Plaster Casts

So I'm having to backtrack a bit because I forgot to write about the programs with did with our teens this summer. Because the theme was "Be Creative", we tried to hit 3 main bases of categories - music, art, and drama. Since my degree is in art, that's always going to be the easiest one for me to do.

Our first program was plaster casts/mold of hands and faces. I forget which company we ordered them from, but we got the plaster sheets in rolls. They're super easy to use. You just have to cut off the length you want, wet it, apply it to what you're molding, and let it dry. This is a very messy craft - so watch out.

We just did hands and faces, but you could do feet too. Make sure you have plenty of baby oil and vaseline. The vaseline is a little harder to get off your skin, but I think it makes it easier for the cast to come off. The hands were really easy to do (though the teens generally had to work in pairs to get it done). The masks were a little tougher because of eyebrows and other hair that can get caught in the plaster and pull. (Make sure you have tough teens that want their faces done - no whiners). The more you layer the plaster, the thicker the cast will be, and the better it will hold up when you're pulling it off your teens.

Make sure you have baby wipes on hand to help get the oil and vaseline off. If you're bathroom is on the other side of the library, a tub with some washcloths and warm water would be a good idea too. The teens really liked this one, but if you have more than a handful of kids, make sure you have some volunteers or parents who are brave (and competent) enough to help you out.