Our NEW feature wall in our studio shows action shots of some our customers over the years having their casting impressions taken. From babies, to pets, to families and older relatives, we LOVE the diversity that our day-to-day brings.
As well as in-studio castings, we can also do home & hospital visits for those who cannot travel to the studio. We also frequently visit funeral homes & vet practises to carry out memorial / bereavement castings.
Read below for descriptions of the casting process which should answer some of the questions you may have. If you have any other questions please get in touch via the contact us page, or via social media.
Suitable for all ages
Our casting material is friendly to skin, and is made nice and warm for our younger customers, so it sets really quickly. Depending on the age of the children, it can set in as little as 1 minute. The material changes colour while it sets, so children really enjoy watching the magic happen. It also feels like slime/jelly to touch which most children find fun.
Pre - Covid, we had some toys in the studio to keep your little ones happy. Unfortunately we can’t offer this in current times, but you are welcome to bring toys and distractions of your own to your appointment. We would highly recommend bringing your child’s favourite toy or digital device, and a little snack can go a long way too! If you are bringing your furry friend to see us, we highly recommend bringing someone along with you, as well as some treats if possible. It’s always more reassuring to your dog if you can comfort them, and someone else familiar to them can give them a treat or two, while we take the short time to take their casting impression. Dog paw castings take less than a minute, so it is over very quickly.
Rings
One of the most personal and most meaningful items we own is our rings. Whether they are wedding rings, have been passed down in the family, or your favourite costume jewellery, they will make your casting even more unique to you, and are always welcome. We may ask to take a photo of your rings for reference to help us check the detail on the finished cast.
As standard, our castings include one ring per adult hand. Any additional or complex rings are priced at £20 per ring. Children wishing to wear rings inside a casting are not included in the standard price, and will also incur a £20 charge per ring.
Family Clasped Hands
We are often asked if we can cast more than 3/4 hands at one time. Our clasped hand castings are done in a 'bucket' style, and can include up to 6 people at the most, depending on age. These are the most suitable style of casting for young children and older relatives, as the material only takes around 2 minutes to set. This is a very fun style of casting to do, it’s really quick, and the whole family will enjoy it.
Baby Castings
Baby Castings are suitable from as little as 2 days old until 12 months old. After 12 months, we class this as children's castings, which are priced differently.
We are often asked how we keep babies still while the material sets. The truth is, we don't need them to stay still. It is helpful if they are happy and content while having the casts made and don't try to pull themselves out too early, so we do all that we can to help this happen. Whether that means the baby is being breast/bottle fed during the casting process, or we are pulling silly faces and playing with toys to distract them, the baby is the boss and we follow their lead. We can walk around the room while we do the casts, or they can be sound asleep on Mummy/Daddy's shoulder, whatever makes them happy. The material takes around 1 minute to set per hand/foot for Baby Castings.
Face Castings
Face castings are suitable for children as young as 6, depending on their personality and their understanding of the process, and our oldest model to date was 87 years old. Our models can always breathe throughout the whole process, and we don't use any straws or anything else for you to breathe through. We simply leave holes at your nostrils where there is no material so you can breathe naturally through your nose the whole time. Face castings take around 10 minutes from start to finish, and we are told they are very comfortable and quite relaxing. The material releases easily from your face when ready. Facial hair, including beards/moustaches are suitable for casting as long as the hair is fairly short.
Linked Arm / Shell Casting
Our Linked Arm Castings can include up to 8 people at one time, and are wall mountable at no extra cost. This style of casting is ideal for all adults, or any family members over the age of 6. This style of casting is done using a 'shell' method, and takes around 30 minutes from start to finish, which is why we don’t recommend it for young children. If elderly relatives are being cast, also consider their comfort and if they would be comfortable sitting for a long period of time.
This style of casting is a nice excuse to have the whole family around the table with no distractions, and have a lovely, memorable experience. It's always fun when we are removing everyones hands from the mould, and the family always have a laugh and a joke at this point.