Monday 16 June 2014

Craftmill Pregnant Belly Casting Kit review

As some of you may recall I mentioned that I'm not a big fan of others taking photos of myself, me looking at myself on a photo and finding lots of things I don't like, for that reason I didn't really take any bump pictures or wanted to do a maternity photo shoot, but I still any parent-to-be wanted to capture one of the most amazing moment of our lives- my pregnancy.

I googled (as you do) to see what other people suggest and found local ladies who provide private bump/belly cast services in the comfort of your own home. Photos of their works looked amazing, but prices are absolutely ridiculous. I accept the fact that others will and can pay over £100, but I wasn't prepared to pay that much. Not to worry, for people like me who can't afford the luxury of someone making a belly cast I found DIY belly cast kits, which are reasonably priced and give you that bonding feeling with a bump.

Thanks to Craftmill (specialises in delivering high quality 3D craft, modelling and artist materials) I was provided with a EasyStandard Pregnant Belly Casting Kit (£7.54).


The kit consists of:
- gift bag
- 4 rolls of top quality medical grade super safe 15cm wide plaster bandages
- petroleum jelly
- instructions

Before we started applying the content of the kit we needed to prepare the working space, material and model (myself).

Working space:
we used our dinning area as it is the only part of our house with laminate flooring which I thought would be easier to clean. I put few newspaper sheets on the floor, covered my chair with a cotton sheet and put few more newspapers sheets on the table which we were using for preparing the kit.
Model:
I had a quick look online at belly cast examples to have an idea of how I would prefer my cast to look like. I thought that if we are planning to show the cast to our relatives and friends I would be very uncomfortable if they see my nipples therefore I opted to wear a bra, which was covered with cling film, for the rest of my bump and parts of my body I wanted to feature in the cast we applied petroleum jelly provided. And the last preparation was to decide am I going to stand or sit down, as we didn't know how long it will take we thought that it would be much better and less tiring if I was siting on a chair.

Kit:
Prior to opening the kit I was wearing rubber gloves and asked my husband to wear gloves as well in case if it gets too messy and it did. Handling bandages is the most messy part as before you apply them onto belly they are dry and a bit flaky. I needed to cut bandages onto 30 cm strips and to soften them you would need to use warm water and off you go.
   


I must say it was definitely an interesting experience, even though I was a model I tried to control the process by checking in the mirror the position of bandages and how they are applied, mostly I was worried about the chest areas as I wanted it to be the same shape as my bra and I think we did a great job.

It took us approximately 30 minutes to apply all bandages (each strip applied was drying very quickly once put onto my body), we left it to dry for few days after. It was a bit messy on the floor and my trousers needed a wash but I quickly rubbed the floor and washed my trousers and all looked as if we didn't do anything. Ideally I would like to smooth it and maybe paint but it is a different story.

I am extremely happy with the result and I just can't stop looking at the cast, even my husband said that it looks as if it was created by a professional, what do you think?

DISCLAIMER: I was sent the above item for the purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

37 comments:

  1. You did a great job and saved a massive amount of money. Glad you like your bargain xx

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  2. Oh that's pretty cool...never thought to make a cast while I was pregnant!

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  3. Good job! Is the inside smooth? maybe put plaster of paris inside to get a smoother look?

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  4. Looks good! I was well up for doing this and wanted to make a mosaic of it. I was just going to do my tummy and make it into a fruit bowl or something but my husband was so weirded out by it. He really wasn't up for me doing it so I let that one go.

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  5. So cool. I wish I'd done a cast with my last baby.

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  6. It looks great. I'd have loved a keepsake like that :)

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  7. That is fantastic - what a great way to remember such a special time :) x

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  8. What a shame that you can't take photographs of yourself - even for your own use (not to share on your blog I mean). I've got very few of my pregnancy, and 15 years later, I regret that.

    Glad you enjoyed using the kit - where will you be keeping your cast?

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  9. Hehe. If I didn't read about what you'd done, I would have called it a rabbit.
    I din't think I'd want a reminder of what shape I was--50 years later. Visiting from UK Bloggers.

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  10. This is an amazing creation, but I also agree with Michelle that it's a shame you can't take photos just for yourself and your future child. My pregnancies were 15 & 9 years ago way before smart phones when we didn't capture evey move we made on film and I too have very few photos of my bumps. I really wish I had more. I don't think you'll regret it if you take a few.

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  11. That looks great. I really didn't enjoy being pregnant, but this is amazing

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  12. It looks very well made. I am not sure I would like a cast of my bump personally, but I can see it's a great alternative if you don't fancy photos. Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested

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  13. I'll be honest, I would far rather have a hand or foot cast of my baby but it looks like an easy to use kit.

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  14. I tried to make one of these when i was pregnant at home wih paper mache lol, just got messy and im too fidgety to stay still , great finishx

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  15. Great way to overcome bump shots and at that price you could do plenty !!!!

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  16. Wow you did a great job! I love these but would have nowhere to store one so have taken weekly bump photos instead to look back on x

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  17. Wow, that looks so cool. I think you should take lots of pics while you're pregnant. Even if you don't want to look at them now, things may change in 30 years. I wish I had more pics from my second pregnancy.

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  18. that is mental! What a cool thing to have - i bet in a few months time after baby, you'll find it hard to believe that was ever you. Fun, stuff and a lovely excuse to sit still for a while :) xxx

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  19. Wow, how things move on - we just had photographs of our pregnant tums! Looks very cool. What are you going to do with it?

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  20. Wow I can't believe how cheap that is?? Looks amazing. Popping over from www.mummy2monkeys.co.uk

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  21. Awww that looks great! My sister in law is pregnant at the moment, I might get her one, she would love it!

    Emma | DollfaceBlogs

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  22. I love this! It looks great. I wish I had done something like this when I was pregnant with my two. If we have another little one this is a must x

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  23. Wow, I never knew anything like this existed. It's nice you'll have something (aside from the baby) as a reminder of those 9 months :)

    JustJulie | Beauty Blog

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  24. I really wish I had something like this done!

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  25. This looks lovely I really wish I had done one with my bump!

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  26. That's incredible!! What a lovely reminder you have now of this special time :)
    Thanks for linking to #babybabble xx

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  27. This is really apt because both you and Molly at #blogbumpclub have reminded me I intended to do something to mark this last pregnancy. Visually. Not a Demi, I might add. Not sure I have time to do this now but yours looks really fab ;0)

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  28. That looks like so much fun - I remember doing something vaguely familiar to cast hands at school and it was always wonderfully messy!

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  29. This looks amazing, I really wish I'd read this when I had my bump :-(

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  30. That looks fab. I keep debating whether to do one, but I'm not sure where I'd keep it afterwards lol.
    Lianne | TheBrunetteSays...

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  31. How very interesting I have never heard of taking a cast of your belly.

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  32. We have one of these to do. Im waiting till im about 35 weeks pregnant. They look amazing adn yours looks fab!! x

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  33. Great review it looks fab!

    xXx

    #BlogBumpClub

    Follow me too? Oh So Gawjess

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  34. I think you did a great job! Now your other half can pop it on and see what it feels like! :D
    x x

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  35. Oh wow this sounds fab. Wish I'd done something like this :( #BabyBabble

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