How to Plaster Cast a Paw Print

Tis the season my Pupper Peoples!! All that mud is a sign of spring and filth and dirt...why not do something fun with it?! I found a high-quality paw print in the very wet mud in my backyard. (Dry dirt is still a good option for casts, I just like the pliability of mud) I decided I wanted to do a plaster cast of it.The picture below is my final product. However, there is still so much that can be done with this little guy. He can be painted, set in another mold to make more molds, set in epoxy to make coasters or other inlays for a pupper box...the sky is the limit!

Supplies:

Plaster of Paris
A measuring cup
A mixing bowl
Stir stick
Mold or barrier for your mold(I used a tape roll but a cookie cutter would be so fun)
Old toothbrush
Butter knife or other carving device

You wanna be pretty prepared and work fairly quickly since plaster sets up right away. First, center your ring or cookie cutter or whatever you want around the print. Just make sure there's plenty of room around the print to get a nice lip around it. Adjust any inadequacies in the print. The paw print that I chose was mostly perfect, but there were some spots that just didn't seem as deep so I used my finger to press those in a teeny tiny bit until it looked as awesome as I could make it look without messing it up. Then mix your plaster.

A good rule of thumb for mixing plaster is 2 parts plaster and 1 part water. I added a smidge more water to mine to get a slightly thinner consistency..no more than a tablespoon though. Less is more.

Pour your plaster over the print and let it set up for about 20 to 30 minutes. When you pull it out, depending on how muddy the ground is, you may get a slimy mess.  It will still work!!

Your initial cast will look a little flawed after you rinse off all the mud. A toothbrush is helpful to get into the nooks and cranny's. And it's soft enough to not make any scratches in your work.From here, you can use a butter knife to whittle it down a bit or your fingernail! Its really that soft. This makes a great project for all ages and even small children will enjoy this with some adult assistance. You can even plaster cast a leaf imprint or a shoe imprint or your toddlers bare foot for this project.

Once finished with sculpting out the flaws, the surface should be allowed to dry completely for 24 to 48 hours before painting or using epoxy or anything else.

I bought my plaster of paris at The Hobby Lobby. 

Happy hunting for prints!!