Making bread & cheese from polystyrene

Bread

• Start with a block of polystyrene (white, loose grained polystyrene) and draw an oval shape onto the top. 

• Using a carving knife (not a Stanley knife!) cut small sections of the block until you get to the edges of the shape. 

• Using the tools (like big files) shape the block by rounding the edges etc. 

• Using the rounded tool, make the grooves on the top of the bread. 

• Then sand the whole thing to its final shape. 

• Cut some muslin into small squares. Mix PVA glue with some water and stick the squares down using the mixture and a brush. Cover the whole loaf. 

• Leave to dry. The muslin creates a hard surface which makes it more durable to be used on stage. Once dry you can paint it!

Cheese

• The polystyrene I used to make this prop is a lot denser than the last lot of polystyrene used, but the same process applies. 

• Draw the desired shape onto the top of the block then cut to that shape. 

This polystyrene already gives good texture when cut for cheese

• Use the tools and sandpaper to get it into the correct shape. 

• You can then use the PVA and water mixture with the squares of muslin to cover the cheese. 

• I used Idendant (a white putty) on the sliced cheese sides as I wanted to add the hole detail to it and it is easily shaped. It still gives the same hardening effect as muslin. Idendant can also be used to make shapes on the white looser polystyrene. A heater can then be blown over the surface of the polystyrene and it will melt, leaving the shape in Idendant remaining. (Stamps can be created like this.) 

• Leave to dry. You can then paint it.