plaster

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plaster
By Julianne

Laurie, I've done hand casts a couple of different ways. They are messy, but not particularly expensive. You can buy a big sack of plaster for around $5.00 here. I've never used sand as the casting medium, but it could
work. It's not messy if you do it one child at a time (the ONLY way I'd do this) and have an adult to help.
Basically, you use something (clay, playdough, mud, sand?) that will take a print. Have the child press his hand into the medium. Then fill the impression with plaster. Pour the plaster into the hand and continue filling until there is a full, round puddle of plaster on top of

the handprint. This way the individual fingers will have a base to sit on and will be less likely to break off. Mix the plaster with water to the consistency of toothpaste and mix only enough for one cast at a time, as it sets up pretty fast.

Let the completed mold set overnight. The next day each child can remove their handprint, wash it off, and prepare it for presentation any way you wish.

I use a disposable plate to contain each child's print. Write their name on the bottom of the plate.

Use disposable cups and craft sticks to mix the plaster and throw the whole thing in the garbage when you're finished. NEVER rinse anything plastery in the sink. The plaster sets up in your pipes and your janitor will never speak to you again.

If you want to save sand, do your class in thirds. Have one third cast the first day, then recycle the sand for the next third and the last third on day three. The amount of material that sticks to the plaster is minimal.

To finish the projects you might want each child to cut felt and glue it to the bottom of their cast. Or you could mount the cast on a pretty base.

Have fun!