What you will need:
1 plastic drop cloth
1 jar petroleum jelly
1 pair gloves
3-4 rolls plaster casting material (each 4" x 5 yards)
1 piece of sand paper
How it works:
A belly cast is created usually in the last weeks of pregnancy to capture the pregnant bellies at its maximum size. It is made by applying several layers of wet plaster strips to the front of your body. After the strips have set, they will hold your shape and the cast will come away from your body and you will have a permanent record of your pregnant belly! Some women cast their belly and breasts while others include hands and arms as they hold their belly.
INSTRUCTIONS
Before beginning:
Make sure the expectant mom is comfortable, and not hungry or thirsty and that she won't need to visit the bathroom for at least half an hour. If you want to take photographs of the process, have your camera ready. Also, prepare an area where the cast can rest undisturbed as it finishes drying. (Usually 24-48 hours.) Light a candle, turn on relaxing music and let the soon to be mama relax.
Preparation:
Start by protecting your work area. You will probably want to lay down a cloth or newspapers on the floor. You can have the pregnant mama sit on a chair or a cushion.
You will need a bowl/bucket of room-temperature water. This is how you will wet the plaster strips. Place it in a sturdy spot, near the expectant mama. Away from the water, (and over a protected area because the strips will be powdery) open at least two of the rolls of plaster casting material. With sharp scissors, cut the plaster roll into strips 12 to 18 inches in length. Set the cut strips into two piles based on their length. Also, cut at least one square (three squares if you're doing a cast that will include your breasts) that is approximately 2-3 inches square. These squares will be used for accentuating the belly button and nipples so your cast will be finely detailed.
You need to decide what to cast, and then prepare the area that will be casted. Then you have to bare it! Bare skin makes the best belly cast, although you can wear a bra above and underwear below the casting area if you desire.
Since the casting material will go right against the skin and will set (much like glue), you want to ensure that small hairs are not trapped in the plaster of the cast. Simply spread a layer of petroleum jelly (like vaseline) all over the areas to be cast. We suggest applying it all in one direction so the hairs have less of a chance of being caught. Don t worry the plaster will still adhere on top of the jelly. (Note: Latex gloves will fall apart if you use them to spread the jelly. Instead, you might want to spread it with bare hands or a paper towel.)
Next, you will need a piece of plastic wrap to protect the underwear or the pubic hair area.
Creating the cast:
Whoever will be handling the casting materials should put on the gloves. Next, thoroughly yet quickly wet single plaster strips one at a time by running them through the water basin, and then place them across the area to be casted. As you approach the nipples and belly button, place one of the small squares over each of these areas and carefully conform them to the shape. You will want to reinforce the cast with multiple layers, but take some care to avoid further layers around the belly button and nipples.
To give the cast maximum strength, create multiple overlapping layers, laying strips up and down, side to side and diagonally across. Try to cover every area of the cast with a minimum of two layers of casting material -- and more is better.
Don't rush, but work quickly and carefully, smoothing the strips as you go along. Make sure the sides are also reinforced with extra layers. The casting material will begin to dry in about eight minutes, but as you are applying additional layers, the cast will need to stay in place until it "tells" you it s ready by getting warm, quite heavy, and eventually separating from the body after 20-30 minutes.
When the cast is ready to be removed, handle it carefully. We suggest gently stuffing it full of crumpled newspapers and setting it belly-up on a surface so it can air-dry for at least 48 hours. It will be hard to the touch, but until it has driedd, it can sag under its own weight if not adequately supported.
After the casting:
As soon as the cast is complete, you will want to take a shower! We recommend first using a towel to wipe off as much of the petroleum jelly as possible. Then you can take a shower or bath to get rid of the remaining plaster.
Once the cast has dried, you can smooth off any rough areas with a piece of sandpaper. To seal and smooth the surface, apply a coat of gesso with a brush and then let dry. After its dry, an option is to paint your belly cast and hang it as wall decoration.
Your belly cast is now complete, and ready for you to display, store, or paint and decorate as you wish!
1 plastic drop cloth
1 jar petroleum jelly
1 pair gloves
3-4 rolls plaster casting material (each 4" x 5 yards)
1 piece of sand paper
How it works:
A belly cast is created usually in the last weeks of pregnancy to capture the pregnant bellies at its maximum size. It is made by applying several layers of wet plaster strips to the front of your body. After the strips have set, they will hold your shape and the cast will come away from your body and you will have a permanent record of your pregnant belly! Some women cast their belly and breasts while others include hands and arms as they hold their belly.
INSTRUCTIONS
Before beginning:
Make sure the expectant mom is comfortable, and not hungry or thirsty and that she won't need to visit the bathroom for at least half an hour. If you want to take photographs of the process, have your camera ready. Also, prepare an area where the cast can rest undisturbed as it finishes drying. (Usually 24-48 hours.) Light a candle, turn on relaxing music and let the soon to be mama relax.
Preparation:
Start by protecting your work area. You will probably want to lay down a cloth or newspapers on the floor. You can have the pregnant mama sit on a chair or a cushion.
You will need a bowl/bucket of room-temperature water. This is how you will wet the plaster strips. Place it in a sturdy spot, near the expectant mama. Away from the water, (and over a protected area because the strips will be powdery) open at least two of the rolls of plaster casting material. With sharp scissors, cut the plaster roll into strips 12 to 18 inches in length. Set the cut strips into two piles based on their length. Also, cut at least one square (three squares if you're doing a cast that will include your breasts) that is approximately 2-3 inches square. These squares will be used for accentuating the belly button and nipples so your cast will be finely detailed.
You need to decide what to cast, and then prepare the area that will be casted. Then you have to bare it! Bare skin makes the best belly cast, although you can wear a bra above and underwear below the casting area if you desire.
Since the casting material will go right against the skin and will set (much like glue), you want to ensure that small hairs are not trapped in the plaster of the cast. Simply spread a layer of petroleum jelly (like vaseline) all over the areas to be cast. We suggest applying it all in one direction so the hairs have less of a chance of being caught. Don t worry the plaster will still adhere on top of the jelly. (Note: Latex gloves will fall apart if you use them to spread the jelly. Instead, you might want to spread it with bare hands or a paper towel.)
Next, you will need a piece of plastic wrap to protect the underwear or the pubic hair area.
Creating the cast:
Whoever will be handling the casting materials should put on the gloves. Next, thoroughly yet quickly wet single plaster strips one at a time by running them through the water basin, and then place them across the area to be casted. As you approach the nipples and belly button, place one of the small squares over each of these areas and carefully conform them to the shape. You will want to reinforce the cast with multiple layers, but take some care to avoid further layers around the belly button and nipples.
To give the cast maximum strength, create multiple overlapping layers, laying strips up and down, side to side and diagonally across. Try to cover every area of the cast with a minimum of two layers of casting material -- and more is better.
Don't rush, but work quickly and carefully, smoothing the strips as you go along. Make sure the sides are also reinforced with extra layers. The casting material will begin to dry in about eight minutes, but as you are applying additional layers, the cast will need to stay in place until it "tells" you it s ready by getting warm, quite heavy, and eventually separating from the body after 20-30 minutes.
When the cast is ready to be removed, handle it carefully. We suggest gently stuffing it full of crumpled newspapers and setting it belly-up on a surface so it can air-dry for at least 48 hours. It will be hard to the touch, but until it has driedd, it can sag under its own weight if not adequately supported.
After the casting:
As soon as the cast is complete, you will want to take a shower! We recommend first using a towel to wipe off as much of the petroleum jelly as possible. Then you can take a shower or bath to get rid of the remaining plaster.
Once the cast has dried, you can smooth off any rough areas with a piece of sandpaper. To seal and smooth the surface, apply a coat of gesso with a brush and then let dry. After its dry, an option is to paint your belly cast and hang it as wall decoration.
Your belly cast is now complete, and ready for you to display, store, or paint and decorate as you wish!
