Loadsa crafty stuff, the June McEwan way: How to Make and Decorate Plaster Shapes.

June McEwan 8 Mitchell St Crieff PH7 3AG

www.junemcewan.biz

Mob: 0777 187 5443

HOW-TO : MAKE & DECORATE PLASTER SHAPES

Making (Casting)

1. Find something to use as a mould. (I used an ice cube tray for these. Other ready made moulds could be jelly moulds, biscuit & chocolate box inners, sand shapers….

2. Have your equipment ready.

   Jug of Water

   Fine Casting Plaster

   Mould; (laid on top of newspaper)

   Mixing container & stirring utensil

3. Pour some water into your container, leaving two thirds of the container empty.

4. Spoon plaster into the container, (always add plaster to water- it doesn't work the other way round), mixing as you go until the mixture has no lumps and has the consistency of single cream.

5. Pour steadily into the mould. Give the mould a tap to get rid of air bubbles.

6. Leave for around 20 mins. The plaster will react with the water, becoming hot and cold through the setting process. (This is a natural chemical reaction which children especially, enjoy experiencing).

7. Once set, turn out of mould and decorate.

DECORATING(using watercolour paint)

1. Spread newspaper at each workstation.

2. Supply a watercolour paint box, brush, water container and plaster shape.

3. Choose the shape(s), you made earlier.

4. Colour in the shape keeping the paint ’watery’

a) dip brush into water

b) mix into paint colour

c) colour-in as carefully as possible

5. The paint will dry almost immediately.

6. Wrap in tissue to take home.

*You can add details using water based felt tip pens and/or glitter glue