How do you make a cast of a cement stepping stone with has our child's handprint?
Question:We're moving and this is a colored cement stepping stone. Obviously, we can't rip it out of the ground but would love to make a copy of it to take to our new home. And we don't want to ruin the existing stone.
Answers:
The best way to take a copy is to go to a craft store and buy a package of plaster of paris. Thie will give you a copy of the hand print and if you want the entire peice.
The biggest issue here is that the plaster will enter any cracks and fissures in the peice of concrete and might become permanent. To eliminate this you could try sprinkling baby powder or spray cooking oil on the concrete first to serve as a bond breaker.
Then build a 2"x4" frame around the perimeter of tehe stepping stone and mix up the plaster and pour it in place on the stone. After the plaster dries break the frame loose and remove the plaster of paris and the new hand print.
After you get moved if you want to replicate it with concrete again, reverse the process and mix concrete and build a form around the mold the size you want and buy a couple of #3 rebar daowels at Home Depot. Place them so they are in the middle of the heighth of the form for reinforcing. Mix the concrete and pour it carefully over the mold after you center the mold. Wait for a few hours but not too long, because you will want to finish the face of the stone that is now facing down and can't be troweled.
Remove the form and turn over the peice and then remove the plaster if you can save it just in case. Pop it loose and then mix a wet batch of cement trying to remove the gravel, and brush the slurry mix onto the uneven finish with a 2" paint brush. Use a wet sponge to float out the brush marks and then let it cure when it looks like you want it to.
Hope this helps you.
Oh, yeah. You should be able to clean the original stone with simple green and a hose and stiff brush
I've never done it before but I know craft stores sell molding kits. Call your local craft store or go there and ask.
you can coat the stone with vaseline.this will make removing the cast easier...or you can try to line it with plastic wrap. You can get plaster in the craft section of your local walmart. Simply pour it in and on and over...wait till it hardens and lift out.
or you can do a reverse cast.this is just as simple..using playdough or clay..press it into the hand prints..remove and let dry.you can then use as is getting the imprint of the cement pores... or you can sand them smooth.you can then use any number of items from cake pans...(decorative cool shaped ones would be awesome!), pie tins, etc to pour plaster into and press your molds into so you can have your own stepping stone for your new garden! Good luck! any of these items can be found at lowes or home depot or walmart...or go to michaels or joann fabrics...hobby lobby even...there are tons of places you can find useful items for this type of project...use your imagination!!
I saw one made on HGTV. Buy a foil pan, pour the cement in and let your kid imprint it, let it set...and you'll have a new one.
Build a form around the old one, cover the existing stone with plastic wrap, and fill form with plaster of paris...the only thing with this approach is it will be inverted or raised, but you'll have a form to make another one from the original...
id replace the stone
it will be much easyer then trying to make 2 copys of the stone
find whoever laid the stones and see if the have an extra one and can install it
I did this with my children. You take an empty pizza box and put a thin coat of vaseline on the bottom and sides. Tape the sides so it makes a form(do not use the lid) Buy a small bag of quickcrete at home depot and mix what you need in a pail. Pour the mixture into the pizza form to the level you want and put the hand on the top and let it dry. The stone will release from the cardboard bos because it is slippery and there you have it.
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