Every time I get another copper pudding mold at the thrift store (ahem: I have a lot of them) the clerk behind the counter looks at it and asks me what I’m going to do with it. The answer is I’m going to hang it on the wall to be reunited with all its other brothers and sisters, but I have been wanting to come up with a more compelling answer. What about using the mold to…mold something?
When Michaels asked me if I wanted to try using Friendly Plastic on a craft project, I thought this would be a great project. Friendly Plastic comes in little pellets — when you warm them up they melt enough to take on whatever shape you choose. In my case, a fish! I have seen lots of mold-fillers that are great for small items, but bigger items usually require clay or something heavy/slow/breakable. This stuff is great because it dries 10 minutes and is super lightweight. Nifty!
Materials
Friendly Plastic
Mold (I’m using a fish but you could use all sorts of itms)
Hot water
Instructions
1. Heat water. Not boiling, just very hot. Hot enough that you can barely dip your finger in it.
2. Add Friendly Plastic pellets.
3. When the pellets have turned from white to clear (will likely take a minute or less) remove from water in a big clump (I’m using a pencil but hands will work alright too).
4. Use your fingers to spread the plastic along the inside of the mold. If find it easier to work in small batches, leave some pellets in the warm water while you work.
5. The plastic will go in clear but will turn back to white as it hardens.
6. Completely fill the entire mold.
7. After all of the plastic has hardened, turn it out to dry and decorate as your wish.
8. A coat of regular craft paint goes a long way.
9. And, obviously, glitter makes everything better!
There you go. A glittered fish. Best part? You can make ten of them in an afternoon. Just what you always wanted. You’re welcome!
Is this the same Friendly Plastic that used to come in flat sticks about 4 or 5 inches long and a couple inches wide? Came in lots of colors — mostly (very metallic and shiny and gorgeous). I have not seen that in ages! This pellet/powdery stuff looks like fun.
have a fun summer
tonilea
anyway to get the glitter to squish into the plastic? Would love to try and get a white pearl essence sparkly fish of beauty!
I could be wrong here, but I don’t believe so. I think the plastic sticks to itself and that’s it. Worth a try though. Worst case, a thin coat of white glue on the surface would go a long way.
Not sure if it’s the same company, but I know the stuff you are talking about and it works pretty much the same way.
I still have some of those friendly plastic rectangle sticks!…. Guess that kind of makes me a craft hoarder. Haha!
1. I love love LOVE your fish! 2. That stuff looks amazingly useful, and just dropping it in hot water sounds so awesome…cause I hate complicated epoxies and baking clay. Thanks for the post, dear Peaches!
It really is crazy easy to use, especially for someone doing nifty things with jewelry (like you Michelle!)
Do you have to spray the mold with any sort of cooking spray or release agent?
Nope. The plastic sticks to itself and nothing else. No grease needed.