colleen joerger on sun 16 jan 00
I would like to make plaster masks of my teenage children and terribly
embarrass them by displaying them in my home. I have never tried this
before are their any methods that are better than others, and plasters
that are more suited to this, or any hints that would help me do this
without to much stress to my kids.
Carolynn Palmer on mon 17 jan 00
I did this with my neices and nephews when they were pre-teens. It was great
fun! And 15-20 years later, some of their children are really enjoying
making clay masks of their parents.
At that time, I used a huge cardboard collar, taped around their faces, in
front of their ears, and under their chin. I simply used the plaster I had
on hand, I think it was #1 potter plaster.
We did it outside on a warm spring day. First I explained all about the
process and that they would have to breathe through a straw in their lips,
that the plaster would feel warms, that they had to sit absolutely still
while it set up, etc. That we could take it off anytime during the process
if they felt panic or wanted to quit before it was done. We liberally smeared
their closed eyes, faces and even nostrils and hair with ordinary vaseline,
mixed the plaster and just dabbed it on until it was about an inch thick.
We also did casts of their hands, arms and feet. It was a great summer
project. I should do it again with this generation. Thanks for the reminder.
Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
PurpleLama@aol.com on mon 17 jan 00
About two years ago I made a plaster mask of one of my nephews. He was
between 10 and 11 at the time. I don't remember what kind of plaster I used.
However, I explained to him what I was going to do and that the plaster would
get warm. I told him that if the plaster got too hot for him or he felt
uncomfortable, I would take the plaster off immediately.
I let him pick out some music, prepared straws for his nose (he thought that
was really cool), put vasoline on his eyebrows and eyelashes, and worked out
some hand signals. We also had lots of plastic around to catch any stray
plaster. I covered his hair as best I could as well. Once the plaster was on
his face, I kept up a conversation with him frequently asking him if he was
OK, whether he had any itches, if the plaster was getting warm, and such. He
was a good sport and we had a blast. He has volunteered to do it again. I may
take him up on it this year.
A few weeks after I made the mold, I made an impression of one of his eyes
from the mold and raku'd it. He just loved. it.
Have fun.
Shula
Redondo Beach, CA
USA
Andre van de putte on mon 17 jan 00
------------------
Here are some plaster face cast basics:
1. Use ParisCraft gauze strips....it is available in rolls at most craft
shops. Cut a bunch of
1 inch strips (more than you'll need since it is tough to cut them in the
middle of the cast.
2. Use plenty of Vaseline on eyelashes/facial hair. They should be =22glued
down=22 so that you do not have trouble removing the cast and hurting your =
kids
in the process.
3. Use straws up the nostils or in their mouths for breathing...also cut the
ParisCraft strips to 1/2 inch strips to go over the nose and avoid the
nostrils (for fine details).
4. tape hairline and around face and put a thin cloth or plastic to protect
hair and ears.
5. Work quickly, and keep in constant contact with the child...having done
this with 25 11 - 12 year olds (What was I thinking??) I developed three
signals..: index and thumb in an =22O=22 shape means that the student is =
A-OK,
index finger up in the air means =22wait a second=22 and tapping the floor
(=22uncle=22 symbol in wrestling) means ...GET THIS OFF NOW=21=21=21 The =
caster must
talk continuously with the castee (new word) since claustrophobia sets in
swiflty otherwise. Keep asking how they are feeling and if they are =
allright.
6. Build up the layers to the point where there are at least two layer all
over the face, and reinforce the edges with at least one extra layer.
7. Once the plaster cast is beginning to get warm and hard, lift the child =
up
to a seated position, and let them gently wiggle their face muscles and lift
their face out of the cast which they should be holding with their head =
bowed.
8.. Be very careful with cleanup...plaster chunks in your eyes are NO fun.
9. You can reinforce the mask later with more ParisCraft or with plaster, =
and
if you want the positive cast you will need to use a release (green soap) to
line the =22mold=22 .
Email me directly if you want directions on the latter (making a positive
from the mask), or if you have questions...use Help Me Andr=E9 in the =
subject.
Andr=E9
Chicago
Joanne L. Van Bezooyen on mon 17 jan 00
Colleen.....plaster of paris gets hot. Go to a pharmaceutical supply drug
store and buy gauze with plaster in it that is used for casts.....some craft
stores sell it as well. Coat their faces and eyebrows with lots of
vaseline...put straws up their nostrils....(are you sure they'll let you do
this to them?)....if you need more details, write to me off list.
Joanne
colleen joerger wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I would like to make plaster masks of my teenage children and terribly
> embarrass them by displaying them in my home. I have never tried this
> before are their any methods that are better than others, and plasters
> that are more suited to this, or any hints that would help me do this
> without to much stress to my kids.
Cheryl Tall on mon 17 jan 00
Hi Colleen: One of the easiest and fastest ways is to use plaster gauze
strips, the kind that were used to make a cast for a broken leg. You can
find it by the roll in medical supply stores or craft stores.
1. Cover a table with plastic or newspaper. Cut the roll of gauze up into
smaller strips of varying sizes. Place in a pile next to a bowl of water
but don't get them wet yet.
2. Seat your victim in a chair next to the table, tie back their hair and
cover their clothes with plastic. Cover their face with vaseline,
including the eyebrows.
3. Dip the strips in the water one at a time. Hold it over the bowl and
smooth it with your fingers after dipping. Place it on the subject's face,
overlapping each strip, and leaving the nose holes uncovered. Complete at
least 3 layers.
4. Mask will set up quickly. Remove it when it firms up and gets warm.
At this point, nose holes can be filled in with more strips. Let dry 24
hrs.
5. Can be painted and used as is, or can be used as a press mold on the
inside with clay slabs. If you plan on using it many times, make a
permanent plaster mold by making a clay positive, detailing it and
recasting it in pottery plaster.
Cheryl Tall
colleen joerger wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I would like to make plaster masks of my teenage children and terribly
> embarrass them by displaying them in my home. I have never tried this
> before are their any methods that are better than others, and plasters
> that are more suited to this, or any hints that would help me do this
> without to much stress to my kids.
carri dolan on tue 18 jan 00
i would suggest using a product called rigid wrap. It
is available at most craft stores. It consists of
guaze that has been soaked in plaster. It is easy to
use...just add water... and is less messy than artists
plaster. I have made whole body casts out of this
material and i much prefer it over regular plaster.
Good luck!!!
--- colleen joerger wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> I would like to make plaster masks of my teenage
> children and terribly
> embarrass them by displaying them in my home. I have
> never tried this
> before are their any methods that are better than
> others, and plasters
> that are more suited to this, or any hints that
> would help me do this
> without to much stress to my kids.
>
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John Rodgers on tue 18 jan 00
Talk to your dentist about alginate. This material when mixed it gelatinous
in nature and less hazardous to work with around a childs face. Basicly you
mix it up, put it on, allow to set, then apply a topping of plaster over the
alginate. That becomes a mother mold. Remove the mother and the alginate
mold of your childs face, then mix more plaster and pour into the alginate
mold of the face. When set, remove the alginate and voila, your childs face
in plaster. May seem like extra steps but very safe.
There are specific instructions for this process somewhere. it can be done
the other way, but I wouldn't.
John Rodgers
Birmingham, AL
colleen joerger wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I would like to make plaster masks of my teenage children and terribly
> embarrass them by displaying them in my home. I have never tried this
> before are their any methods that are better than others, and plasters
> that are more suited to this, or any hints that would help me do this
> without to much stress to my kids.
Mason Batchelder on fri 11 feb 00
There is a product in the drug stores called cholesterol or something similar
that is used to process black wiry hair that is a better coating for hair
that is supposed to be much better than dealing with Vaseline in the hair. I
would go with the Vaseline still for the face as others have described.
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