Hand-building is a traditional pottery technique that involves creating forms without the use of a potter’s wheel. Instead, you'll use your hands, simple tools, and a variety of techniques to shape, sculpt and mould the clay into beautiful, unique ceramic pieces.

Our pottery classes include all the materials you need, including clay, tools, and underglaze paints if you paint it during the class. You’ll also receive expert instruction from our experienced tutors, who will guide you step-by-step. Firing your creations in our kiln is also included in the price.

No prior experience is necessary! Our pottery classes are designed for beginners as well as those with some experience. We’ll teach you everything you need to know, from basic techniques to more advanced skills.

Most of our pottery classes last between 2 to 3 hours. This should allows ample time for you to learn new techniques, create your piece, paint it, and enjoy the creative process.

Your pottery piece will need to be left to dry naturally before fired in our kiln, this process can take 3-5 weeks. Once your piece has been fired, we’ll notify you when it’s ready and ask you to book a pick up slot!

We recommend wearing comfortable, casual clothing that you don’t mind getting a bit messy. While clay does wash out of clothing, it’s best to be prepared for a creative mess! We don’t provide aprons so it’s a good idea to bring one along to help keep your clothes clean.

Yes, we offer pottery classes suitable for all ages, including children. We also have specific sessions and workshops designed for kids to enjoy a fun and safe pottery-making experience.

Absolutely! Crafty Monkey can offer private pottery sessions and pottery parties for groups, perfect for birthdays, team-building events, or just a fun day out with friends. Email us to arrange your private event.

You can easily book a pottery class through our website’s booking system. Simply choose the class you’re interested in, select a date and time, and complete the payment online.

We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your booking, see our cancellation policy that allows for rescheduling or refunds, depending on how much notice is given.

Yes! We encourage creativity and welcome any ideas or designs you have in mind. Our instructors can help you bring your vision to life, whether it’s a specific project or a unique design.

Depending on your groups size we may be able to offer a discounts for group bookings and for those who sign up for multiple classes. Please email us with details.

Yes, we sell gift cards and gift vouchers which make a great present for anyone interested in trying their hand at pottery. Our gift cards are the best option as they can be used online to book and pay for a class. They can also be used in our studio. If you opt for a physical voucher, the gift recipient will need to get in touch with us to get a code to use for the booking. You can purchase wither directly through our website and can buy gift vouchers at the studio.

To ensure a quality experience, our classes typically accommodate around 8 participants but it depends on the project. This allows for personalised attention and a comfortable working environment. If you have a bigger group then it may be possible to accommodate you. Email us with the details.

If time allows and your piece is stable and dry enough you should be able to add colour during the class with our pottery underglazes. If it's not possible your instructor will go through the options of painting it at a later date or you can decide to go au-natural and have it clear glazed.

We sell cold drinks which are available to purchase but do not allow you to consume your own food and drink on our premises - with the exception of alcoholic drinks on our Sip and Paint and event nights.

Due to the nature of clay, problems can arise such as cracks and pieces becoming detached during the making, drying and firing process.  Instruction is given on how to minimise issues.  If, in the unfortunate event, something happens to your piece, we will do our best to fix it but please be aware it's not always possible.

We get asked this a lot and wish we had enough room for one but sadly we don’t at this present time.

At Crafty Monkey, you can create a wide variety of pottery items, including pots, planters, tea-light lanterns, mugs, trinket dishes and even decorative items like our very popular Highland Cow, pinch pot pumpkins or even boob pots. Each class may focus on a specific project or we run an Introduction to Pottery Class where you can choose what you would like to create. Be sure to check the details when booking. If you have been on one of our workshops or have prior pottery experience then you can book a self-led pottery session and make what you like – within reason!

Crafty Monkey Pottery Studio's opening hours can vary, especially during school holidays and around Christmas. For the most up-to-date information on opening hours, please visit our opening hours page or head to our booking page to book a session which will show you our availability.

Yes, we ask you book online in advance as we can get fully booked and we only offer some sessions at certain days or times of the day. You can however reschedule most sessions and you can book last minute just before you come. It's also important you book the right appointment for what you want to do. Se our online booking system.

We do not allow you to bring and consume your own food and drink on our premises - with the exception of alcoholic drinks on our Sip and Paint Pottery Nights, Event Nights, Hen Party and Adult Party bookings. Also you can bring a birthday cake if you have booked a Kids Party with us. ​

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!

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.

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.

There is no minimum age and we can do from age 0, however, we would recommend waiting a few weeks after baby is born.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Book a casting session at our studio located in St. Neots near Cambridge.

Gift Cards: Buy our gift cards online through our website. Simply select the desired amount, add it to your cart and proceed to check out. You can choose what date you want it emailed and we’ll send the gift card directly to yours or the recipients' email. ​ Gift Voucher: You can either visit us at Crafty Monkey Pottery Studio in St. Neots to purchase your gift vouchers in person where our friendly staff will be happy to assist you. Or you can purchase online and opt to pick up from the studio or have it posted to yours or the recipients home.

If you opt to have your gift voucher posted, we aim to post within two working days and post 2nd Class Royal Mail. During busy periods allow for extra time. ​ If you need sooner opt for an environmentally friendly eGift Card that can be emailed immediately.

To redeem your Crafty Monkey gift voucher or card simply book a session online and bring your voucher with you when you visit our studio. It's that easy! ​ To redeem e gift cards online just enter in the card number during check out. Unfortunately, you can't use the physical gift voucher at checkout so will need to email us your voucher number and what you would like to redeem it for.