PREGNANCY BELLY CASTING TIPS
How to make a pregnancy belly cast
including your hands:
Some moms like to include the hands
of a loved one in their pregnancy belly cast. It is very easy to do. Just put
the hands right on the belly, apply the Vaseline over the back of the hands as
you are coating the rest of the mom's casting area, and then simply cast right
over the hands. Make sure the fingers are spread far enough apart so that it
is easily distinguishable that it is a hand being cast into the pregnancy
belly cast.
How to get a really smooth pregnancy
belly cast:
A tip to make a really smooth cast is to dip
your fingers in water after you apply a couple of overlapping layers of the
plaster casting strips and rub your fingers over the layers to mix the plaster
of paris together among the layers. Work fairly quickly as the plaster strips
will begin to dry within a few minutes after you begin applying the plaster
strips. After your pregnancy belly cast has completely dried, lightly sand it
with the sanding screen included in our kit. If you still want an even
smoother surface, apply 1-2 layers of Gesso (acrylic priming paint) and let
dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. A more advanced method of
making a smoother cast is to apply a thin layer of joint compound or spackle
which can be found at your local home improvement store. Apply it with your
fingers and as it starts to dry, smooth it out more with your fingers. Allow
it to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions and then lightly sand
it using our sanding screen. You may need to apply more than 1 layer of joint
compound or spackle, allowing each layer to dry and lightly sanding in between
each coat.
How to support your breasts during the
casting:
There are a few different ways to
give your breasts some support during the casting:
1. Take a long piece of saran wrap, fold it
in half and wrap it around your body beginning under your breasts where your
bra strap would usually rest. Continue to wrap the saran wrap around your body
working your way up under your breasts until you have the amount of support
you desire
2. Wear a strapless bra, but the fabric and
seams will show through your cast, and don't wear your favorite bra because
between the Vaseline and the casting material, even after washing it will
probably never be the same again
3. Buy disposable "pasty" bras that are
available at your local department store
How to include your thighs in the
casting:
To have your pregnancy belly cast
look right, you will need to do your casting while standing. Start the casting
from the top and work your way down. When you get to the bottom of your belly,
place a piece of saran wrap over your pubic area to keep the wet casting
material from sticking to it. Slather the saran wrap with Vaseline prior to
placing it over your pubic area. You will need to hold the saran wrap in place
while your helper places the first wet strip over the pubic area. Thereafter,
the wet casting strips will hold the saran wrap in place. Alternatively, you
can wear a pair of panties. Try to wear a more delicate pair since the seams
won't show as much. Then tuck the saran wrap into the seams to hold it in
place. Vaseline removal from the inside of your pregnancy belly cast You might
wonder just how to get the excess Vaseline out of the inside of your cast. If
you're a patient person the Vaseline will eventually dry out. If you want
quicker results, first take a dry paper towel and wipe out any excess. Then,
take another paper towel and dip it in rubbing alcohol and gently dab it on
the Vaseline to dissolve it. Just be careful not to apply so much rubbing
alcohol that it saturates your pregnancy belly cast.
Smoothing the edges of your pregnancy
belly cast:
Don't worry about having the edges of
your pregnancy belly cast be even as you are making the cast. After your
pregnancy belly cast has completely dried, you can take a pair of sharp
scissors and trim the edges to make them even if you like.