Step Six

When you are finished painting allow several days for the latex to dry.  I had to pull the whole piece off the plastic bag to allow the bottom of the mold to dry.  You can tell it's dry when it is a clear-yellow color and it is flexible.

Step Seven

Now that the mold is dry and ready to be casted into, it has to be supported by something so the cast will hold the origional shape.  The latex is so flexible that it will distort the cast.  The best thing to use is plaster.  You mix plaster in equal amounts of plaster and water.  The best way to get a consistant mix is by sifting the plaster into a container of water until it starts to reach the top of the water, then stir.  When the plaster is mixed, wait until it gets like the consistancy of thick pudding.  This makes it easier to form it over your piece.  Now you can just slop it on.  Do it quickly because the plaster will harden quickly.  Allow a few days for it to dry completely.  You will know when its dry because you won't feel any moisture when you touch the plaster.  The other solution for support is to simply form clay around the mold to hold it up.  It really depends on how large your piece is and if it is completely 3-dimensional.