Skyler

1. After letting your ProudBelly Cast completely dry (usually at least for 24 hours), apply 1-2 coats of Gesso (acrylic priming paint) depending on how smooth you would like your ProudBelly Cast to be. Let dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Gesso is a product that you paint on to smooth out the ridges and prepare the surface for paint. You can find this product at any craft or home improvement store.

2. To make the clouds look realistic you will need 3 shades of blue. The acrylic paints that can be bought at your local craft store are perfect. I recommend buying one medium blue shade and a bottle of white. First paint the entire cast with the medium blue and let dry. Add white paint to the medium blue paint until it is a few shades lighter. The amount of the contrast is really up to you. The lighter the color, the more dramatic the clouds become. Add equal amounts of clear glaze. Clear glaze can also be bought at your craft or home improvement store. Glaze is very important as it does 2 things--it extends the drying time so you have time to play around with your design before it dries and when it does dry it allows the color underneath to show through. This gives the finish nice depth instead of looking flat. To make clouds, dip your finger into the paint and make puffy mountains keeping the bottoms flat. Let the paint go dry on your finger before reapplying. This will give you some spots that are solid color and some that are lighter. Again, this gives the picture depth. Let this coat dry. Now add more white so the color is nearly all white. Make puffy mountains again inside the first mountains. Paint some very close to the top of the first ones and some just half way up. Let dry completely.

3. Apply 1-2 coats of a water based acrylic sealer. This product can also be found at your craft or home improvement store. While the sealer is still wet, sprinkle some ultra fine multi glitter all over the cast. Use your fingers so it is spread evenly.

4. To add your baby's name use stencils or little wooden letters. Paint and attach to your ProudBelly Cast using a hot glue gun.

5. Add ribbon to hang if you desire.

Thanks to Tina Watkins of Baby-Bellys, Maitland, Florida, for providing these decorating tips.