Things you will need:
Heart Shape Container (cake pan, or plastic container large enough for your child's hand print)
Play Dough (I like to use Scuptley Clay for this)
Plaster
Mixing Bowl (use an old one)
Paper Clips
Acrylic Paint
INFORMATION about the Heart Shape container: During the Valentine's Holidays, most food stores sell their cakes and cookies in throw away heart shaped tins with plastic tops... these are perfect for this project!
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Take your heart shape container, we used a heart shape cake pan. (If you are lucky enough to live near a craft store, you may be able to find a plastic heart shape container - plastic for this project is easier to work with.) I still have the plaster hand print that I made in kindergarten, some 40 years ago. At that time a small paper plate was used.
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For Scupltey Clay, kneed the clay with your hands to soften. Then put the clay in one area of the heart container and press just enough so the clay will stay in one area of the container. You also want to make sure that all of the edges of the clay are attached to the container so the plaster does not flow between the clay and container. Have your child press their hand into the clay. You may want to help with this step by helping them press their fingers down into the clay. Press hard enough so that the hand's impression is left in the clay.
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After the impression is made, mix up the plaster as the instructions say. I buy the half gallon size at Kmarts. I like it, because it is easy to re seal and use again for other projects. Slowly pour the plaster, starting in the hand print area. Add enough plaster, about 1/2 inch thickness, in your container. Hold the container with both hands and tap on a flat service to release any air bubbles and to make sure that the plaster fills your child's hand impression in the clay. Bend the paper clip slightly and set in the plaster (if the paper clip starts to sink too deep, remove it and wait a couple more seconds, then try again.). The paper clip is what you will use to hang your child's hand print, so place it in an area near the top. You may want to add 2 paper clips, and use a wire so the hand print keepsake will hang straight.
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As the plaster starts to set, the plaster will feel warm. Wait until the plaster is cool to the touch, then carefully take the plaster out of the heart shaped container. The plaster may still feel warm to touch depending on when you take it out of the container. Wait until it is cooler before taking the clay out of the plaster. If you try to do this too soon, you will end up with a real mess as some of the clay will have softened and will stick to the plaster!
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After the plaster has been allowed to set up, give it a few hours (I like to wait over night before doing the next step) This step is OPTIONAL. Use a red acrylic paint (or another color may be used) and paint the top of the plaster, try not to get any paint in the area where the clay was, or where your child's hand print is. Some like to keep the entire Keepsake Hand Print the natural color of the plaster. Painted or natural, either way, this Valentine's Keepsake is a real "keeper!" A master piece to treasure for years!
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