A Crafty Arab: Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Amazigh are an indigenous ethnic group that live in Africa. They follow a nomadic lifestyle but generally tend to hang in countries like Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

In the past, they have mistakenly been refered to as "Berbers." This term was given to them by a Roman general and was later found in Muslim historical documents. They name they prefer is Amazigh, or Imazighen the plural, which means "free and noble men."

Amazigh jewelry is beautiful because it was one of the few things that the nomadic lifestyle could support. Since the groups usually picked up camp and traveled from place to place, adornment that would go on walls as paintings or quilts in other homes turned into art that was shown in personal adornment and cloth weavings.

Cynthia Becker, a professor of art and architecture history at Boston University, explains how "the body adornments are not only masterpieces of thier identity, but also reveal the strength of women within their tribal worlds."

Inspired by looking at Amazigh jewelry online, we came up with this gold and black bracelet to honor my Amazigh Taita (Arabic for Grandmother) from Derneh, Libya. Allah Yarhamha (May God Rest Her Soul)

Supplies
Oversized stamp
Black shrinky dink
Circle cutter
Hole punch
Oval rings
2 Pliers
Clasp
StazOn ink (works on plastic)
Cutting mat

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Stamp your design on the shrinky dink three times on one sheet, leaving plenty of room for cutting.

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Your will have six stamps when you are done. Leave them out in the sun to dry.

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Use your circle cutter and cut out the designs. Use your hole punch to cut out two holes across from each other.

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Laying two at a time in your oven tray, bake them according to instructions.

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Your design will shrink to about a third of the side of the original. Here we've put the two together so you'll get an idea.

Amazigh Inspired Shrinky Dink Bracelet Tutorial by A Crafty Arab

Take an oval ring and attach two gold circles to each other, contine to attach until you get to the end two. Use two more oval rings and attach a clasp to one end.