| These days more and more people are looking | | | | with the next step. |
| for personalized gifts to give that someone | | | | Prepare the casting plaster as directed by the |
| special, no longer content with the mass produced | | | | manufacture. It should be thin enough to easily |
| junk, thrust at us with every piece of junk mail, | | | | run off the spoon in one continuous pour. It should |
| catalogue or advert. | | | | not fall off the spoon in clumps. If it is not thin |
| Today people want to give gifts that have a little | | | | enough, it will not fill all the tiny fingers & |
| of them attached to it. A gift that will invoke fond | | | | toes, etc. |
| memories, thoughts of happy times. | | | | Fill the mold about 1/3 full with casting plaster. |
| Now there is nothing more personal and thought | | | | Rotate the container to line all areas of the inside |
| provoking than a perfect 3 dimensional replica of a | | | | of the mold. |
| baby handprint footprint casting. | | | | One of the most effective ways to prevent air |
| Follow these easy steps and you to can make | | | | bubbles and to fill all the tiny fingertips or toes is |
| the perfect personalized gift. | | | | to rotate the container upside down and allow the |
| Prepare the alginate as directed by the | | | | plaster to run back out of the container. |
| manufacture when the alginate mixture is ready | | | | You may even use a small paintbrush to brush |
| for molding it should be of a smooth and creamy | | | | along the inside of the mold to break up any |
| constancy. | | | | surface air bubbles. Then begin refilling the mold |
| Immediately pour into the molding container. The | | | | little by little. Stop and tap and tilt the mold to |
| material sets within about 1-2 minutes so you | | | | release air pockets with each pour. Keep adding |
| need to work quickly during this step. | | | | the plaster a little at a time being sure to stop |
| Once the material has been poured into the | | | | between pours tilting and tapping the container as |
| container, immediately insert the hand or foot into | | | | you go. |
| the mold. Wiggle around for the first 5-10 seconds | | | | If you would like to, you can also keep pouring |
| to allow the material to penetrate all areas. Babies | | | | plaster up and over the mold to form a base |
| and small children usually do this with out help. | | | | about ½ inch thick. Once the plaster has |
| Keep the hand or foot in the mold until the | | | | hardened, you may begin removing the plaster |
| material sets and starts to separate from the | | | | cast from the mold. Normally, the mold and cast |
| wrist. The material sets from top to bottom, so | | | | will slide right out of the container, but in the case |
| just when you think it is ready wait another 15-20 | | | | of an integrated base you will need to break the |
| seconds before removing the hand or foot to be | | | | container away from the top section where it |
| on the safe side. | | | | meets the plaster base. |
| Wriggle the hand or foot to break the suction and | | | | Begin tearing away the mold being very careful |
| then slowly and carefully ease it from the mold. | | | | around fingers or toes. Tear away the mold in |
| There is no need to rush this step as the mold will | | | | small pieces. Don't hold the casting by the delicate |
| not get hard for hour or two, so take as much | | | | fingers or toes. |
| time as you need to complete this step. Next, | | | | Now you just need to do a little sanding on the |
| drain any excess water from the mold. You may | | | | base (once the casting has completely dried out) |
| do this by turning it upside down give it a gentle | | | | to give it a more professional look. |
| shake and then leave it to drain while you go on | | | | |