Hello! I wanted to have as a souvenir casts of my son’s legs and arms. 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 your judgment 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)
- plaster (regular or for artistic work)
- plasticine (can be old)
- paints, including metallic
- varnish
- cardboard
- scissors, pencil, ruler, PVA glue
- glue (I have: moment super gel, in small tubes)
- sponge
- accessories for decoration (in my case, in nautical style- pebbles, shells, boat, anchor, turtle).

I read about how to make impressions at home here: http://www.chicco.com.ua/forum/sled-malysha-sdelaem-sami-t49618.html. There is also such a master class in the Country
I took old plasticine from my eldest daughter, heated it in the microwave, and made a cake (the child’s hand or leg should fit in there), the height of the cake was at least three centimeters. Plasticine should be soft. We make an imprint of the part of the body that interests us)) It may not work out the first time, don’t despair! We crush it, heat it, make a flat cake and try again. In the end, you will achieve a result that satisfies you. When you make an imprint, the plasticine spreads to the sides, so before freezing, I carefully, so as not to spoil the shape, pressed the plasticine cake on the sides, and the mark becomes a little more “slender” and deeper. Then 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 the casts in the oven at the lowest temperature so that it warmed up and became soft, then it would be easier to remove. I dried the finished casts for another day, turning first one side or the other. Otherwise, they remain damp, and we will attach them to the cardboard and this may cause it to become damp and soft.

While our casts are hardening and drying. Let's take care of the frames. I have three very simple wooden frames, square, 13 cm. We disassemble them, take out the back wall and glass. There are metal plates at the back that press against back wall, they need to be bent so that they look like legs on which the frame is placed. This will make it easier to paint.

Following my plan marine theme, I painted the middle of the frames with white paint. I have titanium white from Nevskaya Palitra. I bought it at an art store. We cover it with paint several times so that the wood does not show through. Let it dry.

After the white paint had dried, I painted the now blue paint on the inside and outside edges of the frames. I also painted the sides of the frames. I painted it the same way several times. My blue paint is acrylic, all from the same art store, but was purchased earlier for another project. Leave to dry (preferably overnight).

Now we need to start deepening the frames. 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 in pencil with reverse side. And I made boxes for them, which I also numbered accordingly. I made the boxes 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 sponge, dipped it in blue paint and began to blot the white paint on top. I intentionally left the folds and corners white. Leave to dry.

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

Before painting, I corrected the casts a little with sandpaper. I made smoother edges and removed some irregularities, but this needs to be done carefully. Casts can break easily. I applied the paint in several layers until I achieved the result I wanted. And again I left it to dry. After the silver paint had dried, I varnished the casts and frames. Advice: DO NOT use varnish on water based, the paints on the frames may mix, even if they have dried well. Again, my varnish is from an art store)). Let the casts and frames dry.

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

This is what happened with the cast of the leg. I bought the anchor in the scrapbooking department.

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

Life flows, children grow up, mothers and fathers set them free, but only touching memories remain in the soul of how small they were... Parents try in every way to capture their children: they take photos, videos. We offer one more interesting way- make casts of the baby’s arms and legs.

Time is so fleeting... It would seem that not so long ago children learned to walk, and today young grandparents are looking at photo albums and souvenirs related to the childhood of their grandchildren's parents. More and more generations are brought up on such memorabilia. Family stories supported by “physical evidence” are always much more valuable than those that have nothing to attach to them. One of these cute “proofs” that mom and dad, it turns out, were little too, can be panels self made with casts of arms and legs. There are several ways you can make casts of your baby’s arms and legs with your own hands, and we’ll tell you about the most accessible ones.

How to make a cast of a baby's hand and foot print?

Sand cast of arms/legs

We will tell you about the simplest method, which can be easily handled by a mother who does not know the art of sculpture. The cast can then be decorated with buttons, shells and chains.

Useful for creativity:

• fine sand;
• biscuit tin;
• alabaster;
• brush.

How to do it?

1. Sand is poured into a box and leveled. The child's imprint is made in the center.

2. Next, the alabaster powder is diluted very quickly with water to the consistency of thick sour cream.

3. It is poured into the cast in a thin stream. The thickness of the material above the sand is from 2 to 4 cm.

4. Leave the container for 20 minutes or more, take out the cast and clean off the grains of sand with a brush. Then you can start decorating the cast.

Decorative panel "Casts of the handle of the leg" from auxiliary materials

1. Let's do salty dough From half a glass of salt and a glass of water, add enough flour to make an elastic dough. To prevent it from sticking to the arms and legs, you need to knead it and let it stand for a while. If desired, you can grease the palms and soles of the legs with vegetable oil, but with a well-kneaded dough you can do without it.
2. If the baby is only a few months old, he may pull his oiled hands into his eyes and may involuntarily wipe them on his mother’s clothes. It is not always possible to make impressions when the child is sleeping, because the arm will need to be pressed, and it is generally better to make the leg while standing for good pressure. After all, all the lines of fate must be imprinted!

3. Don't think that we made too much dough, because it needs to be divided into 4 equal parts to take prints from two arms and two legs. Gently press the baby’s dry hand or foot into the resulting thick cakes. If the drawing cannot be made clear, you can crumple the dough and repeat the procedure again.

4. Before taking prints, select suitable containers or boards for the pieces of dough, because dough impressions are only the first stage of work. You could leave them, but after a few months the dough will lose its shape.

5. We got four cakes with indentations in the form of feet and hands.

6. Now you can dilute dry plaster or alabaster to the consistency of thick sour cream. Stir them thoroughly so that there are no air bubbles or unstirred clots. Do not forget that alabaster hardens very quickly, you need to work with it extremely quickly, with gypsum you can work more slowly. Pour the resulting solution into the recesses to their edges and leave until completely dry. After this, we clean the casts from the dough, preserving the structure of the imprinted skin.

7. It is best to paint with gold or bronze from spray bottles. These materials highlight texture much better than other paints and will look great on your panel.

8. Glue onto the prepared rectangle or square of thick cardboard either with a special glue gun, or liquid nails the resulting casts, a photo of the baby, around you can put an ornament of buttons, pieces of plastic, feathers and other beautiful little things. And we insert the casts into the frame.

Some people use plastic instead of salt dough, others buy special sets for casts, but the dough inspires more confidence because it is environmentally friendly.

Dough casts of arms and legs - video

Homemade ceramics "Hand-leg casts"

1. Instead of dough, you can use wet sand. But to do this you need to find good, clean, fine sand or thoroughly rinse the existing one. Then pour it into the selected container.
2. Let's say you have chosen a round or oval container, in the center of which the baby's leg can easily fit, and along the edges you can place shells, circles, a chain, beads - everything that can be imprinted beautifully and in relief on the wet sand. The entire resulting composition will need to be filled with the same alabaster or plaster, and when everything is dry, the surface must be cleaned of sand and painted.

3. You won’t need to stick anything onto the cardboard, but you will have to select a frame to match the formed round or oval plaster panel. However, if you immediately decide on a beautiful and neat container and do not take anything out of it, its edges can serve as a frame, only a hole in the upper segment will have to be drilled in advance so that the head of the screw on which you will hang the decoration fits into it.

4. A more logical material here might be clay rather than gypsum. And you will get an excellent ceramic disc. All that remains is to figure out where and how to burn it. But this is for those who have experience working with clay.

Ideas - baby's prints

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

The quality of the gypsum will depend appearance finished product and its strength characteristics. To achieve maximum similarity, a high-quality form is necessary. Special materials are used for its manufacture.

Idea

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

Parents order casts of children's hands and feet as souvenirs in addition to photographs and videos of their children. Such a souvenir, decorated in an elegant frame, can be presented to family and friends as a memory of a memorable date: a first or anniversary birthday, baptism, a child’s first independent step, etc.

You can create a whole collection of such casts, made during different periods of 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 an original composition. This decoration, for example, can also be used as a mannequin for storing rings.

Gypsum

For mold castings there are many various materials. These are paraffin, wax, concrete, silicone, metals, even chocolate can be poured into food form. Nowadays plastic compositions and resins have become available. They all 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 natural material. It is white or grayish in color, finely ground, and quickly absorbs moisture when water is added. Get it by roasting gypsum stone and are distinguished by purpose: for medical purposes, for molding, for plastering works and plate production.

Gypsum for construction has a coarser grind, medical gypsum is the purest, molding gypsum sets more slowly. Useful property for sculptures is an increase (up to 1%) of the working staff in volume. This extension makes it possible to fill in a small drawing of a form. When preparing the solution, after just a few minutes it begins to harden and sets completely within 20 minutes.

Features of the technology

Gypsum powder should be stored in a dry place. Wetted or damp material is unsuitable for casting; it does not set. Its characteristics also deteriorate from long-term storage. The gypsum working solution is prepared quickly. Due to prolonged stirring, it “rejuvenates” and sets weaker, which ultimately leads to a loss of strength of the finished product.

If the working solution has hardened before pouring is complete, it is no longer suitable for use. Adding water and stirring it again will not correct the situation. Liquid glue can help slow down the setting of the solution. It (3-4 spoons per bucket of water) is added first and mixed well.

The casting must be dried at temperatures up to 60 degrees. It is not advisable to exceed this limit - the material loses strength and begins to decompose. A do-it-yourself plaster hand is made taking into account all these nuances. To do ready product stronger, the solution is mixed with lime milk.

Moisture and dampness have a negative effect on 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, in order 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 find out exactly, it is best to carry out a test batch and pour a small amount of solution into any simple form. This will allow you to accurately calculate the proportions of gypsum and water and determine the time period within which the solution retains casting properties. Ultimately, this will help save material, time and nerves.

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

Half of an old children's ball is suitable for these purposes. Dried plaster from the walls is easily peeled off when the rubber is deformed. The skin of the hand that will be immersed in the molding compound can be lubricated thin layer castor oil or Vaseline.

Simple clay mold

A trial plaster cast of the 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 available material, it can be used repeatedly after unsuccessful attempts, which is just right for beginners.

You need two pieces of board or plywood, 5 cm larger than your palm. Lubricate them and your hand vegetable oil or Vaseline. This is necessary so that the clay does not stick. Place your hand on the board, press it tightly and begin to apply clay moistened with water and kneaded to a thick dough, pressing it well and compacting it.

The total layer should be at least 5 cm. Its top is leveled flat and covered with another board. The entire 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 compounds are used.

Alginate for impressions

To make a mold for volumetric casting of complex shapes, special compositions are used. One of the most available options is an alginate mass. Its main purpose is to make impressions 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 precise proportions, quickly thickens and acquires the properties of a dense jelly. If you place your hand in such a mass before the setting process begins, and then, after achieving optimal density, carefully remove it, a cavity will form in the mold. If you pour a gypsum solution into it, after hardening it forms exact copy hands.

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

Some brands of alginate masses change color as they harden. When kneading, they have one shade, in the initial setting phase (the optimal moment of immersion of the hand) - another, after reaching density (when the limb can be removed) - a third. The process of making a plaster hand using such a molding material is within the capabilities of anyone.

Preparation of the solution

A plaster hand is cast with your own hands in a pre-prepared mold. Fill the mixing container with clean, cold water. required quantity. Dry gypsum powder is evenly poured into it. Ideally, it should form a slide above the surface.

The gypsum begins to intensively absorb water. At this time it needs to be stirred well. This should not be done too intensely, as air bubbles will form. They remain in the solution, fall into the mold and, after it hardens, form shells and cavities. Therefore, you can use a drill with a kneading attachment only at low speeds. It's best to do everything by hand using a spoon or wooden stirrer. The goal is to obtain a homogeneous mass without lumps, reminiscent of sour cream in thickness.

The water/gypsum proportions (approximately one to two) are determined experimentally in advance. After mixing is completed, tap the container lightly 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 start of mixing to pouring is no more than a minute and a half.

Pouring into the mold

Plaster hand It is made with your own hands by casting into a prepared mold. The solution is added in portions. If you fill a complex form with it all at once, air pockets may form in it. The gypsum solution does not get into such voids, as a result finished model will have defects.

To avoid this, the mold is turned in all directions after pouring in the first small part of the working solution. So it spreads over inner surface and gets into all the recesses. The air inside does not accumulate and is gradually displaced.

With the next portion, the gypsum solution is deposited on the walls more and more, its layer becomes thicker. Once the complex undercuts are completely filled, the remaining plaster can be poured.

The technology for making a cast of a child's hand is slightly different from the work process with adults. The fact is that a child, as a rule, cannot keep his hand in a constant position until the molding mass grabs. Moving your fingers while molding ruins everything. Therefore, it is best to carry out this procedure during sleep in its deep phase.

Alginate molding compound is used. It is kneaded in a suitable sized bowl. All components are prepared in advance according to the instructions. Pour alginate powder into the water and stir it with a spoon until smooth for about one minute.

For adults, cold water is used. But to prevent the child from waking up from contact with the cool mass during sleep, it is better to warm it up. Warm water for mixing significantly reduces the time of using the molding mass, so everything needs to be done quickly.

When the mixture is ready, it is poured into a suitable glass, selected according 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 high-quality print.

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

Immediately after this, the working solution is prepared and poured. Keep the plaster in the mold for no more than 30 minutes. Later, the alginate mass begins to release water, which will negatively affect the casting. The mold is removed from the glass, cut into pieces, and the child's plaster handprint is released. It is cleaned and left to dry.

The same principle is used to cast the hand of an adult or child, who can hold the hand at rest during molding.

Kits for making 2D and 3D impressions yourself

IN Lately The copied souvenir plaster hand is popular among ordinary people. How to make it yourself is described in detail in the instructions for ready-made modeling kits. This kit is ideal for those who want to try their hand at volumetric casting, but are unable or unwilling to understand the brands of molding compounds and plaster.

The kit will cost more than separately purchased components. But manufacturers focus on the convenience of this configuration. In addition, they provide a quality guarantee on their materials. The set includes a dry hypoallergenic mass for molds; it is easy to prepare by adding water in the required ratio. High-strength model purified gypsum is also available.

The kit for making casts of simple hand or foot impressions includes a reusable plastic molding compound. 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 kneaded again until soft and stored in a plastic bag.

Finishing

How to make a plaster cast of a hand into a finished composition? To do this, it needs to be painted. For someone ideal option It will be tinted with gold or bronze paint. Another will choose nude or white.

For decorative covering Acrylic emulsion will do, but a layer of it, although thin, can smooth out fine lines and folds in 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, and 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, select a decorative base at your 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 to make copies?

Having mastered 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 cast in the position of holding an object, it can serve as a phone stand. In another case it could be the base of a candlestick or table lamp. You can install a decorative glass in a plaster hand and this composition will turn into a holder for pens or original vase for flowers.

To produce for mass copying disposable forms inappropriate. In this case would be better suited elastic silicone. Molds made from this material can be reused many times. To remove the casting, they are cut on one side and the copy is carefully removed.

The silicone is installed in the container in which it was poured during manufacture, and the process is repeated. To make it easier to remove castings, release agents can be used. In such molds you can pour not only plaster, but also paraffin, tin or chocolate. The authors' imagination is limitless - the main thing is not to be afraid to experiment!

Children's casts made from puff pastry

This method is considered the cheapest, but you should immediately take into account that the material is short-lived. The dough may crumble after just a few months, and high humidity indoors will ruin it even faster. Of course, you can extend the life of the impression by covering it with varnish, but it will still last you only a few years longer.

Making casts from plaster

You can immortalize your baby's hand and foot in the form of a cast using regular plaster, as in the photo. But this method is not ideal either. For example, if your baby suffers from allergies, use regular building gypsum it is forbidden. In addition, the casts turn out to be too bulky and heavy, and there is simply nowhere to put them later. However, we’ll tell you how to make it yourself.

First, dilute the plaster with water as indicated in the instructions. Take a shape (for example, a round cup or a small saucepan), cover it cling film and pour out the plaster.

When the mixture begins to harden, make an imprint. It is better to lubricate the baby’s leg or hand with a thick cream or sunflower oil. When the cast has completely hardened, you can easily remove the handle from the mold.

Plastic casts of children's hands and feet

This is the most progressive method that will help you make a cast of a child’s hand and foot at home.

First you need to make “rough” prints from salt dough. Some recommend making them from plastic, but this material has quite a bad smell and hard consistency, so it is unknown how your baby will react to them. PICTURE 5

The salt dough print should be thoroughly greased with oil. Take the plastic, crush it into a thin plate and fill all the holes so that it exactly repeats the shape of a child's hand or foot.

When the mixture has hardened a little, it can be removed and cleaned of excess dough with a cotton swab. Cut out the cast and leave it to cool somewhere on the windowsill.

Now there are even special kits on sale that help you make impressions with your own hands. They immediately provide the container and mixture for the imprint. Therefore, if for some reason you do not trust the methods we propose, you can use the set and make yourself an excellent keepsake.

Video on how to make casts of arms and legs with your own hands

Currently, many parents make casts of children's hands and feet with their own hands. Such a memorable print looks very cute and will allow you to remember the wonderful moments of early childhood for many years.

DIY casts of children's hands and feet

To make casts of arms and legs with your own hands, you don’t need experience, you just need to carefully read the instructions. As a rule, sets contain everything necessary materials and tools. In addition, they often provide the opportunity to make several casts, because working with a child is completely unpredictable, and whether the perfect contour will turn out depends largely on our small models.

How to prepare for making a three-dimensional cast of arms and legs with your own hands:

1. take care of good mood small model;
2. you can use sleep time;
3. Residue from the mixture after making may be difficult to wash off, so wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty;
4. the participation of two adults is necessary - one to take care of mixing the ingredients, the second to hold the baby and distract him;
5. if you have touched the sides or bottom of the mold, you can pour plaster into it and then smooth out any imperfections with sandpaper;
6. the time it takes for the mold to completely harden depends on the temperature of the water used - than colder water, the longer it will harden; the warmer the water, the faster the material will harden; room temperature of the water is optimal;
7. Make sure the containers are the right size for your baby's feet or hands.

How to prepare a child to make a cast of children's hands and feet with your own hands

How to prepare molds for casting casts for children with your own hands

To make an impression with your own hands, mix the mold powder with water in any container and pour it into a closed plastic container; you can mix the mixture directly in the same container. Measure ingredients accurately as poor ratios can affect the final result. You can use a test sample, which is sometimes included with the kit, to have information about the curing process.

Wet the skin of children's feet or hands thoroughly so that they slide out of the hardened mold easily.

Thanks to this manipulation, your child will be able to get used to the temperature of the mass, in addition, we will minimize the risk of air bubbles that worsen the quality of the product. Guide your baby's hand so that it slides accurately and accurately into the prepared paste.

Don't worry if your baby moves his arm. The beginning of the hardening process will show a change in the color of the paste, and this is the moment at which the child should not make very sudden movements. After hardening (about 1-1.5 minutes), remove the handle. To avoid holes in the set mold, guide your child's hand without touching the bottom or sides of the container.

How to prepare and pour plaster

Pouring plaster should not last longer than 5-6 minutes.

1. Prepare a plastic bowl and measure required quantity water and gypsum in appropriate proportions. Always add powder to water, not the other way around;
2. Pour the plaster of Paris into the water slowly, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches the consistency of very thin yogurt. Mixing too intensively and for a long time can lead to the mass beginning to harden already during pouring into the mold. Also, stirring too much can cause bubbles to form. If you see bubbles on the surface, tap the container a few times to release them;
3. Initially the plaster is very watery, but after a while it gently begins to thicken. The plaster is ready when it reaches the consistency of pancake batter. Then, pour a small amount of plaster into the mold and carefully move the container in different directions so that the mixture fills exactly each hole;
4. After filling the form 1/3, tap the container on the table surface;
5. Pour in the rest of the mixture in batches;
6. Leave the container to harden for several hours.

How to avoid air bubbles in plaster?

Air bubbles spoil volumetric impressions, as a result, the plaster does not reach the fingertips, and the impression will not completely replicate the child’s hand. This problem mainly occurs with hand impressions, since the fingers on them are longer than on the feet, and the plaster does not always flow well into these holes.

You can use the following methods to avoid this:

In what position is it most convenient to make 3D impressions?

0-5 months. For very young children, the procedure should be carried out in a supine position, as for feeding.

5-12 months. Place the baby sideways on one knee with the parent, legs should hang freely. Make an “airplane”: the parent holds the baby on his stomach with his hands, the arms hang freely. In a sitting position: the parent sits the child on his lap, facing the table.

After hardening, carefully sand the product with sandpaper. After painting with paint, this treatment will become invisible.

How to make casts of arms and legs with your own hands

The resulting casts can be prepared in different ways:

You can add photographs of the baby to the composition at the age when the print was made, and also come up with a background with a thematic plot - for example, a footprint on sea sand.

The resulting souvenir will delight you, and you will be able to enjoy this memorable and a beautiful thing long years.