BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

This Artist's Bedazzled Belly Casts Are Beautiful Bump Keepsakes

Because who doesn’t want a decorated bump you can cherish forever?
save article
profile picture of Stephanie Grassullo
By Stephanie Grassullo, Contributing Writer
Published November 15, 2018

Pregnancy is a special moment in a woman’s life. And no matter how eager you may be for baby to arrive, it’s bittersweet when your journey as one comes to an end.

Luckily, you can get yourself a blinged out, bedazzled mosaic belly cast to capture your beautiful bump. Artist Wendy Buijs van Burg is a master when it comes to this craft. She makes the special keepsakes for others using plaster, colored glass and Swarovski crystals.

But it wasn’t always her day job. After a life-changing illness, the Netherlands artist decided to put some things in perspective.

“My own pregnancy inspired me to make the first mosaic belly cast. I liked the creative process and I also learned, after surviving cancer in 2013, that the body is your most precious possession. That’s why I like to honour it with personal art,” she tells The Bump.

In fact, years later and she still keeps her body cast near and dear to her.

“My own belly cast has a special spot upstairs. It’s a very precious memory for me and I still cherish it every day,” she says. “The colors of my own belly cast are quite modest—white, silver and caramel in a fade out pattern. This is a combination I won’t get tired of!”

And the belly casts aren’t just for the expectant mom. Tons of Buijs van Burg’s clients have incorporated their partners into the molds.

“[The partner’s] hand gets involved in the cast, and I decorate it with smaller pieces of mosaic or in a realistic body-casting sculpture," she explains.

For the artist, it’s a true labor of love. The mosaic casts typically take about 30 hours to complete, and some special designs can take up to 42 hours. In the end, she’s honored to provide her clients with such a sweet, “tangible memory of how their bodies look during this special period in their lives.”

From books to stuffed bears, click here for even more baby keepsake ideas.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Advertisement
illustrated graphic of first year milestones with baby
How to Prep for Baby’s First Year—As Told by Real Parents
By Anna Davies
pregnant woman preparing for baby to arrive in baby's nursery room
Beyond the Nursery: an Out-of-the-Box Nesting Checklist for Moms-to-Be
Fact Checked by G. O’Hara
mother visiting newborn baby in the NICU
How to Prepare in Advance for a Potential NICU Stay–Just in Case
By Melissa Braun
ADVERTISEMENT
happy mom and dad walking in neighborhood with baby and dog
These Are the Top 10 Best States to Have a Baby in 2024
By Wyndi Kappes
Jenna Dewan baby nursery with Crate & Kids
Jenna Dewan Shares Her Best Pregnancy Advice and 4 Nursery Must-Haves
By Wyndi Kappes
optimistic pregnant woman sitting in chair at home
16 Common Pregnancy Myths, Busted by Experts
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
woman writing and looking at laptop while sitting at table at home
Your To-Do Checklist for TTC, Pregnancy and Beyond
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
toddler boy playing on playground
These Cities Have the Best Playgrounds in America, Report Says
By Wyndi Kappes
couple holding positive pregnancy test in bathroom at home
I Got a Positive Pregnancy Test—Now What?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
Pregnancy Books-hero
The Best Pregnancy Books to Answer Your Next 9+ Months of Questions
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
mother holding newborn baby in nursery after recently giving birth
Why a Postpartum Plan Is Just as Important as a Birth Plan
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
smiling father holding newborn baby
10 Weird (but Totally Normal) Things About Your Newborn
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
Grandma happily interacting with her baby grandson, holding his arms up while he laughs.
10 Ways New Grandparents Can Start Off on the Right Foot
By Lexi Dwyer
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman and her dog at home
Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant couple sitting in their kitchen looking at ultrasound photos
Expectant Parents Want to Know: What Will My Baby Look Like?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
bodily pregnancy kits
Bodily Launches Pregnancy Kits Packed With Advice and Essentials
By Wyndi Kappes
dad and baby at home
These Are the Top 10 Best States to Have a Baby in 2023
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman reading a book on the couch at home
Myth Busters: Bad Pregnancy Advice (and What's Really True)
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
12-Best-Pregnancy-Journals-to-Document-Your-Journey-Hero
12 Best Pregnancy Journals to Document Your Journey
By Christin Perry
Tanya Ebony nesting party
Viral Post Highlights Why a Nesting Party Is the Celebration Parents Need
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.