An Important Beginners Practice Exercise:

When learning new skills it's a good idea to try some to see how it works. Then no harm is done if you make a mistake.

If you've never used a BODY PARTS™ LifeCast™ Kit or our ArtForm™ and ArtCast™ materials before do this simple exercise first:

Temperature: Both the kit materials and the water you use with them must be at room temperature (65-70 degrees F). If you are not sure of the water temperature fill up a pitcher and let it sit for 3-4 hours in your house.

•, If your tap water is "hard" or has an odor use bottled water.

Follow These Steps:

1. Put 2 tablespoons of clean, room temperature water in a small cup.

2. While stirring with a fork or small wire whisk add 1 tablespoon of the tan/ pink ArtForm™ powder.

•, Blend this into a smooth 'mud' for 2 minutes (a few lumps won't matter).

3. Put in a few fingertips. It will turn solid ("set") in about 3 to 4 minutes.

•, Colder water is slower giving you longer mixing time.

•, Warmer water is faster but also gives you less mixing time to get the lumps out.

4. Wiggle the fingertips out. Look at the amazing detail in this lifecast "mold".

5. Put 1 tablespoon of cool water in another cup and add 2 tablespoons of the white ArtCast™ cement powder.

•, Quickly stir out the lumps for 5 to 10 seconds.

•, Let this just sit and soak for 1.5 minutes then mix it for 1.5 more minutes.

•, Pour it into the lifecast mold you made earlier.

6. Tap the mold so the bubbles float out.Wait 1 hour.

•, The cement gets hot so never let it harden on your skin and never put your hands into it. It could trap and burn you!

7. Unveil this fingertip LifeCast™ from the mold to see your mini-sculpture.

Ready for a larger project? Close this window and read the next section.