My friend is expecting and wants to make a plaster cast of her belly, what would be the best materials to use?

Answer 1

plaster of paris and newspaper strips...

OR

http://www.birthnaturally.com/belly-casting-kits.htm

:) have fun!!! I hope it turns out well

Answer 2

Firstly, with extreme care! Experiment with this technique before applying it to the subject. The material is commonly called plaster bandage, strips of material impregnated with plaster. You simply wet it, place it position and press it into the shape. It dries very quickly and does not generate heat. It is the material used for broken limb casts. It is often sold in craft shops for modelling, or ask at your local hospital or medical supplies. Smear the surface of the subject with petroleum jelly so the plaster does not contact the skin directly. Take care with hair!!! Wet the strips of plaster material as you would wallpaper, too wet and the plaster dissolves.Lay the first strip down,press gently into position and then do the next strip, overlapping about 1/4 for strength. Continue in one direction until covered, then another layer diagonally. Leave some extra overhanging the shape, bending it out away from the body. I would build up around the sides of the subject with newspaper so that the edges of the mould move out at about the hip line. This will leave you with an edge to trim to and also to handle the mould. When the plaster is dry carefully remove the mould and lay it down on the flat edges. When it is fully dry re-inforce the mould with some more strips. This is the mould, you will need to consider how you will create the cast, perhaps fibreglass, or plaster again. Take extreme care with any plaster splashes onto the subject, use goggles, clothing to cover other body parts and above all at the first sign of discomfort in your friend STOP! Try the technique first on an arm or leg so that you can get it right. This is the technique, I still have reservations about using it in this situation!!

Answer 3

gypsona plaster strips are the easiest, if you just want a basic shape, lay these across, smoothing down gently for about 3 layers, if you want something a little better you can try painting this with shellac and then vaseline and taking a plaster cast from this, if you want a truly special every single pore casting you will have to use something called alginate which you can get from dental suppliers, but this will still need a support structure which can be gypsona again, your pregnant friend will need to be quite fit and have something to rest on, i recommend at least 2 people doing t he mould if you do alginate to hurry up the process. Do grease up any body hair first if using gypsona, which does actually generate heat, all plaster does.

Answer 4

Hobby Lobby has a medium that is sold to make hand sculpture molds. YOu mix it up and put your hand into the medium, and it sets up. I do not recall the name.

Plaster of Paris is not suitable for molding on skin, because it creates heat as it hardens, and would burn before it set up enough to be a mold.

You could get the kind of gauze that is wetted and molded into casts, or the newer fiberglas cast materials from a medical supply place online.

Answer 5

All Natural products. Try this paper mache web site:

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/a/blpmpastes.htm