i’ve got a keepsake frame that came with the clay or whatever mold inside, but it was expired, so i could not use it to take my baby’s handprint. Is there another material (plaster) i could use to do that? thanks.
Often, those "kits" for baby handprints are just a super-soft polymer clay (like original boxed Sculpey) but I’ve never heard of polymer clay "expiring."
You can of course do that yourself (wash your baby’s hand with soap afterwards before they can put in their mouths to be uber-safe) by using any kind of permanent frame that can withstand the low 250F or so temp that’s needed to harden polymer clay if you bake them together… or use a temporary frame (even of aluminum foil with "walls" scrunched up), then remove the baked clay afterward and put it in a frame (on a backing if too small, etc).
You could also use plaster, I guess, either the kind of Plaster of Paris you get from the hardware store, or the more refined kind sold at for crafts (and definitely wash afterward).
Or you could use an "air-dry" clay like Creative Paperclay or Crayola’s Air Dry Clay (don’t try to speed up the drying on that one) or you could even make your own salt dough or bread clay, but be aware that air-dry clays can shrink some so may not be the exact same size as your baby’s hand and all must be sealed after drying.
Here are some kits, info, and photos:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+make+baby+handprint+clay+plaster
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=baby+handprint+clay+plaster
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=baby+handprint+kit
HTH,
Diane B.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
They do sell the kits at Walmart and other hobby places. Plaster of Paris is what you are looking for probably.
Crafter Kat
References :
February 5th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
You should be able to obtain air-dried clay from pottery craft shops/establishments that provide facilities for people to make their own clay sculptures, pottery, and other wares.
This stuff will be a lot less messy than plaster of paris when trying to take your baby’s handprint
References :
February 5th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Often, those "kits" for baby handprints are just a super-soft polymer clay (like original boxed Sculpey) but I’ve never heard of polymer clay "expiring."
You can of course do that yourself (wash your baby’s hand with soap afterwards before they can put in their mouths to be uber-safe) by using any kind of permanent frame that can withstand the low 250F or so temp that’s needed to harden polymer clay if you bake them together… or use a temporary frame (even of aluminum foil with "walls" scrunched up), then remove the baked clay afterward and put it in a frame (on a backing if too small, etc).
You could also use plaster, I guess, either the kind of Plaster of Paris you get from the hardware store, or the more refined kind sold at for crafts (and definitely wash afterward).
Or you could use an "air-dry" clay like Creative Paperclay or Crayola’s Air Dry Clay (don’t try to speed up the drying on that one) or you could even make your own salt dough or bread clay, but be aware that air-dry clays can shrink some so may not be the exact same size as your baby’s hand and all must be sealed after drying.
Here are some kits, info, and photos:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+make+baby+handprint+clay+plaster
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=baby+handprint+clay+plaster
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=baby+handprint+kit
HTH,
Diane B.
References :