by Roberta Halporn

Materials needed:

	roll of heavy foil (barbecue weight)
	can shaving cream (under pressure)
	smooth stick (used in clay modeling)
	large piece of stiff cardboard box bigger than the model you will make
	bag of sand
	bag of dry Plaster of Paris (this is best but expensive--dry spackle can be used for small quantities but for a whole class, Plaster of Paris is more economical)
	water
	stirring stick
	empty 2 lb. coffee can
	masking tape

Select a healthy stone, one that is not cracked or hollow sounding when tapped lightly with a fingernail.

Wrap the silver foil around to the back of the stone as you do to make a rubbing, only it will need to be looser than when rubbing. Tape it to the back of the stone.

With the smooth stick, mold the foil to the surface you want to copy, being careful not to tear it. The heavy foil can withstand fairly strong strokes.

When you are satisfied that it is completed, carefully remove the tape first, and then the foil mold you have made, lay it face down on the heavy cardboard, so the concave side is up, and squirt it full of shaving cream. This helps the foil mold keep its shape until you get it home. Now it can be easily transported.

At home, rinse out the shaving cream with water. (A lot will have evaporated by now.)

Lay the mold gently in the sandbox with the concave side up so that the sand fills in around the mold.

Mold the coffee can at the top so it forms a pouring spout. In the coffee can, mix the plaster and water and stir until the texture is the consistency of heavy cream. Gently pour this thin plaster into the mold. This initial layer now ‘fixes" the shape.

Wait for a half-hour or until plaster is at least brittle but not dry.

Mix more plaster, nice and thick, but still pourable, and fill the mold up to the top of the silver paper.

Wait two to three days until it dries enough to harden and you can peel off the silver foil. Drying time depends upon the weather.

The replica can then be painted or colored with magic markers if desired and signed.

The replicas may be used as an art exhibit at school, a local library or historical society.

They may also be used to make rubbings.