Luna Bean Keepsake Hand Molding Kit Review

Marco Feng | 10 Min Read | Updated: January 13, 2022

Instagram is a devil and an angel. The glamorous photos of influencers make you jealous of their perfect life while posts and live stories from entertainers and the crafty keep y'all inspired. I tried rearing butterflies, building a sakura tree using blocks, and this mitt molding kit from Luna Bean, all thanks to Instagram!

They say: never trust the products on social media, which I agree, but this one is worth the money, plus it but costs $39 with free aircraft and returns. How much can you lose in the worst scenario? Ok, ok, I am done mumbling.

Here, we will share everything you need to know about this hand molding kit, what to expect, and if you lot should try it.

Disclosure: This commodity contains affiliate links, where nosotros receive a small commission on sales of the products linked at no additional toll to you. Thank you for supporting united states.

As the name suggests, this kit comes with everything you need, detailed instructions, molding powder, casting rock, sandpapers, detailing pins, and a demolding stick, to make sculptures of your hands or whatever you lot decide to dip into the molding mix. Things you'll need but aren't included are water, mixing bowls and whisk, and measuring cups.

You'll showtime past making the mold, insert your posed hands into the mix, and finish by pouring the casting material. And ta-da, you lot go a slice of art as if it is from the Louvre Museum! In one case your work is dried, y'all can seal it, paint it, or decorate it however your centre desires.

Right now, the kit is on sale for $39! The original toll is $49. If you lot purchase it from Amazon, information technology offers gratis shipping and returns. The kit will go on you busy for a week. It is fun, not piece of cake to polish, though, after, simply the effect is stunning. If y'all're looking for a family-friendly project, this is what y'all should get.

Beginning, measure out out 12 cups of cool h2o and pour information technology into the bucket. And one time anybody is prepare, empty the bag of molding powder into the water and mix it for about 1-3 minutes. To make the mixing less messy, yous can add about 2/3 of the power, mix for 5-10 seconds, and add the remaining pulverisation.

  • Tips: slightly absurd water works the best as it is comfortable for people. Avoid warm water or mixing near a heat source as it will cause the material to fix very quickly.

Stirring the molding material.

Stirring the molding fabric.

The mixture will turn bright pinkish as yous mix. Yet, information technology will lose the color as it begins the setting stage. Before the color completely fades, chop-chop tap the container a few times to release any trapped air and immediately insert the belongings hands.

Wiggle your hands inside the plastic molding bucket and rub them together so that the molding material can penetrate all areas and interruption any surface tension. Also, make certain the hands aren't touching the bottom or sides of the saucepan.

When the material loses all its colour, end moving, and the mold will prepare in 3-5 minutes. When fully set, the mold won't stick to your fingers and should be rubbery and flexible. The more fourth dimension you leave your hands in in that location, the better.

Inserting your hands into the mixture before the color fades away.

Inserting your hands into the mixture before the color fades away.

Slowly remove i hand at a time by fluctuant it around at the wrist and add h2o to choice up and dump any thin or loose pieces that aren't role of the design. Drain the excess water earlier moving on to the side by side step.

Pace two: Pouring the Casting Stone

When the plaster hand mold is stale, add together 3.5 cups of cold water to a disposable or glass basin. Prepare bated i tsp of plaster casting to repair whatever imperfections after and pour the rest into the bowl. Mix information technology with a whisk for 3-4 minutes until the bottom of the mixture begins to thicken. Once that happens, pour immediately!

Rotate the bucket as y'all pour and tap it to release whatsoever trapped air. Once filled, tap the sides of the bucket again and gently bounce it on the working surface to let out any last air pockets.

Allow your statues to harden inside for ii-three hours. If you lot can't de-mold within 6 hours, shop it upside down so that the wet from the modeling cloth tin can drain out.

Pouring the casting stone!

Pouring the casting stone!

Step 3: Peel to reveal the hands!

The most heady moment has come: peel the mold to reveal the plaster statues within!

First, turn the bucket upside downward and then that the molding tin interruption its suction and slide out easily. Peel the molding material away from the statue and be extra careful around fingers as they tin notwithstanding be fragile.

The closer you go to the statue, pare the material away in smaller pieces. Utilize the included wooden sticks and safety pin to remove those between fingers or other hard-to-achieve areas. As the statue is nevertheless wet, this is as well the time to give information technology a bear upon-up if you'd like to.

Don't worry if y'all see imperfections like air bubbles or holes. It happens all the time! Mix 1 tsp of casting stone with several drops of water to get paint or dirt-similar mixture and then dab or paint information technology into the holes. As the mixture thickens, use your finger to apply a pocket-size corporeality to the imperfection and rub across it.

Peeling the mold to reveal the two adult hands!

Peeling the mold to reveal the ii adult easily!

You can also utilise sandpaper to round off rough edges or level out the base of operations in one case the bandage has dried.

And ta-da, y'all get a piece of art that your friends will retrieve you bought from a studio. Some of mine did when I posted the picture to Instagram.

This is optional, but when your statue completely dries later xiv days, yous can seal, paint, or decorate it. Glazes, acrylic paints, and semi-matte clear sealants piece of work well. Y'all can also make sealants yourself with 3 parts of h2o and one part of craft glue.

  • The instructions are super clear that makes the process like shooting fish in a barrel. While they recommended having an boosted person to help out, nosotros were able to stop ourselves.

  • It doesn't accept much, and the result is high-quality and detailed in that it captures every contraction, crease, and fifty-fifty the scar on my paw for a ane-of-kind display.

  • It makes a perfect gift for families, couples, friends, or whoever wants to create a priceless retentiveness . Many people bought this to do with kids or family members at the stop of their life.

  • Though nosotros wiggled our hands to ensure the molding material penetrates all areas, there are still some imperfections that demand to be repaired later.

  • You have to complete each step timely , and one small-scale accident will lead to a fail.

  • This hasn't happened to u.s.a. even so. There are reviews online that the statue starts to develop mold a few weeks after. So, we'd recommend placing it in well-ventilated areas.

  • The settling of the molding material is highly dependent on the temperature. Some customer reviews mentioned that it was super quick for theirs to set, fifty-fifty before they had the hazard to dip their hands.

  • Your skin might, which is rate, be allergic to the molding material. Some said that their fingers were swollen for a few days afterwards.

  1. Information technology is best to have an extra person who isn't involved in the casting process to read the instructions, mix molding pulverization, and nourish to pets or small kids.

  2. Earlier adding the molding power to the water, practice posing the hands inside the h2o to make sure it is comfy for everyone. You should besides practise this in front end of a mirror to see how your hands will look.

  3. Be sure to add the molding powder to the h2o, not the other mode around. Lack of water can cause the material to bond and set prematurely.

  4. Wet your hands with water or apply babe oils to hold the moisture, which will help reduce the surface air bubbling in the mold.

  5. Before the color fades completely, quickly tap the container to release whatever trapped air and immediately insert the posed hands.

  6. If you can't de-mold within half-dozen hours, store it upside down so that the moisture from the modeling fabric can bleed out. Await no longer than 24 hours to de-mold.

  7. Exist certain to wiggle your hands in the saucepan to break the surface tension, and continue doing so as long as the mixture is liquid.

  8. The casting rock is piece of cake to launder off fifty-fifty after it hardens. So, if you couldn't detect a proper disposable container, use whatever and wash off the remainder as soon as y'all finish powering.

  9. If y'all couldn't pour the casting stone right away, put the chapeau back on the molding container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

  10. The casting stone will thicken from the bottom while it even so looks liquid on the surface. And so, don't await for it to thicken to pour as it might be besides late.

  11. Pour any remaining casting stone into the pocketbook it came with and throw it in the garbage. Do non pour information technology down any drains!

Yes, definitely! For only $39, y'all will be busy for a few hours and cease upward with a beautiful slice of work that will wow anybody. Plus, it doubles as domicile decor.

  1. Could a family of three fits in the bucket?

    Yeah. Each DIY hand casting kit is good for two adults, 2 adults and a small child, one adult with extra-large hands, or two to four young children.

  2. Can I use acrylic paint directly on the statue?

    Yes, yous can use acrylic paints directly to the statue, and glaze, epoxy, or semi-matte sealant piece of work too as a final coat. i-ii layers should suffice.

  3. How long does the molding have to fix?

    The total fix time is most iv minutes. Half of that fourth dimension is mixing, and so you but have two minutes to dip your hands before it sets completely.

  4. How long do yous need your easily in information technology?

    Be sure to stay at least four-v minutes in the mixture. The longer, the better! One time the molding becomes business firm and jump when pressed, wiggle your hands and slowly pull them out.

  5. Is information technology difficult to pull your hands out of the molding?

    Non at all. The underground is to wiggle at the wrist, and it volition be easier if you lot massage h2o or baby oil into your hands before dipping. If yous're doing this with kids, they won't have problems pulling their hands out but rather keeping them still.

  6. How many times tin can I use the kit?

    If you're using it to create hand sculptures, then it is one-time employ. But for smaller objects, you lot tin can split up the powders and use the kit multiple times.

  7. How durable is the statue after it is dried upwards?

    It is durable enough for display and holding. It is for interior brandish but, and we won't recommend taking it outside as it might get wet and mold. You can too seal or pigment it to add another layer of protection.

Alright! That'southward everything about the hand molding kit from Luna Bean and our honest reviews of it. If you dearest DIY crafts or are looking for a perfect activity for COVID-19, this is your best bet. Whether you're looking for a wedding gift, an anniversary souvenir, a Mother'south Day gift, it won't become wrong either.

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