From: PrairieMoon@webtv.net (Prairie Stock)

Hi, everybody! I'm kinda new to this. So bear with me, OK? I'm still tryng to get the hang of the net thing, and my typing isn't the greatest, but anyway, here goes. I made a set of runes from an antler I found in the woods. First, slice the antler into 25 pieces, about 1/4 " thick. WEAR A FACE MASK FOR THIS---THE FUMES ARE TOXIC!! It also smells really bad, so get this part over with as soon as possible. I use a table saw. Then, sand the pieces until smooth. I use a dremel for this because I like the polishing tips. After you get the pieces sanded, stain them with wood stain. If you wear gloves (plastic), you can just dip them in the stain can. After they dry, I use the engraving tip on my dremel to engrave each rune, then paint the rune symbol. Hit them one more time with the buffing tip of the dremel or buff them by hand with a chamois, and you've got a natural and impressive rune set!

Hi, I was interested in your using antler slices for the runes, I have been making earrings from deer antler slices for many years, I use a band saw so there is little sanding if any to do, and your right it smells awful...but as far as I know its not toxic, I do where a face mask because of the dust but have not had any problems with the antler dust, it helps to coat the antlers with varnish or polyurethane, as the antlers will

keep on drying until they become brittle......Llyn-y-Van

From: "U.G.Coffey" <ursusmajor@earthlink.net>

Merry Meet, folks!

I'm new to this list; it's my first posting! I happened to notice that Bast wants to make runes. I made Goddess Runes, as in the book of the same name by P.M.H. Atwater, which are not the same as the regular nordic runes, but they are wonderful, and I'm sure the same methods could be employed for both. (The book has little stickers in the back to actually stick onto rocks, but you wouldn't need to use them.) Anyway, what I did was get some harden-in-the-oven clay at a craft store, which I rolled into balls about the size of shooter marbles, then I flattened them slightly against the table, so they looked kind of like little hamburger buns. Then I used a popsicle stick to incise the actual runes on my "stones" and baked them according to the package directions. When they came out, I used acrylic craft paint to make the runes stand out by painting in the incised marks I had made. Then I varnished them with an acrylic sealer. A lot of this stuff you could probably find at a hardware store. Then I bought a fancy cloth remnant at the fabric store and sewed a little drawstring bag for the runes to live in.

Alternatively, You could acquire real pebbles, about the size of almonds in the shell, and paint with acrylic paint on the, a few coats, then varnish with an acrylic sealer. I'm heavy into acrylic because it is water-soluble till it dries, then it's very difficult to remove accidentally. Also, it dries pretty quickly from the outside in. The acrylic sealer is just to make sure the runes don't chip each other while in the bag, plus, if you get the clear glossy kind, it makes them look shiny.I hope this helps. No expertise or artistic talent required!

Merry Part,

Ursus

From: AriRashkae@aol.com

My husband and I bought those little cabuchons (sp?) that are put into vases >to hold flowers, and we want to make runes out of them. My only question is: >Does anyone know of a good way to make the incising stand out and make the >symbols noticable? > >And I'm familiar with the Futhark (Norse) runes, but I was wondering what >others were out there. Any ideas? > >Thanks! > >B*B >Suzanne

From: "morgana" <morgana@desertlinc.com>

I have used a silver pen on mine. It doesn't come off easily, and looks nice!! BB, Morgana morgana@desertlinc.com

From: darjeeling@spiritualitea.com

You can etch any type of glass using a creme that is available in most art/craft stores. It's called "Armour Etch" and you can make precise designs by cutting a stencil out of contact paper or looser designs by painting it on the glass. After about 5 minutes you wash it off. It's very simple, though I wouldn't let kids play with the stuff. If you have difficulty finding it nearby, ask for a catalog from www.nascofa.com

From: "Angela Dickins" <whytewolf3@hotmail.com> T

A good plan is to go to your favorite beach..or forest, whichever you like, and choose the alotted number of stones for your runes and paint them on with either coresponding colours or black. Whytewolf

From: Bridgidhp@aol.com

My circle made there own 'rune' or divination tools. We used self hardening clay, wood circles, found branch slices and penny tiles. Each person used the item that felt right. Think of the energy you want present during the divination. The symbols can be burned into wood or painted on. Each person also determined the appropiate type of rune set. Some went Nordic, soem Goddess, some Ogham and some personal symbols. We spent a evening together with this craft and then completed them at home. We blessed them at Samhain but dark moon would be fine. It was a wonderful time. Good luck creating yours. Bridgidhp

From: Bridgidhp@aol.com

Re: Glass etching on runes

Forst try to Dremel your runes into the pieces. (eyewear and a safe area key when doing glass). Then paint the incised area in a deep tone or a metallic. There is also a book called "Goddess Runes" several in my circle [refered it to the traditional. There is also the Oghams which others in my circle used. Merry Met Bridgidhp

From: "Carla Christopher" <lionmark@hotmail.com>

in regards to creating runes, rather than inscribing the symbols into the stones i used the artists india ink i use to darken water for scying and it worked great. it's easy to control, extremely dark and it's chip resistant plus it's only anout $2 a bottle at any office supply store or art store. good luck and blessings, cassie

From: "Robin Hopkins" <smellycat@seacove.net>

MM Suzanne- I bought the same stones from Wall-mart in the craft section, and I also bought a gold paint pen and painted the runes on them. Hope that helps, Robin

From: "Moonchaser" <moonchaser@snet.net>

As a Person that has work with stain glass for many years JUT to let you Know thoughts piece of glass will not etch very good and they will chip and break very easel in your pouch. But if you still want to use them the glass etching kit is the only way of doing this Moonchaser

From: NSBL@aol.com

It may take some time to find river or creek rocks the same size, but they can be painted and even laquered. BB Sha nsbl@aol.com

From: lynifyni@dc.jones.com

I used fimo...flattened them into disc shapes, carved the symbol into each one, sprinkled it with glitter, baked them and voila! my own runes. Lynn

From: "Heather" <hhernan1@tampabay.rr.com>

I just finished making my own set of runes. I used a low fire clay from a local clay factory that my favorite ceramic store recomended. I pulled off small pieces of clay and formed them into the shape I wanted. You must be very careful to roll the clay hard to be sure to get all the air out, or they will explode when you fire them. After waiting a week for them to air dry, I took them to the ceramic shop to be fired into bisque. I then pained the rune symbols on with a beautiful blue, then painted a clear glaze over the entire stone. Again they went to the ceramic shop to be fired.

I have to say they are beautiful. I am so proud of them. I think what is most important is that they were made with my hands and was able to charge them with my energy and make them truly mine.

The clay cost $12.00 for a 25 pound block (they wouldn't sell smaller amounts), but I turned the rest in to the ceramic shop for further credit. Paints were left overs I had, but generally cost around $2 or less. Each firing cost $3. Still far less then some of the sets I have seen....and I still think mine are better :)

It took alot of time. But it was worth it. I can't wait until the next full moon to cleanse them.

I hope this helps :)

Brightest Blessings, Heather

From: MmeUnicorn@aol.com

>Does anyone know of a good way to make the incising stand out and make >the symbols noticable?

Metallic paint, rubbed on with a cloth, and rubbed off immediately should do the trick. The paint will stay in the cut-away areas when you rub off the rest. Failing that, paint markers with a fine tip are also really handy. Bright Blessings! Wendy, TGLW

From: Nekosong@aol.com

Wipe them with black or red paint, being sure to remove all except for the incising. Charlene

From: Melia Newman <hunin@onramp.net>

Actually I made my first set of Runes with some stones that I picked up from the local kids playground. They were nice and smooth and it didn't take long before I had 22 of all about the same size. I went home and washed them in water then wrote the runes on with permanent marker and coated with clear fingernail polish. River stone would be even better for this. Melia

From: PrairieMoon@webtv.net

Etch the rune into the glass using a diamond tip stylus or electric etching tool, then use "Rub-N-Etch". It's available in most craft stores. It sticks to the etched part & wipes off everything else. It's available in lots of colors, but the metalic colors seem to work best. ..... There are a lot of runes out there, but if it's going to be a private set, why not make up your own symbols? For example, a moon sign could mean Use your intuition. The sun could be Happiness. Etc.

From: Lady Kriss <goddess@n-link.com>

There are more then those three, that is just the Nordic. You also have Celtic runes... man to many to list. I have a huge file somewhere here on all the different runes and their different divination qualities. I will hunt it down and search it out. Also whoever is sending the MIME go and fix it in your browser, it is not recieving correctly here. Raven

From: bi530@scn.org
Date: Thu Nov 23, 2000 9:19pm
Subject: INFO: making rune cards


Rune Cards.
Hi, this is LJ and I just wanted to let you know of a little project that has worked out very well for me. After years of trying to get clear results with the tarot, I finally gave up and have recently started working with the runes. I've had a lot of success with them right away which has been very gratifying.

A few days ago, I was at the local Office Max. I saw several different types of business cards for computers. I got a pack of them right away and made a small set of rune cards. It was very inexpensive and very rewarding. I simply got the granite gray and made the runes with a red pen. They are small, very easy to take in a purse or pack, and you can sew or crochet a bag for them. they can even be carried in a pouch around you neck. I just love them.

I saw the cards in a few designs- leaves, sky,impressionist designs and several colors such as parchment, lavender, granite grey, granite brown, granite white, plain white and lite blue. I know some other places have an even larger selection.

You can probably adapt this to other divination systems, and even use them to make your own.

Enjoy
LJ

From: ptj
Date: Mon May 22, 2000 5:29am
Subject: INFO: Making Runes


I can't recall if I've ever posted anything to this list before, so I can't recall if I'm doing this right....

As I don't remember the original rune question I'm not sure if my suggestion is applicable, but here goes. Fimo and other clays of that sort (I can't remember the brand names I've seen) make lovely runes and I've seen several truly enviable sets. But I did it the easy way. I went to Michaels/Hobby Lobby/Ben Franklin (any craft store that carries wooden items for decorating will have these) and bought a bunch of little (about 2" diameter) circular disks. I painted them front and back with a color I really liked (it was pale lavender, but my next set will probably be a metallic blue) and, when that dried, I used a fine point black paint pen to write in the rune. When it was all dry again I put on a coat of clear sealant (varnish?) This takes a little time because you can't do both sides at once, but the time is mostly spent waiting for it to dry...

Also, my next set will have small decoupage flowers or something similar on the back. A little more work, but I like the Victorian look.

*BB*
gypsy

Subject: runes and bags......
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 11:08:43 -0700

From: "Moonshadow & Trout Boy"

MM!
The finest way to make runes that will truelly be a work of art is to use "Fimo" or a like kind of oven baked clay. Get a bake'in try and sprinkle a tiny amount of talcum powder on it.....get an off white color of clay ( or any other pale color you like ).....warm it in your hands till pliable and then make a set of round balls for the number of runes your make'in....small balls!!!! about the size of a small grape.......then when you have the correct number of clay balls...flatten them into roundish coin shapes or whatever you desire....moon shapes ...triangles ect....just leave enough room for a small runes symbol to be inscribed......

Then we do the back design before the rune inscribing.....its a little easier that way....you can take a leaf or a sun or moon harm,a spiral or a tiny shell even a tiny stamp........and gently press it into the clay rune to leave an impression.....do this gently..you dont want to mash out your shape OR squash the runes to your tray your working on cuz then you cant flip it over to inscribe your rune with out mashing up the shape of the rune!!!!