pattern on top of the clay.

5. 

   With your X-Acto knife, cut around the pattern piece, taking special care when cutting out the center of the ankh. Carefully separate the excess clay from the piece as you cut.

6. Slowly lift the ankh clay piece from the surface on which it was cut. Removing too quickly will cause the piece to distort or even tear.

7. 

   Place the uncooked ankh on a tray lined with parchment paper or paper from a brown paper bag. Bake for 30 minutes at 275 degrees Fahrenheit; if using Sculpey Premo. If using Fimo brand polymer clay, bake for 30 minutes at 230 degrees.

8. When the ankh has finished baking, take the finished piece from the oven and allow it to cool.

9. Now that the piece is cooled, you can add your jewelry cording by simply stringing the cording through the ankh's opening.

Tips & Warnings

• To create a bevel-like surface on your ankh, place plastic wrap over the clay before you cut. If you have any decorative stamps, you can further embellish your piece before baking by stamping the imprint into the uncooked clay. Baked clay can be easily painted using acrylic paints. Use paints to add further decoration to your ankh.

• NEVER exceed cooking temperatures on polymer clay. Doing so can cause the clay to scorch and eventually burn which will leak toxic fumes into your oven. Do NOT use a microwave oven for curing your ankh. Unless you are using a tray dedicated to polymer clay, be sure to cover the tray's surface with parchment paper or a brown paper bag. This insures that it will remain food safe after baking your clay.

References

• Baking information for Sculpey Premo