How to Finish Plaster Art Crafts

Plaster casting is a great way to reproduce a high amount of detail in relief, but plaster itself is a fragile material prone to flaking, chipping and crumbling. Secure your completed plaster crafts by properly and securely finishing them with fixative, making them sturdy enough to last a long time and stand up to other decorating efforts.

Things You'll Need

• Craft spray lacquer
• Newspaper

Instructions

1. Choose a fixative. For best results, buy a spray fixative rather than one that's meant to be applied with a paintbrush, especially if your project has delicate parts. Cast plaster is not as structurally firm as other projects requiring fixative.

2. Gently dust away any remaining plaster dust. Simply blow it away with your mouth or, if it proves more difficult to get rid of, use a hair dryer on a low setting or brush it away with a soft, dry paint brush.

3. Spray fixative. In a well-ventilated area, lay your craft project on a surface that won't be damaged by the spray, such as a layer of newspaper, and spray a single layer from at least six inches away. Spray from a consistent distance on all sides.

4. Allow fixative to dry fully. Drying times will vary according to brand, so check the can.

5. Turn your project over and spray the bottom. Let dry.

6. Add a second coat.

7. Apply lacquer or paint, if desired. Now that the plaster has been finished, you can paint or varnish it with craft brushes.