We used a food-grade alginate, a water-based skin-safe molding powder, to cast these five-fingered accents. Pro idea: Don’t put your hands in the plaster of Paris; it can cause burns.
What You’ll Need
Products
Alginate powder (Pictured: Alginate, $31.42 for 3 lb., by Alja-Safe, from sculpt.com).
2 1/2- quart plastic container.
Plaster of Paris powder (Pictured: Plaster of Paris, $7.49 for 4 lb., by DAP, truevalue.com).
Craft knife.
Masking tape.
3/4- to 1-inch drill bit and Surform planer, if required.
Paintbrush.
Black gouache.
Guidelines.
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Stir alginate with water in a 1-to-1 ratio, nearly filling the 2-quart container.
Position hand how you would like it to be cast (if you desire the sculpture to function as a candleholder, hold a candle in your hand, keeping it straight; then thoroughly get rid of candle light), and insert hand into alginate mix. Hold still 3 to 5 minutes, up until the mold is set.
Pull hand out (this won’t impact the mold). Mix plaster of Paris according to package directions, and pour into mold to fill. Let set for a number of hours.
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Eliminate entire mold from container. Use craft knife to cut the mold in half nicely, and get rid of plaster hand. Stop utilizing the mold once it dries out.
