Pottery Classes at Crafty Monkey
Explore the World of Ceramics at Crafty Monkey Pottery Studio
Inspired by The Great Pottery Throwdown or get creative and searching google for 'beginner pottery classes near me' as you want to try your hand at hand-building with clay? Our pottery workshops offer a fun and hands-on way to connect with your creative side while learning a new craft and skills. You'll also discover the therapeutic benefits of creating your own pottery from clay. Whether a complete beginner looking to explore a new hobby or you have pottery making experience and are seeking to hone your skills, our pottery classes or sessions offer something for everyone. Join us in a welcoming, creative environment on one of our pottery workshops or book a session if you don't require instruction.
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Pottery Making Activities
Want to learn a new creative hobby or hone your pottery skills? Book onto one of our instructor-led, beginner-friendly pottery workshops and learn the fundamentals of hand-building. Our ceramic workshops are perfect for individuals, groups, or even small team-building events.
Learn the basics of working with clay, including pinching, coiling, and slab building techniques. Great for beginners and you get to make a piece using the method of choice.
Our self-led hand-building with clay sessions are similar to our pottery painting sessions and available to book online. You're free to make what you wish - within reason. Pottery sessions are perfect if you have prior experience of working with clay or have attended one of our other instructor-led pottery classes and have an idea of what you want to make. You can also apply coloured underglazes during this session. You will have 1 hour 45 minutes and if not busy you can stay longer.
Each class focuses on a specific project, allowing you all to create the same piece. Explore your creativity with projects ranging from functional items like pots to decorative pieces like highland coo's, gnomes and even a Taylor Swift themed workshop.
Pottery Classes We Offer
Pottery Class Gallery
 Pottery Workshop |  Highland Coos |  Making a Slab Pot |
|---|---|---|
 Pinchpot Pumpkins |  Making a Coil Pot |  Pottery Class |
 House Lanterns |  Ceramic Workshop |  Boob Pottery Class |
 Slab Pot Workshop |  Sculpting a Cow |  Christmas Trees |
 Rolling a Slab |  Leaf Pottery Class |  Detail in Clay |
 Joining Clay |  Taylor Swift Class |  Gonk Pottery Class |
 Scoring Clay |
Why Choose Pottery Classes at Crafty Monkey
Full Instruction Given
We guide you through each step of the process, offering tips and techniques as you go.
Affordable Pricing
Our classes are competitively priced to ensure everyone can experience the joy of pottery.
Small Groups
We keep our groups small to ensure individual attention if needed.
Sustainable Business
The environment is important to us and we employ sustainable practices. Learn more
All Materials Provided
We supply everything you need, including high-quality clay, tools, and glazes.
Small Business
By chooing us, you'll be supporting a small independent local business.
Relaxing Environment
Enjoy a calm, friendly and supportive atmosphere that fosters creativity and relaxation.
Pottery Making Blogs
Explore our latest pottery related blog posts for tips, techniques, and creative inspiration. From beginner guides to hand-building projects, our blog is packed with helpful content for all levels. Learn more about the different pottery techniques we teach, and the benefits of taking a pottery class. Check back often for new articles and insights into the world of ceramics!
Know someone into their art and crafts and looking for creative gifts or want to buy someone a therapeutic and relaxing experience?
Gift a Pottery Experience! Either book them onto one of our classes or gift an e-Gift Card or gift vouchers
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How to Make Baby Hand and Foot Casts?Creating baby hand and foot casts at Crafty Monkey is a simple and safe process. 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 will gently place your little one's hand or foot into the mould until it sets (usually a few minutes). Once set we carefully remove your baby’s hand or foot from the mould. Step 4: After you have 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 completely dry out. Step 6: Once dry we spend time sanding areas and making little repairs if needed before applying a sealant. Once dry we decorate it as desired. Step 7: The final step is framing or mounting the casts onto a display plinth and fixing the plaque in place. Step 8: Once ready we email you and ask you to book a pick up slot!
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What Is the Best Material for Baby Hand and Foot Castings?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.
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How Much Do Baby Hand and Foot Castings Cost?Our pricing is competitive and transparent: Baby: up to 12 months Toddler: 12 to 24 months Pre-schooler: 25 - 48 months Child: 49 months - 12 years Adult: 13 years up All the above come with a plaque. We can also do adults hand with or without baby. Enquire for different options.
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What is the minimum age to get hand and foot casts?There is no minimum age and we can do from age 0, however, we would recommend waiting a few weeks after baby is born.
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Is the Casting Process Safe for Newborns?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.
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How Long Does It Take to Make Baby Hand and Foot Casts?The casting process itself takes just a few minutes. The creation and finishing of the casts takes a few weeks, after which your keepsake will be ready for pickup. Creating the mould at your session is a quick and simple process: Creating the Mould: Takes a few minutes (2-5 minutes) for each hand or foot. Curing Time: The mould usually sets quickly, within minutes. Deciding on options: You then choose what finish you would like along with frame or plinth colour and what you would like on the plaque. After your session: Final Cast Preparation: Pouring and hardening the final cast material can take several hours to a day. Drying Time: We like to leave the casts to dry for around 10-14 days for baby casts, longer for larger casts. This insures they are properly dry before they are sealed and later decorated and then 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.
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Can I Personalise My Baby’s Hand and Foot Castings?Absolutely! Personalisation options include: Engravings: Add your little one's name, birthdate, or how old they are. Finishes: Choose from different finishes such as bronze, silver, gold, baby pink, baby blue or pearl. Solid Colour or over black: We can either paint a solid colour or a black base coat and use coloured waxes on top of the black which emphasise all the tiny detail. Mounting: You can choose to display the casts on customized display plinths or in decorative deep box frames. There is a choice of colours.
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What Finishes Are Available for Baby Hand and Foot Casts?We offer several finishing options to suit your style. The below are the popular colours and finishes: Bronze Finish: Adds a timeless, elegant touch Copper Finish: Ancient copper associated with Venus Silver Finish: Sleek and modern Gold or Antique Finish: Luxurious and eye-catching Pearl Finish: The classic look of pure white plaster Baby Blue Pearlescent Finish: Traditional baby blue Baby Pink Pearlescent Finish: Traditional baby pink You can also choose to have: Solid Colour: Custom colors to match your décor or preference Waxes over black: This defines the wrinkles and creases to a greater extent
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What are some gift ideas involving baby hand and foot casts?Baby hand and foot casts make great keepsakes and gifts for various occasions: - Newborn Gifts: Celebrate the arrival of a new baby. - First Birthday: A memorable keepsake for the first milestone. - Christenings or Baptisms: A special memento for religious ceremonies. - Mother’s Day or Father’s Day: Unique and personal gifts for parents. - Grandparent Gifts: Cherished gifts for grandparents to display and treasure. For more ideas, visit our 3D Casts page on our website.
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Where Can I Get Baby Hand and Foot Castings Done?Book a casting session at our studio located in St. Neots near Cambridge.