The frame is the basic canvas for the paintings or etchings on a cartouche. Materials' options include,textured paper or cardstock, papyrus, craft foam, posterboard, cardboard, yellow construction paper, gold wrapping paper, wood or modeling clay. Cut or sculpt the frame material into an oval or oblong shape. Children will need adult help using power tools if you choose to work in wood.
Ancient Egyptians wrote with pictographs or hieroglyphs instead of the letters of the modern Roman alphabet. Each symbol stood for a sound or idea. Print could run right to left, left to right, vertically or be stacked in groups.To find the hieroglyphic spelling of your name, consult a hieroglyphic alphabet such as the one at the Kid Zone website. Experiment with the arrangement of the glyphs until you find one that satisfies you and will fit within the shape of the cartouche frame. Carefully inscribe your hieroglyphic name on the frame using markers, paint or chiseling tools. Alternately, make paper or foam cutouts of the hieroglyphs and glue them in place.
The rope surrounding the name symbolized a powerful magic that was supposed to protect the name from obliteration and preserve the soul in the afterlife. Draw, paint or carve the oval rope pattern around the name. Another option is to surround the name with ribbon, yarn, twine or rope and tape, glue or tack it in place.
If you are making a cartouche wall or door hanging or pendant, the horizontal stand can be drawn, painted or chiseled on one end of the rope as part of the design. The cartouche then hangs from a string or yarn. If you want to make a stand-alone cartouche, fashion a wooden, cardboard or clay horizontal support that has a trench in which the cartouche frame sits upright.