Modelling fabric

Plaster bandages and modelling fabric
Modelling fabric, also known as plaster bandage, is a great craft material for young and old hobbyists. Whether for making plaster masks, impressions of children’s faces and pregnant woman’s belly, for decorating and coating various objects, in the field of model making or for making sophisticated plaster bowls - use the modelling fabric for various handicrafts and creative projects.

Getting creative with plaster bandages and modelling fabric is not only quick and easy, but also has the great advantage that you need only few additional accessories and the costs therefore remain very low. Even in the kindergarten, children love to get creative with the modelling fabric. But plaster bandages are also popular at school and in the hobby, creative and medical sector.

Making plaster masks yourself
A great material for doing handicrafts with children in the kindergarten, at school and children's birthday parties. For children in particular, it is always fun to make an impression of their face themselves and create a plaster mask. And that is quite simple:
- Before making plaster masks with children, it is advisable to protect the little hobbyists with an old garment or painting apron, to push their hair back by fastening it with a hairband and to cover the work surface with a plastic wrap or newspaper.
- Then cover their face thoroughly with a rich cream, especially around the eyebrows, so that the hair does not stick to the plaster.
- Cut the plaster bandage or the modelling fabric into small pieces by means of scissors and dip them briefly in lukewarm water.
- Apply the wet plaster bandage pieces by overlapping them in several layers on the face covered with cream. But leave out the eyes and the nostrils. But avoid eyes and nostrils. For safety reasons, cotton-wool balls should be placed on the eyes before starting shaping the plaster mask.
- After a drying time of about 20-25 minutes, the mask can be carefully removed from the face. The removal is even easier with e.g. voluntary movements of facial muscles or by pulling funny faces.
- Then allow the mask to dry well out and paint & decorate it with paint or coloured pencils to your liking.
But not only plaster masks can be made quickly and easily. Plaster casts of the pregnant woman’s belly or human busts are also quick and easy to make.

Great decorations with modelling fabric and plaster bandages
With plaster bandages, you can also create sophisticated decorations such as great decorative bowls or Christmas angels and much more. To make a decorative bowl, you only need a balloon or a styrofoam ball of the desired size as a placeholder in addition to the modelling fabric. The placeholder should be covered with the modelling fabric just as the plaster mask. If the placeholder is steady, e.g. a styrofoam ball, you may only mould half of it, as it has to be removed afterwards. This same process is easier to accomplish with a balloon, as it can simply be burst after the drying time and thus removed effortlessly.
Modelling fabric is also great for coating objects such as styrofoam balls, styrofoam cones and much more and using them later as a decoration.