Tiny Treasures

I'm sure you've all seen the cool 3D plaster impressions you can get done of your child's tiny hands and feet to keep forever. I think are really cute, especially so when you look back and realise how little they once were.  Well, I wanted to capture my baby's hands and feet before he gets too big, and not wanting to spend a fortune, I decided to try and do it myself. I got a DIY kit from Keepsakes to Cherish which came with the moulding powder, casting powder and 4 cups to mould in, enough to make 4 impressions and 1 spare.

I was a tad nervous about doing it, knowing it could go completely pear shaped so when I eventually got around to finding a time when bubs was content enough to make the moulds, I gritted my teeth and hoped for the best! Thankfully I was able to do two hands and two feet, however, it certainly wasn't without dramas! Lets just say its hard to get a 4 week old baby to completely cooperate.. and baby hands didn't like being shoved into cold water. I had moulding paste going everywhere.. and bubs was crying. BUT.. I got it done.

The photos above show my finished hand moulds, which I made by popping bub's hands into the moulding mixture until it set (around a minute).  The moulding mixture looked like a strawberry milkshake!! I then mixed up some casting powder with water and poured it into the moulds to set (overnight). The next day I peeled back the rubbery mould to reveal two little hands and two little feet!

Given its a DIY job, I wasn't expecting it to be 100% perfect, so there were a few rough areas and imperfections, which I should be able to sand back a bit. I'll then paint them silver and find a deep-set frame to pop them in for the nursery wall :) If and when I get around to that, I'll update you all with the finished product!

If you want to make moulds of your own children's hands and feet, you can get your own kit from Keepsakes to Cherish like the one below!

photo courtesy of keepsakes to cherish

Photo courtesy of body-cast studio