How it works

From your doormat and back again

Five steps, about four to five weeks, and only one part that needs anything from you.

Order your kit

Pick the kit that suits you and choose your metal. It goes in the post the next working day, first class.

Take the impression at home

Press the paw, or the hand and foot, into the putty in the box. It takes about two minutes — and if it doesn't come out right, roll it flat and go again.

Post it back to us

Use the prepaid, addressed envelope tucked inside the kit. Nothing to print, nothing to pay.

We cast it in metal

Your impression is cold cast by hand in our workshop, then filed, polished and finished. This is the part that takes the time.

It arrives back with you

We post your finished keepsake back in protective packaging, tracked and insured. Around three weeks from the day your impression reaches us.

In the box

What actually arrives

A casting box, ready to use
Impression putty — non-toxic Play-Doh
A rolling pin, so you can flatten it and go again
Step-by-step instructions
A prepaid, addressed return envelope
A card to note the metal, name and date you'd like

Nothing needs mixing and nothing gets warm. The putty stays soft, so you can take your time and redo the print as many times as you need.

Play-Doh contains wheat. If there's a wheat allergy in the house, email us before you order.

Order tracking

Where is my keepsake?

Enter the order number from your confirmation email — it looks like FI-10482.

FAQs

Questions people ask

How long does the whole thing take?

Your kit is posted the next working day and usually lands within two or three days. Once your impression is back with us, casting takes about three weeks. So from ordering to opening the finished piece, think four to five weeks.

What is the keepsake actually made of?

Cold-cast metal. Real metal powder is mixed with a resin binder and cast into your impression, so the surface is genuine metal that we file and polish by hand. It costs a fraction of a foundry casting and it won't pull fine detail out of the print. You choose from bronze, aluminium, copper or iron — each one takes a different colour and polish.

Is the putty safe for a newborn or a nervous pet?

We use Play-Doh, the same modelling compound children play with. It's non-toxic, it stays soft at room temperature so nothing ever gets warm, and it wipes off with a damp cloth. One thing worth knowing: Play-Doh contains wheat, so if there's a wheat allergy in the house, get in touch before you order and we'll sort something out.

What if the impression doesn't come out right?

Roll the putty flat with the rolling pin in the box and go again — as many times as you need, there's no way to use it up. If you're still not happy, email us a photo and we'll post another kit out free of charge.

Can you do this for a pet that has passed away?

Yes, and a lot of what we make is memorial work. If you need an impression taken quickly, most vets will help, and many will keep a print for you — it's worth asking. We're not in a rush at our end; take the kit at your own pace.

How old does a baby need to be?

Any age. Newborn prints are the most requested, but we cast for toddlers and older children too. For a wriggly baby, try it while they're sleepy or just after a feed.

Do you post outside the UK?

Not at the moment. We post anywhere in mainland UK, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and delivery both ways is included in the price.

Can I have something engraved on it?

Yes. A name and a date are included on framed pieces. Extra lines are £12 each — a nickname, a birth weight, a short line of your own.

Can I buy this as a present?

Gift cards start at £50 and can be emailed or posted as a card. They're valid for two years, which gives plenty of time to pick the right moment.

Didn't find it?

Email info.foreverimpressionsuk@gmail.com or use the contact form. We answer Monday to Friday, usually the same day.