Inclusion Jewellery FAQs
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Sending Your Inclusions & The Creative Process
Our packs will contain everything you need to post your inclusions through to our studio, we endeavour to send your pack between 3-7 working days from receiving your order. In your dry inclusion pack you will receive a small plastic inclusion bag, labelled with your name and order number with a small wooden spoon to help in selecting your dry inclusions. These will arrive in a small postal cardboard box which you should open carefully as you can reuse this to post your inclusions back to us. We also include a copy of your order and an additional information sheet to note any details we may need. We ask that you use this sheet to let us know about the person or pets whos ashes are being encapsulated. We treat your ashes with respect, and light a candle as we create. We usually have a little chat and can also play special music if requested. You can also use this sheet to let us know any details about your special inclusions, feel free to tell us about your breastfeeding journey, or tell us more about the inclusions we are working with. All this information helps our creative process.
If you have selected 'Not Known' for your ring size your pack will also contain a ring sizer which we ask to be returned. Your pack can be returned using the small self adhesive label included.Once we receive your inclusions we will notify you via email.
If you are sending your inclusions without a pack then please place a small amount (see below for more details on amounts) into a suitable container and label these clearly with your name and order number. Don't forget to let us know your ring size if necessary. You can send them as a large letter or signed for due to your own personal preference.
If you have ordered a breastmilk piece please place around an ounce of either fresh or frozen milk into a labelled and sealable breastmilk storage bag, place this inside another and please use a padded envelope to post your milk through to us.
Our address is Cumbria Life Casting, 6 Eden Street, Silloth, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 4AD
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Requesting an Inclusion Pack
Packs are sent out automatically once you place your order. Please select the 'Yes' option if you would like us to send out a suitable inclusion pack. If you have ordered an inclusion piece for ashes, or other dry inclusions we will send everything you need to send a small amount of those inclusions through to our studio. Please allow between 3-7 working days for this to arrive with you. If you select the 'Yes' option and have ordered a breast milk piece we will send out some milk storage bags in your pack.
If you select the 'No' option then please package your inclusions accordingly and we will let you know via email when they have arrived safely at the studio. This is usually the quicker option as you do not have to wait for us to post out your pack.
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How long does it take to receive my piece?
Pieces are usually finished and returned to you around 8 weeks from receiving your inclusions. This may be longer for custom pieces or during particularly busy times. Once we've received your inclusions your order then enters a queue system, and although we will always do our best to reassure you your order is in our queue system we cannot give specific updates as to when it will be finished within our lead time as this is subject to much change. We will have your piece ready as soon as physically possible and will not rush any process as this can be detrimental to our entire system.
If you require your piece for a specific date please ensure you let us know. We will always try to accommodate important sentimental deadlines.
We will send you an email to let you know we have your inclusions safely with us. Please check your junk or spam folder if you have not received one.
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How much of the inclusions do you need?
Locks of Hair: Hair can be any length, around 1-2 toothpicks wide. If the hair is very fine and separates easily you can bind it together with hair spray, gel or Vaseline and then place into the inclusion bag.
Breastmilk: The minimum amount to send is 10ml (approximately a tablespoon) but around an ounce is what we generally require. Please place the milk into a sealable breastmilk bag, and place that bag into another clearly labelled. Place both bags inside a padded envelope to post through to the studio. The milk can be from your old frozen stash or fresh. Once we’ve received the milk it then goes through a three-step preservation process and when it is fully preserved it is then added to the resin along with any other inclusions to be turned into your beautiful piece of jewellery.
Ashes: Please place a small amount (around a tea-spoon) into the small inclusion bag. This will be more than enough to make 5-6 pieces of jewellery. Any ashes that are not used in the jewellery making process will be returned to you. If you do not want the ashes to be visible within the piece, please ensure you let us know. Ashes are as individual as the people or pets were when they were with us, some ashes are very fine and dark, others are very colourful, this is what makes these pieces so unique and special but please bear in mind that your piece may not look exactly the same as any other item we have made.
Flowers: Flowers or petals must be dried and pressed, Please put them in between some piece of kitchen roll or tissue paper and in a separate envelope to keep them flat.
Teeth: We can use any kind of tooth, from baby, puppy and even horse teeth. The tooth is broken down to put into your jewellery piece, but we do have some designs where the tooth can be kept whole if this is preferred.
Fabric Only a very small strip of fabric is needed, no more than 1x1. Please don’t send the entire item. Place the small strip into the inclusion bag.
Pregnancy strips: Please remove the strip from its plastic casing and pop it into the inclusion bag. Only the section of the strip showing the result will be used.
Pet Fur: Fur can be any length, and from any animal. If it is particularly light and fine it may not be as visible as fur that is much darker and coarser, so please bear this in mind when choosing your colours.
Umbilical Stump: Please place approximately a 1cm piece of dried umbilical cord in the inclusion bag.
Soil/Earth/Sand: Please send approximately a teaspoon in the small inclusion bag.
If you are sending your inclusions back to us via Royal Mail you may be asked what you are sending for security purposes, it is usually easiest to let them know you are sending jewellery making inclusions rather than being specific.
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Amendments to your order.
If you change your mind on colour, size or any other details please let us know as soon as possible.
If your delivery address changes please send an email to us with your name and order number to
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Will I be able to see the inclusions?
We layer the inclusions so the ashes are as visible as possible against a background of colour. Ashes show well with most colour options. Ashes are remarkably individual, some are fine and dark, others are coarser and lighter. If a person was heavily tattooed that can also change the colour of the ashes, please bear this in mind when ordering your inclusion piece as it may affect the finished result.
If you would not like to see the ashes, but just have the comfort of knowing they are in your jewellery please ensure you let us know when placing your order by adding an additional note.
The visibilty of hair or fur depends on a variety of factors including the colour of the hair/fur, it's density, the amount of melanin left in the hair and the background colour choice. We will always try to make the lock as visible as possible and advise what will work best.
If you have enough hair or fur and want a colour test button made to check for visibility please get in touch to organise this.
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I'm unsure on which colour options I can have?
You can have your piece in any colour or combination of colours you would like.
If you are commissioning a breast milk piece to be made we have a separate image with these sparkle options titled 'breast milk sparkle options only'. Please select your sparkle options from this image.
If you are unsure which options to choose, please get in touch and we will make up a free colour button for you. This is a small dot of resin with your chosen colours/sparkle/leaf. Just pop a message through to arrange this.
If you have a specific colour in mind which you can't see as an option, please get in touch as we can often oblige. We love making custom pieces!!
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Can I have my piece engraved?
We can certainly organise certain pieces to be engraved with a special message or name if you require this service. There will be an additional charge of £30 for this, please get in touch as this will need to be added on to your purchase separately.
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I don't know my ring size?
If you don't know your ring size please select the option 'Not Known' and a free ring sizer will be posted out with your pack, or separately if you do not require a pack.
These come with clear instructions for use, and we request that these are returned to us as they are re-usable and there's a tiny bit less plastic waste.
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Do you accept Payment Plans?