Removal of casts using hydrogel. We make casts of arms and legs with our own hands, how to avoid mistakes

The most beautiful phenomenon created by nature is the birth of a child. Each mother strives to keep in her memory those happy moments spent with the baby, his every movement, his smile, the first words "mother", "dad" ...

AT modern world with help various kinds technology (camera, video camera) you can track the development of the baby from the very first day of life.

But many people want to look at their baby not only from photographs and videos. Therefore, they often order in the studios the so-called copies of the arms and legs of the child - casts that can be made from almost any hardening material - gypsum, chocolate, wax, liquid glass and other materials.

But in this article we will focus on other types of casts - the so-called 3D casts. In another way, they are also called voluminous.

On the Internet you can find the very technology of their manufacture, but rarely where you will see information about their component composition. In this publication, we will reveal this secret to you.

So, to make a three-dimensional cast of a child's arms or legs, we need:

Gypsum (or other hardening material)

Alginate (sold in dental stores)

Plastic container

Water (36.6 degrees)

Before you start work, you need to put your child to sleep in a playpen or a baby cradle (if the little one is still small). This is necessary so that during the removal of the impression, he does not move the handle or leg.

Then we prepare the impression mass. To do this, select the right amount of alginate powder and water in accordance with 1.5 to 1.

Pour the alginate into the water (and not vice versa!) And stir with a mixer or a spoon. Just do it very quickly, as it freezes almost immediately.

Then we immerse the baby's handle (leg) in this mass, wait for solidification. Whether it has frozen or not, you can check with your finger - touch the surface of the mass - if it does not stick to your hands, then the solidification is over. As a result, it should look like rubber.

Now, very carefully, so as not to damage the impression mass, we take the child's limb out of it, and put it back to sleep under the supervision of a baby monitor or video baby monitor. We will get a kind of deepening.

The next step is to prepare a solution of gypsum and water. Pour the gypsum into the water (and not vice versa!) And stir it to the consistency of thick sour cream and fill the resulting cast with this solution. We are waiting for a day. Then we carefully cut the alginate along the edges of the container with a knife, turn it over and make an incision on the mass in order to pull out the resulting cast.

That's all. As they say, everything ingenious is simple. Now the voluminous cast of your crumbs will be preserved for life and constantly remind you of the moments of his childhood.

Surely all parents want to keep warm emotional memories of the childhood of their kids. But, unfortunately, even the most detailed pictures cannot always convey the quivering magical feeling that mom and dad experience while touching their child's tiny fingers. To the aid of sentimental parents in this case come casts of children's arms and legs, made with their own hands.

colorful footprints

The first thing that comes to mind to perpetuate the arms and legs of a child is to dip them in watercolor or gouache and print them on plain paper or cardboard. Yes, it's not the best original way but it is cheap and fast. To keep this sheet for a long time, you can either laminate it or put it in a beautiful stretcher.

Plasticine legs

Also, a simple option to make casts of children's arms and legs with your own hands is plasticine. The one that hardens in the air itself, or a special mixture for modeling, is best suited. The mass should be flattened in the form of a medallion and it is good to print the baby’s hand or foot in it. Be sure to make a hole before the plasticine is dry so that the “home heirloom” can be hung on a ribbon.

Salt dough print

Many of us sculpted “salty” figures in childhood, and now, having become parents, salty dough will help us capture the tiny fingers of our kids. So, how to make casts of children's arms and legs from salt dough?

We dissolve half a glass of salt in a glass of water and add about a glass of flour (more can be until the dough starts to come off your hands). We divide the mass that we have obtained into 4 identical parts and roll it out with a rolling pin into flat rounds a couple of centimeters thick and the size of a child's arm and leg. With dry clean palms and feet of the baby, we press deeply into each piece. If the cast is fuzzy or you don't like it, you can roll the dough again and repeat the procedure.

When the cast is ready, put the dough to dry for 2-3 weeks. After that, the dough can be painted with acrylic paints. As you can see, this method is quite painstaking, but the result will be durable and original casts of the child's arms and legs from salt dough.

Cast of salt dough and plaster

An even more meticulous and unusual way to get prints (casts) of children's hands and feet with your own hands is to plaster them.

To do this, we make the dough according to the recipe described above, and in the same way we form prints, and it is better to make the test 2 times more so that the print is as deep as possible (2-3 cm in depth). We take gypsum (a set for creativity from special art children's stores is best, but a construction kit is also possible). We dilute it with water in the proportion of 1 glass of gypsum to half a glass of water (it is important to add water to gypsum, and not vice versa). Add 2-3 tablespoons of PVA glue to make the resulting cast stronger. Knead everything very quickly and pour into the form with the dough.

While the mass has not frozen, it is better to wipe all the ugly edges with a cloth, otherwise they will have to be cut off later, which can damage the shape. We leave for a day to solidify a cast of a child's hand (leg) with our own hands. Gypsum usually dries quickly, but in order for everything to turn out well, it is better not to touch it for several hours. After that, the finished cast can be taken out of the test. We grind all the irregularities sandpaper. You can decorate these prints acrylic paint or make an interesting collage of children's photos with them. The main thing is to approach the process with imagination!

Casts of sand

Another way to get casts of children's hands and feet with your own hands is to use sand instead of dough. The principle of operation is the same. We pour sand into a deep container, moisten it with water so that it turns into a thick mass, but does not float in water and the child's print does not spread. We lower the baby’s leg or handle deeper (1-2 cm) so that an imprint remains, and take it out. Then we lower the gypsum into the resulting mold (the proportions are described above) and leave it for several hours to solidify. Then shake off the excess sand.

Casts from a ready-made set

Several ways were given here on how to make casts of children's arms and legs with your own hands, but you can also use ready-made kits for creativity. They allow you to create high-quality “handles” and “legs” without the use of improvised means, just follow the instructions. There are sets of 2D (only with prints), 3D (palm and foot in full), as well as with the possibility of making a cast of the child’s hand along with adult hand, casts in a frame, on a stand, in an album, with an engraved plaque and much more. The only drawback of this method is the high cost, but those who really know a lot about original and memorable gizmos will appreciate it.

Instead of a conclusion

Creating memorabilia, whether it be photographs or the first homemade handmade, is very important, because children grow up very quickly, and we can’t keep every detail in memory. In addition to such wonderful casts, mother's chest with small treasures can be constantly replenished - with tags from the hospital or a photo from the first ultrasound, greeting cards from relatives and friends. Photo albums, a bag of the first strand of hair, the first clothes, the first toy, the first pacifier or the first bottle, and when the baby grows up, the first drawings, the first fakes and many other amazing memorabilia.

Yes, and the child, for sure, in adulthood, will want to get acquainted again with the things that surrounded him in childhood, and even, perhaps, just a little bit to remember that wonderful carefree and happy time.

The memory of unforgettable moments of childhood can be left not only by photography, but also by model gel for impressions used to create precise outlines of your baby's legs or arms.

Not only parents buy today, but also godparents, grandparents, who want the imprint of unique little children's hands to remain not only on paper.

With the help of the gel, you can create a cast that conveys the smallest details of the child's hand.

Modeling gel is also used to create an exact shape that conveys lines, curves and other minute subtleties of the body.

You can order the work of a master for making casts. Some of them also work in making cast paintings - this is a wonderful creation that will be interesting to you and the child when he grows up.

If necessary, you can purchase the gel for taking impressions yourself and perform the entire procedure yourself.

Instructions for use are usually included with the packaging. The most common modeling gel is offered by many companies, including Arms and Legs and Socrates.

To create a 3D cast, you no longer need to look for a sculptor or other master in this direction, since you can purchase a special model gel designed for a certain age of the child and create a unique picture or sculpture that reminds of the baby’s childhood.

In time, it will take no more than half an hour to create a cast, if you carefully follow the instructions in the instructions.

Some sets also include postcards, on which you can later place the created cast. Or you can pre-buy a frame in which the photo of the child will be placed.

The step-by-step process for making casts is quite simple and understandable:

1. Initially, you need to immerse the handle or leg in the model gel, which quickly hardens. Creating a form in this case will take about 2 minutes. Moreover, do not worry that the consistency can cause allergies, as it is completely safe even for the smallest. The unique gel preserves not only the original size of the palm, but also repeats all the subtleties of lines, nails, and folds.
2. After that, high-precision gypsum must be poured into the resulting mold for modeling.
3. After about two hours, the sculpture must be freed from the model material and, thus, an absolutely exact copy of a small handle or leg should be obtained. If desired, such a sculpture can be decorated in any way: coated with varnish or other coating, make an inscription, decorate with some decorative elements.

Recently, many couples in love have also become interested in this gel, which can immerse their palms woven together and capture the tenderness of feelings for many years.

Such a surprise, for sure, will be happy for everyone, even not an avid romantic.

You can buy 3D gel for casts in a wide range in many chain stores or on Internet portals. A set consisting of gel and plaster must be certified, like any other product.

The presence of instructions is also important, although they may not offer it - they sell only gel bags that have a lower cost compared to the full set.

When purchasing a model gel, do not forget to provide for the amount of material, which the website consultants can also help you calculate.

Naturally, it is advisable to buy 3D gel for casts from trusted companies, especially if you want to make a cast of a child’s hand, since everyone can guarantee the safety of the composition, but how it actually is is not known.

Do not miss the opportunity to get a unique family heirloom, the unusualness of which will attract and constantly remind you of a certain moment in your life. In addition, the cost of model gel for casts is loyal, so anyone can buy it.

Little kids grow up so fast that you can't keep up with them. Here he turned over for the first time, smiled, said "mom", went ... got married. And so I want to remember every pleasant moment of this lovely childhood life, to capture in my memory small hands and feet. Today, newfangled trends come to the aid of young mothers, thanks to which you can make casts of the arms and legs of their little children. Let's look at several ways to "freeze the moment" and capture the tiny, lovely limbs of a child.

On the Internet, there are a lot of offers of kits for creativity, with which you can make prints of the arms and legs of your baby with every prominent crease on the palm and foot. After all, you must admit that making a collage of photos, arms and legs in 3D format is an exclusive art, looking at which you will light up with a smile every time.

It is very popular today to bring such gifts to christenings or buy a certificate for this service as a gift. After all, when the godson grows up, he will surely remember godparents with thanks. What else you can give to the godson read in the article:. Parents can also order handprints on a stand in the style of "Avenue of Stars" in Hollywood. And you can make casts of arms and legs yourself, but how? See below.

How to prepare a crumb-model for "work"?

It is best to do the hand and foot molding work when the little model is calm. Pick a moment. It can be a dream or watching your favorite cartoons. You can find cartoons by clicking on the link:. There are sleepy children with whom you can do anything in this state. There is an interesting article about a child’s sleep: “Does the child sleep badly? possible reasons and find a solution to this problem.

If you decide to carry out work on making a cast while the child is awake, then be sure to make sure that the crumbs have good mood He was not hungry and joyful.
Does the baby wiggle his fingers slightly during the impression? It does not matter, this will not spoil the final result, since the mass will better fall into all the folds and the handle or leg will be more prominent. In this case, the main thing is calmness, nocturnal holding will not give the desired result.

How to make casts of arms and legs out of sand?

The method is quite simple and does not require any special "troubles". Any mother will cope with such a task, even if she is completely unfamiliar with the skill of creating a sculpture. Such an impression can be made decorated, then in addition to the tools and materials below, you need decorative elements, which can be shells, chains, buttons or small toys.

Required accessories

To work on the cast you will need:

• capacity, a round-shaped cookie tin is great for this idea;
• sand, it is desirable that it be fine;
• alabaster, it is easy to buy it on the construction market (shop);
• brush, common for painting radiators.

Stages of work

1. Fine sand pour into the selected container, level. It should not be over-tamped.

2. In the center of the prepared sand, make an imprint from the hand or foot of your child. If you want to make a decorated cast, then make decorations around the print from pre-prepared items.

3. Now you need to do alabaster. Do not forget that this material hardens very quickly, so you need to work quickly. The powder is diluted with plain water. The mass that is necessary for work should be like sour cream.

4. After the alabaster is diluted, pour it into a container in a small stream, so as not to spoil the sand form. The thickness of the alabaster above the sand should be 2–4 cm.

5. Leave the container for at least 20 minutes. It is desirable longer, but if "unbearable", then you can get it.

6. Carefully take out the cast and use a brush to clean off the grains of sand. Next, act as your imagination tells you: paint, decorate, decorate with drawings, write inscriptions.

How to make casts of plasticine arms and legs?

Such material as plasticine is familiar to us since childhood. After all, each of us began to create our first "sculptures" from it in kindergarten. If you are going to make casts of your child's arms and legs from plasticine, then you need to remember the skills gained in kindergarten.

Required accessories

For work, the following materials should be prepared:

• plasticine, today the choice of such material is quite wide, children's soft is best;
• ordinary PVA glue (clerical);
• gypsum, it can be different: for decoration, construction, medical. You can take any;
• if you want to decorate the cast, then the decor elements.

Step-by-step instruction

1. In order for the print to be of high quality plasticine, it is necessary to knead it well until soft.

2. We make an imprint of a handle or a leg with a depth of at least 1.5 cm. If you want, you can make decorative recesses.

3. We hide the resulting print in the freezer to set the contours.

4. Prepare plaster. standard proportion suggests 1 cup of powder + 0.5 cup cold water. Do not forget that the gypsum does not take lumps of water should be poured into the gypsum, and not vice versa. Pour a small amount of PVA glue into the resulting mixture.

5. Remove the impression from the freezer and fill all the cavities with plaster.

6. Leave the impression for hardening for 12-18 hours.

7. Plasticine is removed quite easily if you hold it over warm air (a battery, a boiling kettle) for several minutes.

8. The resulting cast is polished and decorated according to your desire.

How to make casts of arms and legs from salt dough?

Hand and foot molds made from salt dough are the easiest way to capture baby prints. But it should be remembered that the dough is a short-lived product and varnish applied on top in several layers will help to preserve the original appearance of the cast.

Required accessories

To prepare the dough for work, you must have:

• wheat flour;
• salt, it is better to choose fine;
• water.

Staged implementation

1. Prepare the dough, it must be elastic. To do this, mix one glass of flour with the same amount of fine salt. In the resulting mixture, twist half a glass of water, knead the dough. If you see that there is not enough water, then add a little.

2. From the resulting dough, roll out a cake of 3–5 cm. You can give the mold a different shape.

3. Push the handle or leg of the child on the cake. This material is good because if the desired result does not come out the first time, you can roll out the dough in a new way.

4. Around the print, you can write inscriptions, draw patterns or beautiful drawings.

5. Place the impression with the imprint in a hot oven for two hours. The optimum temperature for drying the dough should be 100-120 degrees. Depending on the thickness of the cake depends on the baking time.

6. After baking (drying) the mold of the handle or leg, let it lie down for a day and only then apply decorative coating(lacquer, paint, etc.), decorate with drawings and inscriptions.

Impression design options

Making a mold of the handle and leg is half the battle. It still needs to be beautifully decorated. In addition to making a cast, it also needs to be beautifully designed. There are many design options, because it all depends on your imagination. Here are some design options:

1. In the form of a figurine. To do this, cover the resulting cast with silver or bronze spray paint and pile it on the base. Sign the base and put a date and get a miniature figurine.

2. Photo frame with a cast. Glue a photo of your child and a cast of an arm and leg into a regular photo frame. In addition to these things, "under the glass" you can put a tag from the hospital, a pacifier and other paraphernalia of a newborn.

3. In the form of a pendant. Make a hole while making. After the casts of the arms and legs have hardened, thread a beautiful ribbon through this hole and hang it on the wall in the children's room. And you can read about the design of a room for a newborn in the article:.