Although a bouquet of flowers for mom or a fun tie for dad can be a lovely gift for Mother’s or Father’s Day, why not create a gift from the heart that mom or dad will treasure forever? This craft works with children of just about any age, however this keepsake memory craft is especially precious during those younger years.
Method 1 of 2: Design Hand Art and Obtain Supplies
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Consider how you want to represent your hand art. While you could create the artwork on a piece of paper, you could also apply the idea to a piece of ceramics or a garment (t-shirt or tote bag).
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Decide how you will design the art. You want to create a painted handprint of the parent with the tiny handprint of the child in the middle. Determine if you will use your significant other’s handprint or whether you’ll just use yours. Also, if you have more than one child, how can you position all the handprints so that the tiny hands fit inside the larger hand?
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Base your supplies on how you plan to approach the project. For example, if you want to create the hand art on paper, tempura paint and heavy paper will be sufficient. However, if you are going to cover fabric or ceramic, you’ll need the appropriate object (i.e. tote bag or ceramic plate) and paint that is appropriate for the materials. For example, enamel paint works well on ceramic pieces whereas acrylic or even specified fabric paints work best on textiles.
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Purchase a different color paint for each handprint. In order for each handprint to represent, you will need each person to choose a color for his or her hand.
- Pick up enough paint brushes for each hand so you aren’t constantly cleaning them in between colors.
- Procure paint thinner or any other substance that will remove paint easily. However, soap and water will most likely do the trick especially if you clean hands immediately.
- Buy a paint pen in order to write the children(s) names and the date on the artwork.
- Pick up enough paint brushes for each hand so you aren’t constantly cleaning them in between colors.
Method 2 of 2: Create Hand Art with Children/Child
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Prepare an area for painting. Clear a flat surface and cover with either a drop cloth or newspaper.
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Clean participant’s hand and dry well. You want the clearest handprint you can obtain.
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Pour the adult hand color into a small dish and then paint one adult hand.Cover the entire hand with paint-don’t be stingy!
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Press the adult hand down on the object (paper, textile, ceramic, etc.) and hold. Don’t wiggle or move the hand once it’s pressed against the surface.
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Remove hand and then allow the print to completely dry. Depending on the climate and humidity dry times vary from a few hours to overnight.
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Paint child’s hand and apply it to palm area of the adult’s handprint. Guide the child’s hand on the surface to avoid smudging.
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Remove hand and allow the paint to dry. If you are only doing one child’s handprint you can move onto writing the child’s name and date on the piece. If not, allow the hand to fully dry and then apply the next child’s hand to the artwork.
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Write a Mother’s or Father’s Day greeting using your paint pen on the artwork.
- Add the child’s name, age and date.
- Consider allowing the child to write his or her name on the piece, especially if he or she is young.
- Add the child’s name, age and date.
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Finished.
Tips
- Provide the recipient with instructions if the piece can be washed or used.
- Pet parents can do this craft too by adding the animal’s paw print to the piece.
- Always use non-toxic paint when working with children or animals.
