Our family discovered plaster strips for crafting after my son came home with a mask he’d made in art class. We all oohed and aahed because it was pretty cool, but we really got excited when we tried out this craft material for ourselves.
Apparently art teachers have been using this material for mask-making for a long time, but it’s just now catching on to the general craft market for other uses. The plaster fabric comes in a roll and is just like the stuff the doctor uses to make a cast on your arm.
You can mold the plaster fabric over just about any shape. It’s a lot like papier mache, but easier, less messy and the drying time is significantly less. Hooray for (almost) instant gratification.
This project is a simple bowl and while you can’t eat your cereal out of it, you can use it for decorative purposes. Everyone will want to get involved because the process is so fun.
Plaster Bowl
You will need:
1 roll plaster fabric (Rigid Wrap is one brand name. You can find it in most craft stores and craft departments.)
Container filled with warm water
Scissors
Large bowl
Plastic wrap
Acrylic paint
Acrylic sealer
1. Cut the plaster cloth in strips about six inches long each. You don’t have to be exact, and they don’t have to be uniform.
2. Turn the bowl upside down and cover it with plastic wrap. Smooth out the plastic as much as possible.
3. Dip a plaster strip in the water and run it between your finger to get rid of the excess water. Place it over the plastic wrap on the bowl. (The instructions are on the plastic wrap package, too). Cover the whole bowl.
4. Let it dry a little while and add another layer or two. Let completely dry. Drying time will vary depending on thickness and how humid the air is. If you’re in a big hurry, you can put it in a sunny spot, in the oven or microwave. I haven’t tried the microwave, but the package says you can do this.
5. Carefully remove the bowl from the plaster. Peel off the plastic wrap. You can trim the edges of the bowl if you want with scissors, and you can sand it smooth with sandpaper, but I think the texture of the plaster wrap and uneven edges are part of the appeal.
6. Paint the bowl, inside and out however you would like. When dry, seal with an acrylic spray sealer, or paint with Mod Podge.
Don’t use the bowl for food, unless it’s wrapped candy or snacks, or anything that has moisture. Try seasonal bowls for decoration like Jack-o-Lanterns for Halloween, hearts for Valentine’s or red white and blue for the fourth of July.