How to Fossilize One's Hamster

The death of a pet is a traumatic event. Make a memento of your hamster by fossilizing it. Fossils take tens of thousands of years to form, but with a little work, you can make a fossil replica of your dead hamster.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dead hamster
• Resealable plastic bag
• Freezer
• Modeling clay
• Large paper bowl
• Plaster of Paris
• Craft glue

1. Put the dead hamster in a resealable plastic container and place it in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Warn family members that the hamster is in the freezer so that no one will try to warm it up as leftovers.

2. Fill a large paper bowl halfway with clay. Take the hamster out of the freezer and remove it from the plastic bag. Immediately press the hamster into the clay. Press a large ball of clay over the hamster to get a cast of both sides.

3. Remove the top casting from the hamster and set it aside. Gently remove the hamster from the bottom casting. Put the hamster back in the plastic bag and into the freezer for later disposal.

4. Mix the plaster of Paris according to the manufacturer instructions. Pour just enough plaster into each of the castings to fill it up. Let the plaster set until it is completely dry.

5. Take the clay off of the plaster molds and discard it. Do not reuse the clay for any other purpose because it is now contaminated.

6. Adhere the two halves of the plaster hamster together with craft glue. Let the fossil set until the glue is completely dry. Then decide where to display your fossilized hamster.

Tips & Warnings

• Discard or bury your hamster's body after making the fossil, as it will quickly rot and become unsanitary.

[vonjenkton]

on 7/14/2009 Excellent!