Need some 'crafty' advice....

Hmmm PVA glue painted on the back may strengthen it but then again it may also damage it. Would plaster or paris poured into it - like a second mould work?

because it is such a precious - i say precious because if it were mine, it would be so very precious, had you thought about phoning up the company who supplied the cast? If you don't have their details there are quite a few cast suppliers up and down now - i did have details of a few because i want to go into cast kits eventually.

http://www.castintime.co.uk/index.htm

http://shop2.actinicexpress.com/shops/newbabygifts/index.php?cat=belly-casting-kits

I'd pop them an email to get the best advice to be honest.

Anne

Thanks Anne, I didn't use a company or a pack..I just went & bought a load of gunky stuff....no prizes for guessing I didn't know what I was doing..only know what I wanted lol

somone has just suggested that I bulk the inside with newspaper soaked in wall paper paste & then coat it with varnish before I paint on it, I'm not too sure if that would work or just make it turn into a huge mush:confused:..I think I'll have a look at your links first, your right, I'd hate to ruin it

Thanks hun

xxx

Hi AJ,

You say it's a plaster cast but it's "flimsy"? That's odd because plaster goes hard when it's set and is more likely to chip and get scratched than go flimsy. Can you confirm what you used?

If it is plaster then most strengthening mediums will stick to it well.
You really want to look to get it strengthened with fibreglass and resin (a bit messy and you have to be careful with the resin "chemicals", but provides a good, strong and non-bulky finish). Once it's strengthened with fibreglass there are various ways you can coat the whole thing to give it a tougher finish and protect it. You could look at getting it coated in a plastic (would have to be done by someone else who specialises in these things) or it could be spray coated with something as simple as car body paint.

It may be worth just contacting your local college and speaking with whoever teaches ceramics/pottery/sculpture and seeing if they can offer any advice (perhaps if you take it for them to see).

I've sculpted life size torso's of life models before in clay and then taken a plaster cast from that, but the mold was thick and solid and from that I've made the final cement 'fondu' (a type of cement) form from that. It does mean that the mold get's destroyed, but you end up with a solid (and heavy) cement form of the original model which can then be finished with paints etc. as required.

There are so many various techniques that could be used to preserve your work, but you'll get the best advice from someone who is skilled in this area and who can actually see what you have got to work from.

Love and Reiki Hugs

Thanks Giles, I used those strips, like what they used on broken arms ect, you wet them & cover the area....hhuummm yes I probably used the wrong stuff:o

Thanks for the tip, I'll get intouch with somewhere who will be able to have a look & advise me

Love
Amy
xxx

Thanks Giles, I used those strips, like what they used on broken arms ect, you wet them & cover the area....hhuummm yes I probably used the wrong stuff:o

Plaster of paris strips. They should be rock hard, not flexible. 😮 Perhaps too much water was added at the time or something. Not to worry. Seek out the experts and they'll be able to rescue it for you. 😉

Love and Reiki Hugs