So, I’d been seeing this “kayalami” stuff pop up here and there. Looked pretty neat, you know? People making all sorts of cool patterns on things. I had this old wooden pencil holder, plain as anything, and thought, why not? Let’s give this kayalami a whirl. Seemed like a chill weekend project.
Getting Started with the Mess
I managed to get my hands on what they called a “starter kit.” Sounded official. Inside, there were a few small bags of colored powders, some kind of sticky liquid in a bottle, and a couple of little wooden sticks. The instructions were, uh, minimal. Mostly just pictures, and not very clear ones at that. I figured, how hard can it be? Famous last words, right?
First thing was mixing. I picked a blue powder. The instructions showed mixing it with the liquid. Simple enough, I thought. Well, let me tell you.
The Actual “Doing It” Part
I started mixing that powder and liquid. At first, it was just clumpy. Added a bit more liquid. Suddenly, it was like soup. Too runny! Okay, more powder. Back and forth I went. It felt like I was trying to invent a new kind of goo rather than following a craft. Eventually, I got something that looked vaguely like a paste. Emphasis on vaguely.
Then came applying it to my pencil holder. The idea is to spread a thin, even layer. Easier said than done. My first attempt looked like a toddler had finger-painted with mud. It was streaky, lumpy, and just… bad. I had to scrape it all off. What a waste of that precious goo I’d spent ages mixing!
- Attempt one: Streaky disaster.
- Attempt two: Better, but still lumpy. The paste started drying too fast in some spots.
- Attempt three: Okay, this was getting somewhere. I learned to work faster and in smaller sections.
Patience, I tell you, patience is key. And maybe a better set of tools than just those little sticks. My fingers ended up being the best spreaders, which also meant everything was covered in blue smudges.
The Big Reveal (Sort Of)
After what felt like forever, I got a layer on that I could live with. The instructions said to let it air dry for a good 24 hours. So, I set it aside, trying not to poke it. The next day, it was hard. Not exactly the super smooth, glossy finish I’d seen in the fancy pictures online, mind you. Mine had character. Yeah, let’s call it character. A few bumps here and there, a slightly uneven color, but hey, it was definitely unique.
So, What’s the Verdict on Kayalami?
You know what? It wasn’t the quick and easy thing I thought it would be. It took time, it was messy, and the result wasn’t professional grade by any stretch. But I actually kind of enjoyed the process once I got the hang of the mixing. There’s something satisfying about making something with your own hands, even if it’s a bit wonky.
Would I do kayalami again? Maybe. I’d definitely want better instructions and probably watch a few more videos if I could find any. For anyone thinking of trying it, my advice is: don’t expect perfection on your first go. Just embrace the mess and see what happens. It’s a learning curve, for sure. And wear gloves. Definitely wear gloves.
