Dipping in Plaster of Paris

Do you have some old fabric flowers, crocheted items, clothes, knickknacks or perhaps some lace, cut paper and cardboard lying around? Instead of tossing them, dip them in plaster of Paris and make a piece of art.

A thinner consistency of plaster works best for dipping (about the consistency of cream). Wear disposable gloves; dipping can get messy! Please note that while plaster sets up quickly (no more than half an hour), it will take a full day or more to dry completely.

Dipped corrugated cardboard.

Dipped cutout paper.

Dipped embossed wallpaper.

Dipped fabric flower colored with a mix of red acrylic paint and acrylic glazing medium brushed on and excess wiped off.

Coloring and Sealing Tips

• You can use both acrylic paint and powdered pigments to tint plaster of Paris. If using powdered pigments, mix them with the plaster before adding warm water. If adding acrylic paint, add colder water to the plaster and then your paint. This gives you enough time to mix well before pouring and the plaster starts curing.
• You can seal with a variety of products such as shellac, GAC 800 by Golden, resin or a polyurethane sealant. These are shiny but can be dulled with sanding or with a matte spray finish.

Choose fabric flowers for dipping.

Dip the flowers into the plaster.

Set the flowers on a nonstick surface to dry.

Dip a doily in plaster, then lay it over a form (such as the ceramic bowl shown) to dry.

Paint a plaster-covered basket with a dark acrylic paint and then drybrush with a lighter color of acrylic paint.

Gold accents added to a plaster-dipped sheep.