First Step™ Kit FAQ

What is First Step™?

First Step™ is the fun, do-it-yourself activity for making a stunning glass keepsake of your little one’s hand or foot! Say goodbye to inky hands and clay that cracks over time and hello to a 3D copy where you can feel all those precious details!

How did you come up with First Step™?

At Hot Sand, we’ve been doing our signature Walk-In Glassblowing Activity—the QuickCast—for countless families over the last 10 years. We wanted to make the opportunity for a lasting glass impression available to people from all over the USA and so we developed First Step™. Now you can have the experience of having a glass print made for you right from the comfort of your own home!

Where can I get First Step™?

You can purchase your First Step™ Kit in our online shop by clicking here and we’ll ship it right to your doorstep.

We also have First Step™ Kits available in our brick and mortar shop, Hot Sand in Asbury Park, NJ! Click here for directions!

I don’t want hot glass in my house! How do I use First Step™?

No problem! With First Step™, we want you to get all the fun of a having a Hot Shop right in your home, without the 2100°F furnace! All you have to do is make a snowball with our included modeling material, squish the snowball, get a handprint or footprint, let it dry for 48 hours, and send the impression back to us using the prepaid envelope included with your kit! It’s SO easy peasy, even a child can do it!

How do I get my print impression back to you?

It could not be any easier! Included in your kit is a prepaidenvelope. Just put your impression in the tin along with your information card and seal the envelope by peeling the sticker from the adhesive. Close it securely and drop if off at your nearest USPS branch or give it to your USPS mail person. That’s it! Your print impression will make its way back to us in 1-3 days and as soon as we get it back, we can get to making the mold that we fill with molten glass. Then, your First Step™ glass print is ready to be sent back to you!

I messed up my print! What do I do?

That’s ok! You can retake the impression as many times as you want! All you need to do is make another snowball with the material and make another impression. Keep doing it until you are happy with the image you created, because just like magic, we’re going to get you a perfect copy of the print you send back to us.

I lost the instruction sheet in the kit! Can I view the instructions somewhere on your website?

Of course! Click here for our Instructions page where you will find a how-to video and a step-by-step digital version of that lost insert sheet.

My print impression does not fit back in the tin, what do I do? 

No problem. All you need to do is make a snowball again and take another impression. Make sure you use the disc size guide on the bottom of the tin so your disc will fit back inside the tin. If you’re maxing out the size of the disc because of a larger print, just pack the sides in a bit without disturbing the impression. Let it dry and send it back to us in the tin.

My print has cracks around the edges now that it’s dry. Is that normal?

Cracks around the edges of your print are totally normal. The material has water in it and as it dries, small cracks can appear around the edges of the impression. This is normal and in no way will affect your casting. In fact, it’s expected.

What’s the deal with the information card? What do I do with that?

Great question! Your First Step information card is super important. When we get your impression back in the studio, that information card lets us know just where to send the final First Step™ glass print. If you made the First Step™ for you, just put your home address you want us to send the final glass print. If you are creating a First Step™ print for a unique gift, then write the address of the gift recipient you would like us to send the final piece to on the information card.

I forgot to include my information card when I shipped my impression back to you!

We can fix that. Email us at studio@HotSandAP.com and let us know the issue and the address from which you sent your First Step™ impression. Upon receipt of your package, one of our team members will create a new card using the information you provided to us in the email.

I have a gluten allergy. Does the kit contain gluten?

Fear not. First Step™ contains no gluten and is a vegan product.

Can my child eat the modeling material?

We would not recommend it. Although First Step™ uses a totally non-toxic impression material that possesses no acute safety risks, we suggest sticking to the usual snacks that your child knows and loves.

I want to send First Step™ as a gift. Can I do that? 

You sure can! We suggest letting us send it to the recipient if possible. The price of the First Step™ Kit includes all 3 shipping transits and you’ll have to add a fourth transit yourself if we ship it to you. If you want to take on the extra shipping route, that’s fine by us. The one thing we need from you in that case is a note upon purchase, letting us know from where the recipient will be shipping. With that info, we’ll generate the appropriate prepaid shipping label to get it here safe and sound from your friend. We’ll send the First Step™ Kit to you and you can send it to your loved one who can enjoy all the fun of First Step™ right from their home!

I see a few bubbles in my First Step™ glass print. Why is that?

In the process of casting glass, small air bubbles are part of the process. These inclusions are totally expected and a facet of handmade glass objects that makes them unique!

I want 2 copies of my First Step™ print. How do I do that?

To receive 2 copies of your First Step™ glass print, just select the option for 2 prints when you are placing your order on the product page.

Can I have my foam impression back? I’d really like to keep it.

The foam impression is consumed in the manufacturing process. We recommend you take a picture of it for memories before mailing it to us. 

I don't live inside the United States. Do you ship First Step™ Kits outside of the United States? 

Unfortunately we are not offering shipping outside of the United states at the moment.

I’d like to offer this kit in my shop.

Please contact us at studio@HotSandAP.com for more information regarding First Step™ Kits for resale.

Is First Step™ the best do-it-yourself kit for making a lasting glass impression of my child’s hand or foot and will it make my life immeasurably better?

Undoubtedly.