If you're new to the idea of casting, or simply a bit unsure of what to expect, then the following information should put your mind at ease. If the answer to your particular question isn't here, then feel free to and we will be more than happy to answer your query personally. Just click on the relevant section header below to go to the FAQs.
F. Animal Casts
1. What do the kits contain?
The kits contain all the materials you need to make your cast, along with full, detailed, easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations to help you. Plus ideas of how to decorate and finish your casts in a range of styles to suit any taste. You will need a few other items you can find around your house, such as bowls, mixing spoons and water to help you with your casting session.
2. How soon will I receive my kit after payment has been received?
We always aim to dispatch your kits within 7 days, but if you need your kit sooner, eg for a birthday or imminent due date, then let us know and we will rush your kit to you as a matter of priority.
3. Can I return the kit?
We are confident that you will find our kits so easy and fun to use that you will not want to, but if ever you have a problem, please contact us first for a return code before posting it back. Please make sure you keep proof of postage. If there is a fault with the kit we are more than happy to refund or replace the product as soon as possible. However, if you have simply changed your mind, we will still accept returns according to your consumer rights, as long as the paper security seal on the front of the box has not been opened. This is because the kits contain air and date-sensitive products, so like food, they are only applicable for a refund if returned in a resaleable condition (ie unopened). Rockabelly Lifecasts reserves the right to make a charge for postage costs incurred for returns or replacements dependent on circumstances.
4. Do you sell any other kinds of kit?
We are developing several new kits ourselves this year, and are forming affiliations with other casting kit making businesses around the world to bring you the best quality and easiest to use products. If there is a kind of kit we don't sell yet, it's because we haven't yet found one we place our confidence in. There are a great many cheap casting kits flooding the market place, but casting is one area where the quality of materials you use can make the world of difference. We will never endorse any product we haven't fully tested first and can place our confidence in. For baby hand and foot casting, we currently recommend booking a professional casting session if at all possible, as you are guaranteed a successful and beautifully finished cast that will not disappoint. For something so precious, that will be cherished for a lifetime, getting it done professionally for a little extra cost is something that no one ever regrets. The cost is soon forgotten, but the results are always remembered.
5. I bought a kit from somewhere else, but am not pleased with the finished results. Can I send it to you to be fixed or finished?
Sometimes, yes. In the first instance, please email and send a photo or photos of the cast in question for us to assess and give you a quote. We are also happy to repair, decorate or recast in bronze or other materials any casts you have made using our kits or any other kits.
B. General Questions (back to top)
1) What happens if my cast doesn't turn out right, or has irreparable damage?Most casts have some minor flaws to them when they first turn out such as air bubbles or water runs, which I clean up and resculpt by hand before you come to collect your finished sculpture. It is very unlikely that you would have to come back for a second casting session. If I see that there has been damage to a mould then I can usually repeat the casting process within the same session at no extra cost to you.
2) Help! I dropped my cast and it has broken. Can it be repaired?
In most cases, yes, so don't panic. Some casts are easier to repair than others. Very often breakages can be repaired and the hairline cracks disguised. In instances where the break is very obvious may be possible to disguise the damage by using a decorative finish on the sculpture - such as a bronze or gilded effect. I can only quote prices for repairs on an individual basis after examining the breakage and discussing the options with you. Casts are surprisingly strong though, so do not shatter like a china plate when dropped.
3) How should I care for my sculpture?
Treat it as you would a precious work of art or piece of fine porcelain. Casts are best left on display where little hands and pets can't reach them. Like all things your cast will need occasional dusting. Don't get your sculpture wet or wash it down with water or other cleaning fluid. The protective sealant should make it easy to wipe clean should it get a dirty fingerprint on it. Casts do not like damp or extremes of temperature so do not store them on top of a radiator cover or similar or next to a window or in damp rooms such as bathrooms or cellars.
4) I wish to give a casting gift voucher to a friend/loved one, but I'm not sure which one to purchase.
No problem. You simply choose the value of the casting you would like to give them, and they can put the voucher towards the casting of their choice - be it a couple hands casting, a child's casting, or even a bottom casting session!
5) What are your terms of payment?
I ask for a 50 percent deposit to secure a booking. This is to prevent people dropping out at the last minute without letting me know they can't come, and to cover the cost of materials in the event of cancellation. You usually pay the balance when you come to collect your finished cast, but some people prefer to pay in installments up until the time of collection when any remaining balance is paid in full.
For people paying with gift vouchers, simply give me the code on your gift voucher at the time of booking and bring it along with you when you come for your casting session.
For party bookings, I need to know the number of people who will be attending, and the deposit would also be 50 percent of the final fee.
You can now pay by all major credit cards via our PayPal payment cart - you no longer need to register with PayPal or have an account with them to make instant, secure payments. (although we welcome PayPal users also). Cheques with a banker's card are fine, and cash is also fine.
6) I've paid the booking deposit for a belly casting session, but my wife has gone into labour early. Have I lost my money?
Not at all. You can use the deposit to put towards any other kind of casting we offer such as a baby foot, hand or bottom casting when your baby is born.
7) When will my life cast sculpture be ready for collection?
That depends on the kind of sculpture you choose, and the time of year (it pays to book early for Christmas, Valentine's Day or Mother's Day which can be very busy). Bear in mind that plaster retains moisture for several weeks before it can be safely sealed. Some companies promise a very fast turnaround but may be compromising the longevity of your cast by not allowing full curing time. We always hit a deadline such as a birthday or wedding without fail, but for such special occasions please book in at least 10 weeks ahead of the deadline for collection to avoid disappointment. If you have a 'rush job' that needs doing, feel free to us and we will help where possible or recommend one of our affiliates to help you if we cannot.
8) I would like more than one copy made of my lifecast. Is that possible?
Yes. But make sure you let us know at the time of booking that this is your intention, as it makes considerable difference to the price and techniques we use.
9) I would like my cast made in a different material than plaster. Is this possible?
Absolutely! But again, please let us know what you require before booking, so that we can provide you with the most up to date prices. Sometimes we will need to refer you to one of our affiliates or send your original plaster lifecast to another artisan to be completed in more unusual materials such as onyx aggregate, leather, glass, semi-precious metals or resins. We have even made lifecasts in bread dough!
10) I am a student and I would like to do work experience with you.
We are sadly unable to accommodate work experience students due to health and safety reasons. If you would like to get involved with lifecasting as a possible career we recommend you start by experimenting with some simple lifecasting kits from our webshop to learn the basic techniques and then read as much as possible about this art form before taking it further. We also offer one-to-one and occasional small group training courses (usually 2 day courses) on basic casting techniques. Please if you are interested in being notified about one to one training or workshops.
11) How is it done?
This depends on which body part is being cast. Small areas such as lips, nipples, baby hands and feet tend to be cast in a vessel using fast setting casting gel. Larger areas such as faces and torsos are usually 2 part moulds of casting gel against the skin surrounded by a supporting layer of plaster bandage. Casting time varies between a couple of minutes to an hour depending what's being cast.
C. Pregnant Belly Casts (back to top)
1) How is it done?Pregnant belly casts are usually formed by covering your pregnant form (belly, breasts, hands, shoulders, thighs - depending on what you want) with strips of wet plaster soaked cloth, built up into layers to strengthen the finished sculpture. We also offer a much more detailed form of bellycasting called gel casting, which captures detail down to a goosepimple. To decide which is the best kind of cast for you, click here to read a more detailed explanation and see examples of each.
2) How long does it take?
I like to allow an hour to an hour and a half for most casts, including time to prep the room and clear up afterwards. The actual time you will be in the cast depends on what pose you have decided on. For a belly on its own, it might take as little as 15-20 minutes of sitting. For a full torso, you are looking at between 45 minutes and an hour.
3) Will it hurt the baby?
Absolutely not. The plaster bandage used to cover you is very similar to that used in hospitals to cast a broken limb. The baby is free to move around during the process (occasionally you can see where the baby has kicked and cracked the under layers of the plaster, and even the way it was laying in your belly - to one side or another) and there is no 'constriction' of the womb. In fact, as the bandage dries, it will naturally 'lift away' from the body rather than press inwards.
4) Will it hurt me?
No. Before applying the plaster bandage, I get you to cover all exposed areas with a generous layer of Vaseline or barrier cream - the thicker the better! This prevents the plaster bandage from sticking to your tiny body hairs when we remove it. You can actually feel the first layer of bandage coming away from you easily and becoming hard within minutes of it being applied. I do recommend that if you have a particularly hairy tummy (as we sometimes get in pregnancy) that you shave that area to prevent the hairs getting caught in the plaster. The same can be said for lower arms or other very hairy areas. However, if you don't wish to shave we can always lay a piece of clingfilm over the area to protect you from a 'free waxing'.
5) What if I have an allergic reaction?
Obviously if you have a known allergy to any type of plaster or bandage/gauze cloth then it would be advisable not to have the belly cast done. Having said that, in all the thousands of belly casts done around the world I have never once come across a case of allergic reaction to this very safe medium - that's one of the reasons hospitals can feel confident to cast legs without your nose swelling up! We do not recommend casting over any areas of enflamed skin or open wounds however, as it is likely to be uncomfortable.
6) What does it feel like?
The process of application is often compared to a gentle massage or mud wrap if using the plaster bandage technique, or like being smeared with cold porridge for the gel cast version. It can be quite relaxing, although if you are sitting for one of the longer poses you might like to get your partner or friend to massage your shoulders for the last few minutes as everyone knows sitting in one pose can get a little achy after a while.
7) Can I bring my partner/husband/friend/mum?
Yes. In fact for casts done in the last month of pregnancy or to mothers who have a history of fainting or other problems I actually insist upon it. Not only will it relax you more and make it more fun and special to have someone there to tend to your needs (such as pass you drinks, rub your neck and shoulders etc), but on rare occasions as with any other situation pregnant ladies have been known to feel faint and at those times it's reassuring to have someone with you.
8) Can you come out to me or do I have to come to you?
I usually recommend everyone comes to me if they can. The studio is perfectly set up for casting and we don't have to worry about making a mess of your floor. If you live further afield then it may sometimes be possible for me to come to you by special arrangement, although I would have to charge extra for my time and petrol/train fare so this can prove quite costly. You can reduce this cost to yourself by having a casting party and getting other pregnant friends to contribute. Alternatively, you can order one of our fabulous DIY Pregnant Belly Casting Kits and get a friend or partner to help cast you at home.
9) Do you do parties?
Yes. Something that may be a lot of fun for an NCT or antenatal group is to have a belly casting party. I bring all the materials needed for the group (usually up to 6 ladies, although let us know if you have a bigger group and we may be able to bring in another tutor for the day) and show you how it is done and we all work together to produce your fabulous belly casts. Add in non-alcoholic drinks and lots of chocolate and it can make for one of the most entertaining, memorable and moving experiences in your whole pregnancy. I even give groups of 4 or more women a 15% discount on the usual prices. This is usually for belly only poses due to time constrictions, but if you want belly and breast poses, then smaller groups can be catered for or haggle with me for what you really want.
Another kind of belly party is where there is just one belly cast done on the 'guest of honour' (perfect for American-style 'baby shower' parties), but you invite a bunch of your best friends to come and watch, join in, or contribute in some other way (I reveal my special ideas at the party!). Your friends might even pick up the bill as a pre-baby gift to you if you have very nice friends. ;-) This can rapidly become a 'traditional' right of passage for groups of close friends that makes it an unforgettable bonding experience for you, your friends/family and your baby. You can even involve older children in the process, which can make it extra special for them too.
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10) Can I decorate and hang it myself?
Of course. If you are artistic or if my custom-decorating prices are a little above your budget then I can give you loads of tips on simple, yet effective ways to decorate your finished belly cast and some expert advice for more adventurous ideas like mosaicing. Examples of my work can be seen in the belly-casting galleries. I have been greatly inspired by my fellow belly-casters from around the world and invite you to look at their work via my links page too.
11) Can I decide to have it decorated by you at a later date?
Of course. I can strengthen, hang, paint, gild, mosaic or decoupage your belly cast at any point in the future so long as you have taken care of it. Even if it has been slightly damaged, I can usually repair them without too much trouble. This may be the perfect solution if money is tight (as it often is when a baby is due and you have so many things to buy for them) yet you would love to have your belly cast made into a beautiful heirloom artwork for yourself or your child.
12) I live too far away from you to have a private belly cast. Can I buy the materials to make my own?
You can now buy our wonderful DIY casting kits HERE - In an attractive white box, wrapped in tissue & pink bows these kits make fabulous gifts too!
13) How soon will my belly cast be available for collection?
This can depend on the time of year and what pose/decoration you choose. If you opt for a straightforward cast and choose to hang and decorate it yourself then you can take it with you on the day. If you wish merely to have it hung/sealed, it can be ready within a week. If you wish for decoration/smoothing this can take several weeks depending on what you want. I prefer not send finished belly casts by post as no matter how rare it might be to get one damaged in transit, it is an irreplaceable item and I'm sure neither of us would want to take the risk. Usually I will call or email you to arrange collection when your cast is ready.
14) Can I have a bellycast sculpture in other materials than plaster?
Yes! If you choose one of our gel cast belly options, we can make a permanent silicone rubber mould from this - from which copies of your belly can be made in a variety of materials - from clear resins, to semi-precious metals...even leather! Please for further details, examples and prices.
1) Will it hurt my baby/child?
Absolutely not. All materials that come in contact with the child's skin are completely organic and non-toxic. No known allergic reactions have been reported in thousands of cases around the world. The process itself is very gentle - feeling like dipping your hand into luke warm yoghurt. The only part of the process that can be tricky for a young child or baby is keeping still for the 1-2 minutes it takes to get a good cast. With babies I achieve this by trying to cast them when they are napping or having a feed or otherwise distracted by something they enjoy. With toddlers this is usually achieved with a mixture of distraction (telly), bribery (choccy biccy) and reasonable force (parent holds child firmly by the wrist or ankle to help them keep still). With older children usually an explanation of what they will achieve or a choccy biccy is enough to persuade them. Remember that although your baby may cry, they are not being hurt in any way - simply annoyed with you for making them do something strange. For 1-2 minutes of annoyance you and they will get a lifetime of pleasure from capturing their tiny hand/feet/bottom in totally realistic sculpture. It is something you and they could never regret having done, and will provide endless fascination to them as they grow and compare the size of their hand/foot 'now' to how sweet and small it was 'then'.
2) How long does the casting session take?
To take the cast itself can take only a few minutes. However, I like to leave an hour to an hour and half for casting sessions to enable you and your child to relax, talk through the process, check the size and shape of the area you wish to be cast, etc. For babies this can be important because they can take a while to settle and it's amazing how strong a baby can be when it wants to be wiggly!
3) What should we wear?
Both you and your baby should wear clothes that 'don't matter'. Casting can be a messy business and no matter how carefully we try to cover you up, one swift kick of a baby's foot can get you covered in 'goop'. The casting material does come out of some cloth with a process of rubbing with Fairy Liquid or other similar washing up liquid once it has dried, but this is by no means guaranteed.
4) What happens if my baby poos or wees while having its bottom cast?
We shout 'Euewww!' in unison and then you clean up the baby while I clean up the table/floor and then we start again. Actually wees are not a problem. I'm a parent myself and can deal with this sort of thing without so much as raising an eyebrow. It's amazing how having your own baby can acclimatize you to all kinds of bodily functions and embarrassing squelching noises.
5) What if my baby/child won't hold still long enough to be cast?
Well, although 1-2 minutes sounds like no time at all to an adult, it can on rare occasion be too much for a little one to cope with keeping still for on their own, particularly older babies or toddlers who are not old enough to understand but old enough to have an opinion about what's happening to them. For this I recommend doing a joint parent/child pose, such as the ones shown in this gallery. Although these are a bit more costly, they are often far more rewarding. It's a little bit of your history with you and your baby bonded together for all time - even if they grow up to be evil teenagers that never speak to you again. ;-)
6) Can we have more than one copy of the same cast?
Yes, for an extra charge a silicone mould can be made from the original cast and use it to make several copies. I would need to know in advance of your appointment that you require this. Obviously, the more copies you have made, the more economical this works out. However if you just require 2-4 baby feet for example, it's actually more economical to make four individual casts than do copies of one.
7) Do you do casting parties?
Yes, this can be arranged. This works as a lovely follow up to a belly casting party for your ante-natal or NCT group for instance. Another good excuse to get a bunch of friends together and eat chocolate once the babies are born. The best time to do this is when the babies are still quite young and small and sleep/feed a lot - makes my job a whole lot easier as I can take it in turns to do the baby that is relaxed at that moment and leave the restless or screaming ones till later. I will do this for older babies but be aware that you may need to do the joint parent/baby pose if your baby struggles a lot as a strong baby can rip through the casting material with a hard kick if it is not held firmly. For older children I will also do group casting sessions, but I like to avoid this for the young toddler age group as they are often the trickiest to cast - being old enough to resist attempts to keep them still yet not old enough to understand what it is we are asking them to do and be negotiated with/bribed. I will do a minimum of 5 castings in one session depending on time and will give a group discount of 15% which you an share amongst you or 'donate' to the hostess of the group for her troubles. I will travel further afield than my local area - up to London for instance or East Sussex on occasion, or other areas such as Cheltenham (my sister lives there so it's a good excuse to visit her and shop at her funky kiddie clothes shop 'Ziggy's' in the Beechwood Shopping Centre - forgive the shameless plug there) - but will ONLY take group bookings or fine art commissions for these occasions and unless I am visiting the area for other purposes I will have to charge a little extra for my travel time/costs.
8) What materials can my children's casts be made in?
Your plaster casts can be remade in a selection of other materials such as real bronze, hallmarked silver or gold, cold cast metal/resins, and glass crystal. Other materials may be available soon, so please ask if what you want isn't listed.
1) Will the process damage our wedding/engagement rings?
Not at all. All I ask is that you rub just a little Vaseline or similar around any small gaps/stones/fittings to make cleaning easy afterwards. Then you simply rinse and rub and the rings should be as good as new. The casting process will pick up the most beautiful details of your rings, making your sculpture even more personal to you.
2) Can we have the casting session videoed or photographed to go in our wedding video/album?
Of course! It makes a lovely memory for the two of you. There's nothing like dunking your entwined hands in goop to make you feel romantic. If you require us to book a professional photographer or videographer to record the occasion for you, then let us know in advance.
3) When will the finished sculpture be ready for collection?
This depends on whether you have chosen to have a plain or decorative finish, freestanding or on a base, etc. If you want your casting ready to be displayed at your wedding (for example, next to the cake or even as a cake-topper) then I recommend coming for a casting session about 8-12 weeks before the day. I can sometimes do rush jobs, but it's best to book early. If you're not fussed about displaying it on the day, then obviously it's not available any sooner/later but that won't matter so much. If you've been given the casting as a wedding present on the day then the timing of when you have it done is completely up to you.
