Beginners Project - Make an Egyptian Style Miniature Mummy....spooky!

The Mummy

My mummy is called Kikkerikotep or Kiki for short, and he is a 6" high plastic skeleton wrapped in strips of calico. Once he was fully wrapped he was painted with a mix of glue, water and brown paint to fix the wrappings in place and to give them an aged look. His eyes are red glass seed beads. Somehow he looks more cheerful than menacing so maybe he has those red eyes not because he possesses some sort of evil power but simply because he's been awake for the past two thousand years.

You will need

• 6" tall plastic skeleton
• PVA glue
• Calico (or similar cotton/linen fabric)
• Scissors
• Cotton balls
• Burnt umber acrylic paint
• 2x red glass seed beads

Step 1

Cut your fabric into 15-20 strips about 3-5mm wide and about 20cm long. Cut a few extra strips about 2-3mm wide and 10cm long for the hands and feet.

Step 2

If your skeleton has movable legs, secure them in a standing position by putting a dab of hot glue at the hip.  Carefully cut the arms at the joints and use hot glue to re-attach in an outstretched pose.

Step 3

Loop one strip of fabric around an ankle passing one end of the strip under the loop to form a knot and pull tight, leaving a few centimetres of strip to hang free.

Step 4 

Wrap the remaining length of the strip around the leg moving up with each turn. Overlap the lower layer of fabric on most turns, but leave a gap between random turns to leave the bone beneath exposed.

Step 5

When you reach the end of a strip, secure the end by passing it underneath the last turn of the fabric and pull tight. Start a new strip where the last ran out by forming a knot in the same manner as around the ankle and continue to wrap around the skeleton.

Wrap both legs from the ankle to the hip then both arms from the wrist to the shoulder.

Step 6

Place one or two cotton balls in the stomach between the ribs and hips to create a less emaciated figure. Secure a fabric strip around the top of one leg. Bring the strip diagonally up across the belly, around the back and pass it between the legs from the front, wrap around the hip to bring it back to the front. You may need to repeat this step several times until the hip/crotch area is completely covered.

Continue winding the strips around the stomach, chest, shoulders and neck.

Step 7

When you reach the head, place a small dab of glue on the nose area. Start a new strip of fabric by tying around the neck and bring it from the back of the head, pass it over the nose pressing it into the glue to secure it. Pass the fabric strip around the back of the head and up around the forehead a few times then pass the strip under the chin and up around the top of the head avoiding the eye sockets. When the head is completely covered, finish the strip by securing with a dab of glue.

Step 8

Use the narrower fabric strips to wrap around the wrists and weave between the fingers and around the ankles and toes.

Step 9

To create an aged look, carefully pluck the loose ends of the strips with your fingers to fray the ends of the fabric.

Step 10

Mix even amounts of PVA glue and water and a little burnt umber paint. Use a paintbrush to dab this mix over the wrapped mummy to age and stiffen the wrappings, remembering to test it in an inconspicuous area first.

Step 11

Place a dab of glue into each eye socket and carefully place a red glass bead in each for the eyes.

Alternatives

• If you can't find a skeleton, try making a body shape out of polymer or air dry clay.
• Try wrapping the strips around the body diagonally to create a diamond pattern.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Cheap 6" plastic skeletons for use in the project are readily available on eBay! Ann

INFORMATION

If you want to see more of Linda’s fabulous miniatures go to her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/alennka.celestial (you will have to copy and paste this address into your internet browser)

This feature was originally published in Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine. If you like making miniatures, why not buy yourself a copy of the magazine. Or better still take out a subscription so you never miss an issue. For fans of Facebook and Twitter, or to email, print or comment on the feature, please use the buttons above to share with your friends.

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