How to Make a Homemade Belly Casting

A Belly Casting, or Belly Mask, as they are sometimes called, is a plaster form of a pregnant woman's stomach. (Actually, a woman's breasts are often included too.)It's a heartwarming way to capture what the mother's tummy looked like while she was pregnant with her little one. You can purchase a kit for this project, or you can find out how to make a homemade belly casting by following these instructions.

Some mothers choose to create several belly castings throughout their pregnancy. This way, they can preserve- in plaster forms- the changes that took place as their baby grew. Or, you can just make one homemade casting around the eighth or ninth month of pregnancy to show what your tummy looked like.

Before you begin making your homemade belly casting, getting an assistant to help you would be a good idea. You'll also need to put on an old set of clothes. Remove rings, bracelets, and other jewelry that are on your hands or arms. Protect the floor where you'll be working with a drop cloth or a layer of old newspapers.

You'll need a bucket filled with warm water, petroleum jelly, and plaster tape to start out with. Cut the plaster tape into several strips that measure six, eight, and twelve inches long.

Now, you'll need to bare your body from right above your pubic region to your belly, and clear up to right above your breasts. Cover your pubic region with an old towel to protect it from the plaster tape. Spread a liberal amount of the petroleum jelly over the rest of this area. The petroleum jelly will help keep the plaster tape from sticking to your skin. To make a homemade belly casting, don't go more than halfway around the midsection.

Once the petroleum jelly has been applied, it's time to start making the actual belly mask. The best pose is to either stand up, or sit down, on the edge of a chair. You'll have to remain in this position for awhile, so make sure you're as comfortable as possible.

You and your assistant will have to work fairly quickly because the plaster dries in little time. Hold the first strip of plaster tape firmly and immerse it into the bucket of warm water. Wait a few seconds, then pull it out straight so it doesn't fold over itself. Hold the strip in one hand while you run two fingers over it to gently remove the excess water.

Smooth the first plaster strip across your skin above your breasts. Repeat the immersion process and layer more strips across this one in different directions. Make sure that you use the right size strips in order to get the full shape of the breasts and the tummy.

As you and your assistant apply and layer the plaster strips when you make your homemade belly casting, work your way down and around your sides. Then, work your way down over your tummy. Stop before you reach your pubic region.
Now that the belly casting is complete, allow it to air dry for five to ten minutes.

Then, have your assistant carefully grab and jiggle the edges of the casting. This will help loosen it up from your body. Finally, have him or her gently lift the casting up and off your body. You'll want to wipe off the petroleum jelly, then wash your breast and tummy areas with soapy water. Rinse well, then gently dry your skin.

Place your homemade belly casting in a cool, dry area where it can set undisturbed for a couple days. It will need to thoroughly dry in order to become its strongest.

You can sand it with fine sandpaper if you want your casting to have a smoother finish. Or, you can coat it with shellac to help preserve it.