Baby castings are truly one of the most incredible keepsake processes we teach and support. It is also one of the most challenging and even those who have been casting for decades will struggle in some areas once in a while. This is why I would always suggest going to an expert to capture your baby casting rather than try at home. You can find your nearest keepsake artist by filling in our finder form HERE. 3D casting really does have to be done in -person unless you are using a home kit which will have mixed results.
Baby casting Kits
While you can purchase baby casting kits from our shop I would only recommend this if you were unable to find a local artist. Yes you can be lucky first time but it can be messy and the results can be hit and miss with many a lost finger or toe. Our expert life casters are trained to deal with this and have many techniques up their sleeps to combat these issues which occur with inexperienced casters.
How many people can be cast per casting session?
There are many styles of casting which can be created depending on your needs. We can cast single hands and feet from any age and frame them together or singularly. You can also keep your casting in a keepsake box or trinket box. We prefer framing our castings because it keeps them safe while allowing you to marvel in their tiny fingers and toes daily.
Many of our artists can also offer hand and foot statues where many members of the family hold together to create a large centrepiece. Again these can be in various styles from creating something tall to creating a hand cast wreath which would make a lovely hanging on the wall.
So the answer is there is no right of wrong and I would chat to your nearest artist which you can find HERE to see what you can create together.
What age can you do life casting from?
I have personally cast babies from a few days old but will require you to use someone who feels confident with casting babies this young. There is of course no upper limit intact casting a newborn with a grandparents hand can truly capture the contrast which will make the most incredible keepsake your family will cherish for years to come.
The life-casting process.
The life casting process is quite in-depth however for our clients we try and make it as simple as possible.
Firstly you will attend a keepsake appointment with your nearest keepsake artist which you will find here
At your appointment your keepsake artist will have everything ready to take a few casts of your baby’s hands and feet (or whoever you are casting.. please ensure you communicate this with your artist to ensure they have the correct amount of material ready)
When the artist has what they need then they will take them back to their studio and cast them within the next few hours to ensure the best result. The first part of the process takes about 24 hours and by this time they will know if they have been successful or not. Please note that as it is a creative process there are no guarantees and so it may be that the artist needs to contact you to book another appointment at no cost to you. As our customers happiness is the most important thing to us we need to ensure the finished result is perfect for you which is why we will not settle for another less than a truly wonderful casting.
Then comes a long and frustrating wait while the stone plaster dries out so that it can be finished in your chosen finish. During your appointment the artist will show you your options, along with framing options so that they will not need to bother you again.
The whole process can take 5-6 weeks because of this drying process but it is not something we recommend rushing as it will effect the final finish.
When it is finished your artist will be in touch for show you your casting whether it is framed or unframed.
Your only job now is to decide where to display your new keepsake so you can enjoy it for years to come.
Where baby casting began for The Keepsake Co
Baby 3D Life-Casting is where it all began for us. It was the first product which The Keepsake Co launched all those years ago and still remains one of our most loved. It is not for everyone and remains a little of a marmite product as people either LOVE it or have a real distaste for it.
I, Victoria, will never forget the first large show I did to showcase my baby casting range around 2002-2003. I was so proud of what I had created and loved hearing people take a deep intake of breath as they hadn’t seen anything like this before. They would come over and tell me how they wished something like this was around when their little children were small (they were all grown up now) or perhaps when they had lost a loved one and never had the chance to create a little keepsake to keep close to them before they passed. It made me so proud but I also remember the odd comment from people who just didnt get ‘it’. They looked at me as if I had taken the hands from babies and not simply captured a life-sized copy in all the incredible detail. I can assure you that no babies are ever harmed in the creation of a baby hand or foot casting and infant many love the process as they get to put their hands and feet into gooey putty which is quite q sensory sensation. I guess I can see why people may be taken a back by the results because the detail is INCREDIBLE. Even nearly 20 yers on of casting little hands and feet I still gasp in the reveal as I see the skin texture, the nails and the lovely, and often unique, position that the baby is holding their hands.
Please use our baby casting keepsake finder page HERE and make your appointment before your little one grows much bigger.
If you are interested in starting your own baby casting business then start HERE
