Start with a rough little block shaped like an animal, and file it into a smooth, shiny carving you made yourself.

Soapstone is one of the softest stones there is, soft enough to shape with a simple file. Each kit comes with a pre-cut animal blank, a steel rasp, sandpaper from coarse to super fine, and step-by-step instructions. Pick your animal: bird, bear, turtle, cat, dog or elephant.

It's a couple of hours of hands-on, screen-free fun, and you end up with something real to keep. Kids love it, and so do grown-ups who want a calm, absorbing project. People also do them together at parties, camps and family nights.

What's in the kit

• One pre-cut soapstone animal blank.
• A steel carving rasp.
• Four sheets of sandpaper: 100, 360, 600 and 2000 grit.
• Step-by-step instructions.

How to use it

• Shape the details with the rasp first
• Work through the sandpapers, coarse to fine
• Make it a family night or party activity
• Collect all six animals

Care: Carving makes fine dust, so work over newspaper or a tray and wipe up with a damp cloth when you're done.

The details

• Stone: Soapstone
• Unit size: 1 1/2" to 3"
• Options: Bird, Bear, Turtle, Cat, Dog, Elephant
• Sold as: Kit
• Country of origin: Brazil