3D Baby Hand & Foot Castings

Yes please. We ask that all visits are booked online, even if it's just 30 minutes before you arrive. If we have space we can sometimes fit in walk-ins, but booking is the only way to guarantee your spot. We don't take bookings over the phone.

Booking ahead matters most at weekends, during school holidays and in the run-up to Christmas, when we're at our busiest. Some activities, like baby handprint keepsakes, pottery classes and group workshops, only run on certain days and times, and we sometimes have private groups or big parties booked in.

It's also important to book the right session for what you want to do. If your plans change, you can usually reschedule from your confirmation email.

Absolutely! You can personalise your casts with:

• Engraving: your little one's name, birth date or age on the plaque

• Finish: bronze, copper, silver, gold or antique, pearl, baby blue pearlescent or baby pink pearlescent

• Solid colour or waxes over black: a solid colour of your choice, or a black base coat with coloured waxes on top to bring out every tiny wrinkle and crease

• Display: a display plinth or a deep box frame, in a choice of colours

Yes, the casting process is completely safe and comfortable for newborns.

We use high-quality, hypoallergenic materials that are safe for your baby’s delicate skin, ensuring a durable and detailed cast.

The process requires us to hold your baby's hand/foot in a material called alginate which starts off as a liquid and sets within a couple of minutes to a rubber-like consistency. The set alginate is soft so baby's hand/foot can be gently removed.

At Crafty Monkey, we use only the safest and highest quality materials:

• Alginate: A natural, hypoallergenic product derived from seaweed, ideal for creating detailed moulds.

• Plaster: We use high-quality stone plaster for the final cast to ensure durability and fine detail.

You can buy gift cards and gift vouchers online or in our St Neots studio, and they can be used towards any of our activities.

E-gift cards are our most flexible option. Choose the amount and the date you'd like it emailed, and we'll send it straight to your inbox or the recipient's. They can be used online to book sessions and buy pottery painting kits - and they can't be lost! Buy an e-gift card.

Gift vouchers can be bought in the studio, or ordered online to collect from the studio or have posted to you or the recipient.

Absolutely. For prints on pottery we use professional, water-based, non-toxic underglazes designed for pottery. They're lead-free, food-safe once fired and gentle on delicate skin. The print only takes a moment and we clean off any paint straight away with a baby wipe or water.

For clay imprints we use high-quality, non-toxic natural clay, and then use the imprint as a mould to make outprints. For 3D casts we use alginate, a soft, hypoallergenic moulding material made from seaweed.

Your baby's safety is always our top priority.

We understand babies can be wiggly! Our experienced team are very patient and have plenty of tricks to make the session as smooth and comfortable as possible. Getting the impressions is very quick, but if needed we can take breaks, or try again another time, to make sure we get the best result.

Creating the mould at your session is a quick and simple process and just takes a few minutes. The creation and finishing of the casts takes a few weeks, after which your keepsake will be ready to collect.

• Creating the mould: 2-5 minutes for each hand or foot.

• Deciding on options: you then choose the finish you'd like, along with the frame or plinth colour and what you'd like on the plaque.

After your session:

• Final cast preparation: pouring and hardening the final cast material can take several hours.

• Drying time: we leave the casts to dry for around 2 weeks for baby casts, longer for larger casts. This ensures they are properly dry before they are sealed, decorated and mounted on a plinth or in a frame.

• Total time: from start to finish, the entire process can take 3-5 weeks, including drying and finishing time.

There is no minimum age, and we can take casts from newborn babies. However, we recommend waiting until your baby is a few weeks old, as they are often more settled and comfortable, making it easier to capture a perfect hand or foot impression.

Creating baby hand and foot casts at Crafty Monkey is a simple and safe process, and we handle the entire casting process for you. During your appointment, we gently create the mould of your baby's hands and feet, ensuring a perfect replica.

Step 1: Book a 3D baby cast session at our studio.

Step 2: At your session, our skilled team will mix the moulding material and guide you through the process.

Step 3: We gently place your little one's hand or foot into the mould until it sets (usually a few minutes), then carefully remove it.

Step 4: After you've left, we pour the casting material into the mould to create the final cast.

Step 5: Once the cast has hardened, we remove it from the mould and leave it to dry out completely.

Step 6: Once dry, we sand and make any small repairs before sealing, then decorate it as you've chosen.

Step 7: Finally, we frame or mount the casts onto a display plinth and fix the plaque in place.

Step 8: Once ready, we'll email you and ask you to book a pick-up slot!

Crafty Monkey, St Neots, specialises in capturing baby handprints, footprints and even bumprints to create beautiful, personalised keepsakes. They make meaningful mementos for parents, grandparents and loved ones, and are perfect as gifts or treasured displays.  

Our keepsake options:

Handprints and footprints on pottery - prints on plates, mugs, tiles, baubles & more

Clay imprints - prints pressed into soft clay for a timeless, tactile keepsake

Plaster outprints - raised prints capturing every tiny detail

3D baby casts - three-dimensional casts of hands or feet for a stunning sculptural memory

Or see an overview of the services we offer for Baby Keepsakes