The small foot and hand of a baby are adorable. They can bring on a smile on anyone’s face. They are the most beautiful and pure part of life, especially for the parents. It’s the reason why parents all around the world want to find ways to preserve these small features using a casting.
The following post will introduce you to the two most common types of casting they use and detail about their usage.
Clay Based Kits
This casting kit is the simplest and most convenient kit that uses soft clay as the base material. It’s mostly preferred for infants who don’t like to stay stable for a long time. The baby casting kit is easy to use and doesn’t need much time. However, you might want to give it a try shot before using it. They have room for inaccuracy and errors.
Another benefit of this casting is that it is not that bulky and is easy to frame. The clay mold is also stable up to a great extent and can take shocks without facing much damage. It’s delicate, but with some precautions, you can move them without having to worry about losing the precious memory.
Using The Clay Based Kits
The clay-based baby handprint ornament kits come pre-loaded. You will have everything, including the frame, clay, and minor tools in the kits. So, all you need to do is to place the imprint and wait for it to dry. However, in some cases, you need preparation and practice. Here’s what you can do:
- Beat the clay until it’s soft enough to print the baby foot or hand without pressure.
- Flatten the clay and form a closed shape like a circle, rectangle, or square according to your preference.
- Now, apply some oil on your hand and press your hand on the clay and see the results.
- Once you have enough practice, you can bring in the baby and repeat the imprinting process.
- After you have the perfect print, let the clay dry, and there you go.
- You can now remove excess clay from the corner, paint the print, or simply frame it.
Plaster Kits
The plaster type kits are more advanced level kits that create a sculpture rather than an imprint. They are tricky to use and need both time and practice. They will also need your kid to stay still for a considerable period, which makes it a little inconvenient for infants.
This kit will also need refining and have more chances of incomplete or weird looking casting. So, make sure to read the instruction manual and practice multiple times before you try it on your baby.
Using The plaster kit
The plaster kit has two different material molding and the casting paste or powder. The molding material is for creating an exterior frame for your baby’s hand or foot. The casting, on the other hand, is the part that forms the final shape.
The following are the steps involved in this casting type.
- Prepare a container that is big enough for the casting process and the molding substance in the kit. It is usually a liquid or powder that needs water.
- Then, place the baby foot or hand in the vessel and fill it with the molding material.
- Once the molding dries, take out the hand or foot and check the created cavity for leakage or deformation.
- If the cavity is perfect, you can start filling it with the casting material like plaster or Paris that comes in the kit.
- After it’s completely dry, take it out and remove the molding material. You can also use blades, brush, or other such tools to refine it.
Final Words
The two casting types are the most common ways to preserve baby foot or hand imprints. However, there is always room for innovation, and you can get the imprints in many more ways. Like you can do it using a baby footprint ornament kit. The kits are almost the same as the clay kits, but here you print the foot or hand on an ornament using paint.
So, keep on looking, find the best casting processes and preserve the memories that are precious for you.
