Plaster of Paris Craft Ideas

Plaster of Paris is an easy craft supply to use with adults or kids. The basic process of mixing the plaster with water is about all the special instruction you need. Ornaments, lapel pins and magnets are just a few of the items that can be created. Using a variety of molds, you can create almost any image or shape that you dream up.

Candy molds come in a variety of design options and are very inexpensive. Cake molds are wonderful for large plaque-size crafts. Holiday molds from the sophisticated to the whimsical are available at craft stores or discount stores. Soap and candle molds create dimensional options for ornaments and statue type crafts.

Small boxes, hard plastic packaging, cardboard toilet paper tubes, paper cups and shaped dishes are additional options for plaster of Paris crafting. The hardened plaster needs to be able to slip out of the mold, so use items that do not have a lip or rim that tapers inward.

When mixing plaster with water, add acrylic paints for a tint of color. This will give a pastel shade that works well for Easter tree ornaments and lapel pins. Experiment by adding glitter to the plaster for a fun shimmer look. Add craft glue to the mixture to create a more durable item that will resist breakage and chipping. Acrylic craft paints seem to work the best for painting your creations and they have great coverage. Allow them to dry thoroughly and spray with clear acrylic sealer.

Cut the rounded ends of metal paper clips and insert them in the backs of your poured plaster before it hardens to give them an embedded hanger. Turn the molds over on a bed of bath towels to remove the plaster. This will prevent breakage.

Make small holiday ornaments for miniature Christmas and Easter trees; larger heavier ones work best for larger trees with bigger branches. Small candy molds are perfect for lapel pins and magnets. After the item has been painted and completed, glue magnets and pin backs to the backs using craft glue and allow it to dry overnight.

Game pieces are fun to make and add a special touch to a family checkerboard or chess game. Let your kids come up with new game pieces for Monopoly or their favorite board game.

Make your own sidewalk chalk. Chalk is plaster and is made the same way as a simple craft. Then fill a small tote bucket with different colors and shapes and hit the sidewalks.

Fill a special cake mold 1/2-inch deep with mixed plaster and allow to dry. Note: the bigger the item the longer it will take to dry. Be sure to add a hanger or two in the back while it is wet. Paint these larger plaster plaques for decorative art in a child's room or nursery.