Will…here's how i made a santa mold...it's labor intensive to say the least…there are other ways...but this worked for me...
simple wood frames…“dollar store” modeling clay...pressed santa half way in each side...paid most attention to face side impression...had to touch up edges of clay when original pulled from mold halves...
put mold halves in freezer for an hour or so…applied thin coat of vaseline (as a mold release) with soft water color brush...(frozen, oily clay and vaseline don't like water putty mixture)...might want to try thin coat of baby oil in place of vaseline…
align mold halves and clamp...was careful when i made impressions so i had a good idea where molds aligned...did make one alignment pin from a nail...have added another recently...
fill with water putty…go to
http://waterputty.com/ for details…shake/vibrate so air bubbles come to surface...inserted length of wire for attachment to cardboard...
let dry for several hours...3 or more if i recall...perhaps 5?...remove from mold…clean up with xacto...parting lines, face, eyes, around feet and base etc...
glue on a cardboard disc...prime and paint...glitter/mica base...cut off excess wire...
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