Plaster cast of a leg. How to make a cast of a hand and foot from plaster? Salt dough print

What to give grandma for March 8? Gifts from grandchildren are the most expensive, so grandmothers will be happy with everything. It is especially important that the baby takes part in the preparation of the gift. Here is one of these gifts today I want to offer and show how to make salt dough for baby footprints.

When I saw this idea for the first time, it captivated me. No, it is not new, but the simplicity of its implementation immediately prompted the desire to repeat it to myself. Hope it inspires you too.

Necessary materials

• salt- 1 glass
• flour- 1 glass
• water- 1/2 cup
• rolling pin for rolling dough
• kitchen knife
• acrylic paint
• tassel for drawing

How to make footprints on salt dough

1. Cooking salt dough

Mixing salt (1 cup), flour (1 cup) and water (1/2 cup). Mix everything well to get a homogeneous dough.

The child can also help in this process. With his little fingers, he will really like to interfere with the dough.

2. Cut out the heart

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to make plate about 1.5-2 cm thick.

Cut out a heart

Put the heart on a baking sheet. I also covered the baking paper, but because of this, the bottom of the heart turned out to be uneven. It would probably be better to just put it on a baking sheet without paper.

I would be glad to hear your comments on this if you repeat the idea.

3. Footprints

With bare children's feet we make an imprint on the heart.

footprints

We got it right the first time. Although the child practically does not stand still, but those seconds that we need to leave an imprint, he stood still, enthusiastically watching the process.

Using a spoon, make an inscription on the heart.

4. Baking in the oven

Preheating the oven up to 100 degrees and put a baking sheet with the print of the legs for baking for 3 hours.

5. Paint the imprint of the legs

After I took the print out of the oven, I gave it some time to cool down and then carefully peel off the baking paper.

The original recipe says that you can paint a heart almost immediately, but I have it a couple more days lay down.

For painting I took acrylic paint. She dries quickly.

Paint the print of the legs

First I painted one side, and at the end of the day I painted the other.

Paint the print of the legs

You can also include a child in this process. Even if it turns out less accurately, but the main thing is the process. I haven't decided on this yet. We are now at an age when a child wants to do everything himself, he would not let me help, and at some point he himself could simply drop and break our imprint.

I am very pleased with the result. Now just need to find deep photo frame to put our present in it.

I didn't make a hole for hanging. The heart turned out to be not very light and could simply not withstand its weight, fall and break.

Please leave your feedback or comment. I'm very interested in your opinion!

Hello! I wanted to have casts of my son's legs and arms as a keepsake. In our city such a service is provided, but in my opinion it is too expensive. After wandering around the Internet, I decided that I could do it myself. I present to you the results of my labors. I will be glad if my material is useful to someone.

So, we need:
- photo frames (size and quantity depends on your idea)
- gypsum (regular or for artwork)
- plasticine (can be old)
- paints, including "metallic"
- varnish
- cardboard
- scissors, simple pencil, ruler, PVA glue
- glue (I have: moment super gel, in small tubes)
- sponge
- accessories for decoration (in my case, in a marine style - pebbles, shells, a boat, an anchor, a turtle).

I read about how to make casts at home here: http://www.chicco.com.ua/forum/sled-malysha-sdelaem-sami-t49618.html. The country also has such a master class
I took old plasticine from my eldest daughter, warmed it up in the microwave, made a cake (the hand or foot of the child should fit there), the height of the cake is at least three centimeters. Plasticine should be soft. We make an imprint of the part of the body that interests us)) The first time it may not work, do not despair! We crush, warm, make a cake and try again. In the end, you will achieve a result that satisfies you. When you make an imprint, the plasticine spreads on the sides, so before freezing, I carefully, so as not to spoil the shape, pressed the plasticine cake on the sides, the trace becomes a little more "slender" and deep. Then we put the plasticine in the freezer until it hardens.

In an art store, I bought this plaster for sculptural work.

When the plaster has hardened, you need to carefully remove the casts. To do this, I put the plasticine with casts from the oven at the lowest temperature so that it warms up and becomes soft, then it is easier to remove it. I dried the finished casts for another day, turning one side or the other. Otherwise, they remain damp, and we will attach them to the cardboard and it can become damp and soften from this.

While our casts harden and dry. Let's take a look at the frames. I have three of the simplest wooden frames, square, 13 cm. We disassemble, take out the back wall and glass. At the back there are metal plates that press the back wall, they need to be bent so that it turns out, as it were, the legs on which the frame is placed. So it will be more convenient to paint it.

Following the marine theme I had conceived, I painted the middle of the frames with white paint. I have this titanium white from the "Nevskaya Palitra". Bought at an art store. We cover with paint several times so that the tree does not shine through. Let's dry.

After the white paint had dried, I painted the inside and outside edges of the frames with blue paint now. I also painted over the sides of the frames. Painted the same several times. The blue paint I have is acrylic, all from the same art store, but was bought earlier for another job. Leave to dry (preferably overnight).

Now we need to work on deepening the framework. To do this, I used a very simple and understandable master class http://bond-mary.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-post_16.html .
Since the frames turned out to be slightly different, I numbered each frame with a pencil on the reverse side. And I made boxes for them, which I also numbered accordingly. I made the box from ordinary white cardboard for children's creativity. I deepened it by 1.5 cm. Then I painted it with white paint (the same one I used to paint the frames). Then she took a foam rubber sponge, dipped it in blue paint and began to blot it over white. The folds and corners were deliberately left white. We leave to dry.

Now we need to color our casts. I chose this silver paint.

Before painting, I slightly corrected the casts with sandpaper. I made smoother edges, removed some irregularities, but this must be done carefully. The molds can break easily. I applied the paint in several layers until I achieved the result I wanted. And again left to dry. After the silver paint had dried, I varnished the casts and frames. Tip: DO NOT use water-based varnish, the paint on the frame can mix even if it dries well. I have again a varnish from an art store)). Let the molds and frames dry.

When everything is dry, you can start decorating. We glue the mold. And around it is your flight of fancy. Glue I used - moment super-gel, in small tubes, universal. Pebbles are a soil for an aquarium made of marble chips, bought at a pet store. I bought shells in different places, in the scrapbooking department, in the needlework department, gutted souvenirs from the sea))) The turtle is a pendant for the bracelet, also from the scrapbooking department.

Here's what happened with the cast of the leg. Anchor bought in the department for scrapbooking.

The middle frame, as planned, should be with a photograph of the son. I processed his photo in Photoshop in accordance with the marine theme))) The result is such a composition.

Available to everyone. A casting made in accordance with all the rules and in compliance with the proportions when mixing the working solution will turn out to be very realistic.

The appearance of the finished product and its strength characteristics will depend on the quality of the gypsum. To achieve maximum similarity, a quality form is needed. For its manufacture, special materials are used.

Idea

For lovers, a plaster cast of a pair of hands intertwined together can serve as a gift for a significant date. Often such a composition is ordered by newlyweds on their wedding day.

Children's casts of hands and feet are ordered by parents as a keepsake in addition to photos and videos with their babies. Such a souvenir, decorated in an elegant frame, can be presented to relatives and friends as a memory of a memorable date: the first or anniversary birthday, baptism, the first independent step of a child, etc.

You can create a whole collection of such casts made in different periods of the active growth of the child. Later, holding them in their palms, children may remember the happy moments of their childhood.

An elegant plaster hand, made and decorated with your own hands, can also serve as a detail of the original composition. Such a decoration, for example, can also be used as a mannequin for storing rings.

Gypsum

There are many different materials for casting molds. These are paraffin, wax, concrete, silicone, metals, even chocolate can be poured into a food form. Compounds of plastics, resins have now become available. All of them have their own specific casting features. To answer the question of how to make a plaster hand, you first need to understand what kind of material it is. It is also important to understand the technology of its casting.

Gypsum powder is a natural material. It has a white or grayish color, fine grinding, quickly absorbs moisture when water is added. It is obtained by firing gypsum stone and is distinguished according to its purpose: for medical purposes, for molding, for plastering and the production of plates.

Gypsum for construction has a coarser grinding, medical - the purest, molding - sets more slowly. A useful property for sculptures is an increase (up to 1%) of the working composition in volume. This extension makes it possible to fill in a small drawing of a form. When preparing the mortar, after a few minutes it begins to harden and completely seizes within 20 minutes.

Technology features

Store gypsum powder in a dry place. Soaked or damp material is not suitable for casting, it does not set. Its characteristics also deteriorate from long-term storage. The working solution of gypsum is prepared quickly. From prolonged mixing, it “rejuvenates” and seizes weaker, which ultimately leads to a loss of strength of the finished product.

If the working solution has hardened before filling is completed, it is no longer suitable for work. Adding water and re-mixing it will not fix the situation. Liquid glue can help slow down the setting of the solution. It (3-4 tablespoons per bucket of water) is added beforehand and mixed well.

It is necessary to dry the casting at a temperature of up to 60 degrees. It is not desirable to exceed this limit - the material loses its strength and begins to decompose. Do-it-yourself gypsum hand is made taking into account all these nuances. To make the finished product stronger, the solution is kneaded with milk of lime.

Moisture and dampness adversely affect gypsum products, so they must be used and stored indoors, especially if they do not have a protective coating.

Preparatory operations

Making a plaster hand on your own is possible at home without the use of any special technologies and special equipment. However, for the casting process to go smoothly, you need to carefully prepare. Different batches of gypsum (especially building gypsum) may have different setting times.

To accurately know it, it is best to conduct a test batch and pour a small amount of the solution into any simple form. This will allow you to accurately calculate the proportions of gypsum and water, determine the time period within which the solution retains its casting properties. As a result, this will help save material, time and nerves.

At the preparation stage, they are determined with a container for the mold, and also select a suitable vessel for mixing the gypsum mortar. For a one-time filling, you can take disposable dishes. If you plan to continue casting, it is best to purchase a rubber plaster to mix the working solution.

For these purposes, a half of an old children's ball is suitable. Dried gypsum from the walls is easily peeled off when the rubber is deformed. The skin of the hand that will be immersed in the molding mass can be lubricated with a thin layer of castor oil or petroleum jelly.

simple clay mold

A trial plaster cast of a hand can be successfully cast into a clay mold. This will not be a full-fledged volumetric copy, but it will provide an opportunity to get the first practical experience. Clay is an affordable material that can be reused many times after failed attempts, which is just right for beginners.

You need two pieces of board or plywood 5 cm larger than your palm. They and your hand are lubricated with vegetable oil or petroleum jelly. This is necessary so that the clay does not stick. They put a hand on the board with the palm of their hand, press it tightly and begin to apply clay moistened with water and kneaded to a thick dough, kneading it well and compacting it.

The total layer should be at least 5 cm. Its top is leveled on a plane and covered with another board. The whole structure, together with the hand, is carefully turned over. The bottom board is removed and the palm is carefully released. The form for filling is ready. To obtain ideal castings, plastic molding masses are used.

Alginate for impressions

To make a mold for volumetric casting of a complex shape, special compositions are used. One of the most affordable options is alginate mass. Its main purpose is the production of casts in dental practice. But such material is quite suitable for sculptural castings.

Alginate is a raw material from seaweed. Its dry powder, mixed with water in exact proportions, quickly thickens and acquires the properties of a dense jelly. If, before the start of the setting process, a hand is placed in such a mass, and then, after reaching the optimum density, it is carefully removed, then a cavity is formed in the mold. If a plaster solution is poured into it, then after hardening it forms an exact copy of the hand.

It will not be possible to extract the casting without destroying the mold. The alginate mass is in a state of plasticity for a short time, it begins to lose moisture, becomes brittle and collapses from deformation. Therefore, filling with a working composition should be done immediately after removing the hand. In this case, you can expect a high quality cast copy.

Some brands of alginate masses change color as they harden. When kneading, they have one shade, in the initial phase of setting (the optimal moment for immersing the hand) - another, after reaching density (when you can remove the limb) - the third. The process of making a plaster hand with the help of such a molding material is within the power of anyone.

Solution preparation

A gypsum hand is cast in a pre-prepared form with your own hands. Pure cold water is collected in the mixing container in the required amount. Dry gypsum powder is evenly poured into it. Ideally, it should form a hill above the surface.

Gypsum begins to absorb water intensively. At this time, it must be well stirred. This should not be done too intensively, as air bubbles form. They remain in the solution, get into the mold, and after it hardens, they form shells and cavities. Therefore, you can use a drill with a kneading nozzle only at low speeds. It is better to do everything by hand, using a spoon or a wooden stirrer. The goal is to get a homogeneous mass without lumps, resembling sour cream in density.

The proportions of water / gypsum (approximately one to two) are determined experimentally in advance. After mixing, the container is lightly tapped to release air bubbles to the surface. The resulting foam is collected with a spoon. The prepared working solution is immediately poured into the mold. The time from the beginning of mixing to pouring is no more than a minute and a half.

Filling in a mold

Do-it-yourself gypsum hand is made by casting into a prepared mold. The solution is added in portions. If they fill out a complex form at once, then air sacs can form in it. The gypsum mortar does not fall into such voids; as a result, the finished model will have defects.

To avoid this, the form is rotated in all directions after pouring the first small part of the working solution. So it spreads over the inner surface and falls into all the recesses. The air inside does not accumulate and is gradually forced out.

With the next portion, the gypsum mortar is deposited on the walls more and more, its layer becomes thicker. When complex undercuts are completely filled, you can pour the rest of the gypsum.

The technology for making a cast of a child's hand is slightly different from the workflow with adults. The fact is that the child, as a rule, cannot keep his hand in a constant position until the molding mass seizes. Finger movements during molding spoil everything. Therefore, it is best to carry out this procedure during sleep in its deep phase.

An alginate molding compound is used. It is kneaded in a bowl of a suitable size. All components are prepared in advance according to the instructions. Alginate powder is poured into the water and stirred with a spoon until smooth for about one minute.

For adults, cold water is used. But so that the child does not wake up during sleep from contact with a cool mass, it is better to warm it up. Warm water for mixing significantly reduces the time of use of the molding material, so everything must be done quickly.

When the mixture is ready, it is poured into a suitable glass, matched to the child's hand, and his limb is placed there. The hardening time of the mass is 1-2 minutes. During this period, you need to keep the form at rest in order to get a quality print.

After the allotted time, the baby's hand is carefully removed. As a rule, this happens without problems, since the mold is plastic and does not deform from light loading.

Immediately after this, a working solution is prepared and poured. Gypsum is kept in the mold for no more than 30 minutes. Later, the alginate mass begins to give up water, which will adversely affect the casting. The form is removed from the glass, cut into pieces, the plaster handprint of the child is released. It is cleaned and left to dry.

By the same principle, the hand of an adult or a child is cast, which can keep the hand at rest during the molding.

Kits for making self-made 2D and 3D impressions

Recently, a copied souvenir plaster hand has been popular with the townsfolk. How to make it with your own hands is described in detail in the instructions for ready-made kits for modeling. Such a kit is ideal for those who want to try their hand at volumetric casting, but do not have the opportunity or do not want to understand the brands of molding masses and gypsum.

The kit will cost more than separately purchased components. But manufacturers are focusing on the convenience of such a configuration. In addition, they give a guarantee of the quality of their materials. The kit includes a dry hypoallergenic mass for forms, it is easy to prepare it by filling it with water in the required ratio. There is also a model cleaned gypsum of increased strength.

A reusable plastic molding compound is included in the kit for making simple impressions of hands or feet. Before use, it is kneaded, an impression is made and plaster is poured into it. After solidification, the casting is removed. If re-filling is not expected, the mold is again kneaded to a soft state and put aside for storage, packed in a plastic bag.

Finishing

How to make a plaster cast of a hand as a finished composition? To do this, it must be painted. For some, the ideal option would be toning with gold or bronze paint. Another will choose a skin tone or white.

Acrylic emulsion is suitable for a decorative coating, but its layer, although thin, can smooth out fine lines and wrinkles on the cast. Although, if the copy turned out to be imperfect, then this option is quite suitable. If you need to preserve the smallest details, it is better to use spray paint.

Before finishing, the cast is inspected, all irregularities are polished, defects are corrected. In order for the paint to lay down in an even layer, the workpiece can be pre-primed, allowed to dry and then sanded again with fine sandpaper.

For installation, they select a decorative base at their discretion and mount a copy of the hand or a composition with it on glue. After drying, the souvenir can be varnished for greater effect.

How to make a plaster hand yourself for replicating copies?

Having worked out the technology of casting and making molds, you can try to expand the range of products. A copied plaster hand, made with your own hands, can serve as a detail of the original composition.

For example, if molded in the position of holding an object, it can serve as a phone stand. In another case, it may be the base of a candlestick or table lamp. A decorative glass can be placed in a plaster hand and such a composition will turn into a pen holder or an original flower vase.

It is impractical to make disposable forms for mass copying. In this case, elastic silicone is better. Forms from this material can be used repeatedly. To remove the casting, they are cut on one side and a copy is carefully removed.

Silicone is installed in the container in which it was poured during manufacture, and the process is repeated. For the convenience of extracting castings, you can use release agents. In such forms, you can pour not only gypsum, but also paraffin, tin or chocolate. The imagination of the authors is limitless - the main thing is not to be afraid to experiment!

Want to make your baby's childhood memories even more amazing and vivid? Kits for making children's volumetric casts and prints will help parents with this. Small palms and heels of newborns are so appetizing and beautiful that you want to remember them in the smallest detail.

The arms and legs of babies, we have already told you. Now let's talk about how you can design them in an original way.

framed

Framing casts of children's hands and feet into a frame is a classic of the genre, but this does not in the least detract from the charm of the made souvenirs. There are single, double and triple frames on sale, with or without a photo - it all depends on your wishes. You can make a frame with your own hands. In addition, you can add a frame with a cast or print in a variety of ways.

Use rhinestones, flowers, butterflies and other decorative delights.

Add a pacifier, socks, booties or other memorabilia.

Color prints in any shades - pink, blue, gold, silver, bronze.

pendants

If, during the manufacture of casts or prints of the palms and heels, a small hole is made in them and a satin or lace ribbon is threaded into it, an elegant pendant can be obtained. This decor will look great in a child's room, in the living room or in the parent's office.

figurines

To make a cute figurine, you just need to install the resulting 3D plaster casts on the platform and cover with paint. It is important to let them dry thoroughly before applying the decorative coat of paint, as well as after that. You can apply paint in several layers, as well as use contrasting shades. Any ideas - the possibilities for creativity are unlimited. How to color? It all depends on your wishes - choose a golden or silver decor, semi-antique or, on the contrary, fashionable and bright shades?

How to decorate a figurine? Add some chic - rhinestones, beads, flowers or any other decorative elements.

Heart shaped

Plaster prints or heart-shaped casts look very graceful. To give more chic to such souvenirs, you can use dyes for gold and silver. And of course, do not forget about the commemorative signature with the name and age of a small child.

As soon as you have a baby, be sure to make prints of children's hands and feet with your own hands! Time flies very quickly and the imprint of the baby's hand will no longer be repeated! Try to make a panel with prints in the very first days of the baby's life, because the kids sleep much better at first, and there is a little more free time.

It is best to make prints of the baby's hands in a dream, and then wipe your hands with wet wipes. The easiest way to make prints of the arms and legs of the baby is with paint. The “useful” of all, that is, it is completely harmless to the delicate skin of the baby, is to make prints on salt dough.

Salt dough recipe for prints:
Salt dough for prints is made in the most primitive way! Take the finest grinding salt and mix with flour 1 to 1, for example, a glass of flour to a glass of salt. And add a little water, kneading a cool dough. If overfilled, add flour. Then you can take a plastic container, place a cake of dough there, make an imprint, if necessary, cut a circle around it and put it in a dry place. Bake, as it is said in many master classes on casts of handles and legs from salt dough, no need! The dough will change its shape and the print will deform. After a few days, the print can be covered with acrylic paint and varnish on any surface (varnish is sold in hardware stores).

How to make prints from plaster with your own hands
I made these with my eldest daughter, but I didn’t really like the result, because they are quite heavy and then there is nowhere to put them. To make plaster prints of the arms and legs of a child, buy plaster at a hardware store (20 rubles a pack), dilute according to the instructions on the package. Pour into a beautifully shaped container - a round cup, for example, previously covered with cling film. Touch with your finger - after a few minutes, when the plaster begins to harden and becomes more dense, make an imprint with the hand and foot of the child, smeared with sunflower oil or a very greasy cream. Take it out of the mold. Ideally, use silicone molds.

And now I'm sharing my experience How to make volumetric casts of the arms and legs of the baby at home!

It so happened that I made prints of the children's hands of my children from salt dough when the youngest son was born. Then she left them to harden on the windowsill and safely forgot about them for several months. When I remembered my desire to make voluminous hands for babies, the size of the hands of the kids was not at all the same! But she took out the blanks from the dough and ... found that they were almost spoiled - some became soft, some completely softened, some still somehow held on with their last strength (here it is - minus the salt dough!). It was necessary to urgently save the situation. And I remembered that I had the cheapest self-hardening plastic, bought for training in sculpting doll heads, lying around for half a year.

Here it is in the photo, the pack was a kilogram (365 re), there are enough prints for 10. I bought in the Gostinka (St. Petersburg), in the department on the first floor with brushes, paints, etc. Those who live in another city will be able to order self-hardening plastic on the Internet or buy in large cities in stores with goods for artists. Doll-making stores will have better plastic and four times the price. Still in the photo - in the same department I bought the cheapest acrylic paints for any surface (92 rubles for the entire set. It will be enough for 10 years if my daughter doesn’t get it).

And now about how to make a three-dimensional cast of a baby's legs and arms from plastic.

First, make prints from salt dough and leave them to harden. In general, you can varnish them, wash them after work and then give them as a keepsake to grandparents. I read on the Internet that I advise you to make the basis for casts from the same plastic. But, firstly, it is not very soft, and secondly, it does not smell very pleasant, so I didn’t want to touch the child’s skin with it.

She drained the oil, kneaded the plastic pancake and imprinted it in the print. That is, she pressed it well with her fingers so that it took the form of a child's hand. So that it would not break later, I added pieces of plastic to the washed one. I don't have a very smooth surface, because this plastic also lay in my not very well closed pack for more than nine months, so it was not very plastic and crumbled. Your print should repeat all the smallest folds of the baby's arms and legs.

I took out the imprint, after the oil it is removed easily.

Since my dough was already softened, I removed the crumbs with a cotton swab with oil. If you have a fresh print, and even varnished, you don’t need to do this.

I cut it out with an ordinary knife, left it to dry on a flat surface for several days.

Even the smallest can be involved in covering children's casts of arms and legs with paint, they will be happy to help!

Then I covered the plastic casts with two more layers of gold paint.

It is not necessary to varnish acrylic on any surface. Then all that remains is to make a beautiful panel! You can stick not only casts of arms and legs, but also photographs of children, some memorabilia, first socks and a pacifier ...

Ideally, glue with a hot gun (a small one in hardware stores, for example, I saw about 150 rubles in the Ob). You can use glue moment. For the background, take a very thick cardboard, but it is better to paint the thick base of the frame itself.

I still don’t know what kind of panel I want, I made a rough sketch for you. But, of course, I want to use paper, frames, etc. - in general, there is still a lot of work, but the result is worth it! And if you want to make three-dimensional casts of the child’s arms and legs as a keepsake that will remain intact until your very old age, it is best to use a deep frame for three-dimensional panels, in which the distance from the substrate to the glass is about 3 cm.

Successful creativity!
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