FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – GENERAL INFO

What is your return policy? If you would like to return one of our products, you may do so for any reason. The product(s) must be received back in our office no later than 30 days after the ship date on your receipt.  All returned merchandise must be new, unused, and undamaged (able to be restocked/resold "as is") in order to be accepted. Regardless of the reason for the return, all returns require a Return Authorization number to be processed, which can be obtained either by phone or by emailing us at returns@castinggifts.com. For complete information on returns and our other policies, check our Policies, Terms and Conditions section in Customer Care.

What is your Shipping Policy?  CastingGifts.com ship 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Do you sell at discounted or wholesale rates to retail stores or other internet merchants?  Yes.  In order to qualify for discounted rates, you must be a licensed retailer interested in reselling our products in your store or office, on your website, or through your business service.  We require your business information and a copy of your business license for our files.  Initial order is $250 or more.  Reorders are $150 minimum.  If you are interested in receiving our business discount rates, please email us at info@castinggifts.com.

Do you drop ship?  No. We're sorry, but at this time, we do not offer a drop ship program.

Can I use CastingGifts.com products to earn money for a fund raising activity for my club or organization?  Yes!  Just contact us with the specifics of your fundraiser and we will contact you to discuss your needs and the specifics of your program. You can email us at info@castinggifts.com or call us and we'll be happy to help in any way we can. Please make sure to leave a contact name and number in your email or phone message.

Why would I ever want to make a pregnancy belly cast? (I feel huge!)

What exactly is a pregnancy belly cast?

What materials are used during the belly casting and are they safe?

What is the difference between your Complete Belly Cast Kit, Ultimate Belly Cast Kit, and your Basic Belly Cast Kit?

When should I make my belly cast?

Do I need help to do my belly cast?

How do I make a belly cast?

Does the water temperature I work with during the belly casting make a difference?

How do I get a really smooth belly cast? 

How do I decorate my belly cast?

How should I display my pregnancy belly cast?

Why make a pregnancy belly cast? The answer is simple. You hold a miracle inside you and that miracle won’t stay there long!  Although you may be feeling tired and huge and your pregnant belly may be unrecognizable from its pre-pregnancy counterpart, the time of bonding with baby during pregnancy really is fleeting (it just seems to take forever)! Time flies though and memory fades. Children grow quickly, and kids are always, ALWAYS fascinated with stories and images of themselves. Capturing this moment in time between mother and baby will be a lifelong keepsake gift you can share with your child.  Just like youth… when the time is gone, YOU WILL WANT IT BACK! Save the memory while you can!

What exactly is a pregnancy belly cast (or belly mask) and how long does it take to make one? A pregnancy bellycast (sometimes called a belly mask or a belly mold) is a three dimensional permanent mold of an expectant mother’s pregnant belly.  Some mothers choose to cast their pregnant belly only (called a belly bowl). Some moms do a body cast of belly and breasts, while others choose to include shoulders, arms, hands or thighs too. A pregnancy belly cast is whatever you choose to make it! This unique keepsake can include as much or as little of your pregnant belly and body as you’d like.  It’s made using medical grade plaster casting bandages, with Vaseline as a release agent so the belly cast slides easily off mom’s skin!  Creating a Pregnancy Belly Cast takes only 30-45 minutes to complete and can be a wonderful bonding experience with the expectant father and your baby or family.

What materials are used during my belly casting and are they safe? Pregnancy belly casting has been around for years and years and has been done safely on expectant mothers all over the world.  Mother Belly Pregnancy Belly Cast Kits include:

• Bandages:    Mother Belly Pregnancy Belly Cast Kits use American-manufactured medical grade plaster casting bandages. Medical grade plaster casting bandages are chosen by doctors and hospitals across the country to cast broken limbs. If a pregnant woman were to break an arm or leg during pregnancy, plaster casting bandages might literally be worn for weeks or months at a time.  During a pregnancy belly cast, the fast set bandages we use are on mom’s skin for minutes. The bandages meet ASTM-D4236 (American Society for Testing and Materials/ASTM International) safety standards and LHAMA (Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act) requirements indicating the material is non-toxic and not expected to produce any chronic adverse health effects. The bandages contain no latex, an important safety feature for both mom and baby. If you have concerns about making a belly cast, consult your physician first.
• Vaseline:   The release agent we use in our belly cast kit is Vaseline.  We believe this to be the most universally safe and effective product to use for belly casting. It is smeared liberally over the mother’s skin and belly to lubricate it and act as a buffer between her skin and the casting bandages. This enables the bellycast to be easily removed when set. In fact, many artists also use Vaseline when working with plaster gauze bandages on professionally commissioned body casting art work.  Vaseline is used and recommended by doctors and hospitals worldwide and has been used safely for years, not only as a skin softener but also as a skin protector, even on newborns. Vaseline is colorless, fragrance free and hypo-allergenic.
• Gloves:   To cover your helper’s hands during the casting, we include a pair of Nitrile gloves.  In some cases, wearing vinyl or latex gloves may cause allergic reactions on the skin.  We have avoided this by providing Nitrile gloves which, though more expensive, are safer to wear.
• Drop Cloth:   We also provide you with a 9x12 foot plastic drop cloth to protect the furniture and floor in your belly casting area. The drop cloth is disposable, so when you’ve finished your belly cast, just throw it out and your casting workspace is clean!
• Sanding Screen:   Once your pregnant belly cast has set, you can sand it using our sanding screen.  This is an actual carbide screen so it’s tougher and won’t wear out or tear easily like ordinary sandpaper.
• Gift Box:   Your pregnancy belly cast kit comes packaged with all of the above, along with our step-by-step instructions, in our beautiful gold metallic gift box (Complete and Ultimate kits only).  Colorful gift wrap, beautiful coordinating ribbons, and a personalized gift card may be included for a $4.00 fee.

What is the difference between the Complete Belly Cast Kit, the Ultimate Belly Cast Kit and the Basic Belly Cast Kit?     Mother Belly’s Complete Pregnancy Belly Cast Kit includes an extra roll of casting bandages (5 total rolls) of bandages.  The extra roll provides additional support for the breast and belly area if cast alone, or, in most cases, allows the expectant mom to cast the shoulder area, or the tops of the thighs, or an arm and hand as well as the breast and belly area.  The Complete Kit also comes with Vaseline, a drop cloth, nitrile gloves, a sanding screen, and step-by-step instructions. It is packaged in a beautiful colored gift box, which can optionally be gift wrapped, trimmed, and sent with a personalized gift card.

Mother Belly’s Ultimate Belly Cast Kit is our most comprehensive kit. Expecting twins or triplets? Concerned you may need extra bandages because you have a large frame or want to body cast a larger area? The Mother Belly Ultimate Belly Cast Kit supplies you with seven 4” by 5 yard rolls (35 square feet!) of casting bandage. If you have a smaller frame, you may even be able to get a regular belly cast and a belly bowl out of this kit.  No other kit on the market supplies this much casting material!   The Ultimate Belly Cast Kit also includes 2 tubs of Vaseline, 2 pairs of nitrile gloves, a carbide sanding screen, a 9x12 drop cloth and easy to follow instructions, and our belly cast bronzing kit which includes all the bronzing, antiquing, and sealing paints and supplies you'll need to make your belly cast look like real electroplated bronze! Packaged in a beautiful colored gift box, this kit can optionally be gift wrapped, trimmed, and sent with a personalized gift card.

Mother Belly’s Basic Pregnancy Belly Cast Kit is our most cost conscious alternative for those who don’t mind providing some materials themselves and just want “the basics.” Our Basic Belly Cast Kit comes with 4 rolls of 4inch x 5yard bandaging. In most cases, additional bandaging will be needed if mom wants to cast anything other than the breast and belly area.  The kit also includes nitrile gloves, sanding screen, and step-by-step instructions, but no drop cloth or Vaseline. It is shipped in basic corrugated packaging and not in a gift box.  Gift wrapping, trim, and gift card are not available for this kit.

When should I make my belly cast?   There is really no limitation. Generally we recommend a belly cast be made between the 34th and 38th weeks of pregnancy.  Some mothers choose to make multiple belly castings during pregnancy to document changing belly size as the pregnancy progresses by trimester.  Others who carry multiples or worry about delivering early may also do a belly cast before the 34^th week. And of course, there are always moms who wait until almost full term so they can display their "maximized" proud belly!  Bear in mind though, it’s best to have your pregnancy belly casting kit on hand early as opposed to waiting until last minute. This eliminates the worry of getting the belly cast kit “in time,” and will also save on potential “last-minute-emergency-gotta-have-it-right-now” express shipping!  That’s one reason why our pregnant belly cast kit makes such a unique baby keepsake and thoughtful baby shower gift or pregnancy gift. Given in advance, mom has plenty of time to discover the magic of belly casting her “little treasure” at her leisure.

Do I need help to do my belly cast?   Yes, that’s definitely best (though there’s no stopping a determined mom from doing a belly cast on herself). Most mothers like the idea of sharing the belly casting experience with their husband, partner, older children, grandparents-to-be, or close friends. Some even make it a community event and do the casting during a “blessingway” ceremony or at a baby shower!  Whatever you decide, the unique experience of welcoming baby through the creation of a pregnancy belly cast will truly be memorable!

How do I make a belly cast? Is it uncomfortable?   Detailed step-by-step instructions are included in your pregnancy belly casting kit.  Basically, the process begins by preparing both mom and the plaster bandages for casting.  Once you’ve set up your workspace and materials, cut the bandages to the appropriate lengths, without getting them wet.  Once the bandages are ready to apply, have mom generously grease herself with Vaseline on all surfaces where the plaster bandages will be applied. This is an essential step so the belly cast won’t stick. Vaseline is a wonderful lubricant/release agent and will allow easy removal. Wet, apply, smooth and layer the bandages according to the methods described in our instructions.  Wait 5-10 minutes for the belly cast to set and start to pull away from the body.  Gently remove and let the cast dry for several days before decorating.  That’s it! It’s really simple. The process shouldn't be uncomfortable at all. It's important for mom to be in a comfortable position during the belly casting though, because she is required to stay relatively still for 30 minutes.  Many women in advanced pregnancy find that standing for 30 minutes can be tedious, which is why we recommend a seated position.

Does the water temperature I work with during the casting make a difference?   Yes.  The water should be about room temperature (not warm or cold to the touch).  If you’re going to fudge, better to make the water cooler than warmer in our opinion.  Warm water will help the belly cast plaster set faster.  Mother Belly Pregnancy Belly Cast Kits provide Fast Set bandages. Using warm water to activate the plaster will accelerate and shorten the casting time even quicker. Unless you are really well versed in what you need to do, we don’t recommend this. Also, the plaster bandages may heat very slightly (called an exothermic reaction) as they set. This is normal and will not cause discomfort as the heat reaction is designed to stay below body temperature.  However, increased water temperature will also increase the heat producing properties of the plaster as well.  Using really cold water will lengthen the set time by a few minutes, but may get chilly for poor mom.  For these reasons, we recommend staying middle of the road with your water temperature.

How do I get a really smooth belly cast?   The first trick is to smooth the plaster generously with your wet, gloved fingertips as the wet bandages are applied to form the belly cast.  The creamy plaster will help blend the bandage edges better. After the belly cast has dried, lightly sand off any small plaster bumps. A coat or two of Gesso, an acrylic primer, can be painted over the belly cast and light sanding can be performed between coats. If an ultra smooth belly cast is desired, painting spackle can also be used to fill in gaps and creases on the belly cast surface, again sanding between coats.

How do I decorate my belly cast?   Decorating a belly cast is as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.  The most basic casts are left natural, without much sanding or filler painting.  At minimum, we recommend sealing both the inside and outside of your belly cast with at least a clear glaze.  Trim the edges of your belly cast to even them out if you want. Add holes to the belly cast approximately where a bra strap would be so that you can hang it later.  This can be done using a screwdriver tip or an electric drill. If you plan to paint your belly cast, we recommend an acrylic or latex paint. You can also decorate your pregnancy belly cast using decoupage glue to apply paper, fabric, tissue, photos, etc. Add trim, beads, feathers, footprints, ribbon, autographs, baby’s name, weight, birthdate, or literally anything else you can think of to your belly cast. Add ribbon or cord to hang the finished belly mask, and you’ve created your masterpiece!

How should I display my pregnancy belly cast?  Typically, once decorated, a pregnancy belly cast is displayed by hanging on a wall using coordinating ribbon, decorative cord, or picture hanging materials.  An alternative is to mount the belly cast on solid color backing within a large decorative frame or inside a large shadow box. A decorative floor easel will also display your belly cast well.  And too, there’s always the old lean-it-up-against-the- wall technique!  Whatever you decide, show your belly cast proudly. It's where your little miracle lived!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS –  LIFE CASTING KITS 

What type of materials are used in your 3D lifecasting kits and Treasured Memory Shadow Boxes?

What is involved in the creation of a statue (what is the process)?

Is wiggling a problem while creating the mold?

How is a hand removed from the mold?

Can I use my molding container again?

How do I make repairs to my plaster statue?

What if I want to purchase materials for a large group or classroom project?

What type of materials are used in your 3D life casting kits and Treasured Memory Shadow Boxes?  All Casting Gifts' 3D Plaster Casting Kits (Baby, Child, Family, Shoe Bronzing, Pet, and Ornament kits) as well as the Treasured Memory Keepsake Shadow Box Kits we carry contain a combination of two materials:  Molding Powder and Casting Stone.

MOLDING POWDER     The powder we use to create our molds is called an alginate.  PLEASE NOTE:  The Alginate material is the only material that touches the skin during the making of the mold!  It is environmentally safe, non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and has been FDA (Food/Drug Administration) and ADA (American Dental Association) approved.  It has been used by the dental profession for years to make dental molds inside the mouth. It has also been used by the medical profession and by hospitals as a skin application for wound care.  It is specially formulated for use on skin, so it is fine to use on skin as sensitive as a newborn baby. The alginate is water–based with a primary ingredient of processed seaweed. The powder formula is manufactured with color changing properties to make the molding process as easy and safe to follow as possible. The molding material also carries ASTM-D4236 certification (American Society for Testing and Materials/ASTM International) and meets LHAMA (Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act) requirements indicating the material is non-toxic and not expected to produce chronic adverse health effects. As with any powder, avoid inhalation as this may aggravate respiratory conditions.  Should powder get in the eyes, flush thoroughly with water. If irritation persists, consult a physician. 

CASTING STONE     Once the mold is created, the stone used to cast the actual statue is Gypsum Cement.  We believe our casting stone is the finest grade available and is substantially stronger than most art grade plaster of paris materials.  This part of the process does not require your child to be present and should be conducted separately and safely away from children and pets, as the material is not safe for ingestion.

What is involved in the creation of a plaster statue (what is the process)?  The first step is to create the mold.  This is done with our molding powder, which is a dustless, color changing formulation. The molding powder is mixed with water in the molding container provided.  When the powder is ready (about 3 minutes), the hand is inserted into the molding mixture and remains there until the mixture turns from a thick liquid into a solid rubbery gel (about 2 minutes).  Then the hand is easily removed from the mold. The second step in the process (recommended to be done away from children and pets) uses casting stone, which is also mixed with water until it looks smooth and is the consistency of white paint. The stone is poured into the mold made by the hand, and sets within a half hour or less.  After several hours have passed, the cast can be removed from the container, and the rubbery molding material pealed away leaving the completed stone statue.  After the cast drys, it can be painted with either our clear glaze for a shiny porcelain-like finish, or painted with our metallic bronzing paint for a bronzed finish.

Is wiggling a problem while creating the mold?  The alginate is very user-friendly. Some movement is actually good once a hand or foot enters the molding powder (and is encouraged even in the kit instructions), as this helps to coat all areas, minimize surface bubbles, and get alginate into the tiniest creases and spaces.  Movement in the initial 20 - 30 seconds is no problem at all.  Near the 60-90 second mark, there is a “setting window” where the alginate begins to harden from a liquid into a rubbery gel around the hand (this feels much like a hard boiled egg to the touch). During and after the setting window, it is best to keep the hand as still as possible.  This is why we recommend actually holding a baby or toddler’s wrist securely, to keep them from yanking a hand or foot out prematurely as the top of the mold will set before the inside. In general, unless a small child completely ruins a mold by clenching an open hand into a fist after the setting window or by removes the hand before the mold has completely set, the molding compound is pretty forgiving.

How is a hand removed from the mold?  The hand is gently moved from side to side to break the suction of the molding material from the skin.  Once suction is broken, the hand is slowly extracted and will slide easily out of the mold.

Can I use my molding container again?  In most cases, yes.  The exception to this can be if you choose to incorporate an integrated base onto the statue of a hand, such as with our Child Hand Kit.  In this case, casting stone may be poured up and over the surface of the molding material to create the base.  The cement hardens against the molding container. Sometimes, but not always, the container may need to be cut and then peeled away from the stone statue base to unmold it, destroying the container in the process.  If an integrated base is not selected, any of our molding containers can easily be reused to create additional statues without buying an entirely new kit, or you can use a plastic container you have at home.  We provide kit refills of the molding powder and casting stone for just this reason.

How do I make repairs to my statue?  Occasionally the unmolding or sanding process may break off a finger or fingertip.  We have found the easiest way to repair a break is to superglue it back on.  The instructions provided in each kit also recommend holding back a bit of casting stone in case repairs are needed.  This stone, when mixed with a few drops of water, can be applied via brush or fingertip directly to the broken areas and across the broken seam to reattach breaks.  When dry, any rough spots can be lightly sanded off and the statue will look good as new.

What if I want to purchase materials for a large group or classroom project?  There are several ways to purchase materials.  We offer specific Kit Refills and package deals on our kits.  We also have a “Project Kit” which includes enough molding powder and casting material to do approximately 18 to 20 Baby Hand statues or 9 to 10 baby feet or 6 to 7 Baby Handprint and Footprint Combos, or 6 to 8 Child Hands statues, or 3 to 4 Family Hand statues, 11-13 pet or baby ornaments, 8 to 10 baby shoes or various combinations of the above.  Our Project Kits are great for play groups, family craft projects, classroom projects, family reunions, or if you want to perform life casting services for others or as part of fundraising activities for your club or organization.  A Project Kit can be ordered in multiple sets for even larger projects. Each Project Kit contains molding containers of different sizes, multiple brushes for painting, multiple sets of sanding paper & BOTH glazing and bronzing paints and instructions.  Click here for more details our PROJECT KIT.  If you have a specific request that cannot be filled through one of these options, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@castingkits.com.  Please send us the specifics of what you require and we will quote you a price based on the size of your project or group. Also, if you are planning a fund raising activity we can help you