The Best Ways to Capture a Kid's Handprint

What better way to memorialize your child̵7;s growth than by capturing his handprint. You can use handprint crafts for gifts, ornaments, decorations and keepsakes. Since you want your child̵7;s handprint craft to stay intact throughout the years, you need to use some tried and true methods and mediums.

  1. Plaster

    • Capturing your child̵7;s handprint in plaster makes a functional paperweight, stepping stone, plaque or ornament. You can purchase plaster of Paris from your local craft store and mix it according to the package instructions. A helpful trick is to use a disposable cake pan for the mold, which helps you easily release the plaster when dry. It also keeps you from having to contaminate your bakeware. After your child presses her hand into the plaster, embellish the stone with gems, tiles and beads. If you are going to use the plaster as an ornament, poke a hole in the plaster with a skewer when wet -- leave the skewer in for 10 to 15 minutes to let the plaster dry a bit before removing it.

    Canvas

    • You can create meaningful art pieces using canvas for your handprint craft. Use non-toxic paint to paint your child̵7;s hand and make sure he presses firmly to transfer the print to the canvas. You can experiment with different scenes on the canvas by painting a tree and using your child̵7;s handprint as the leaves or making a circle with the handprints.

    Salt Dough

    • Salt dough is a good medium to use for ornaments. You can make salt dough by using one part salt, one part flour and 1/2 part water. When combined, the dough will resemble cookie dough and you can roll the dough into the shape of your choice before your press your child̵7;s hand into the dough. Poke a hole in the top of the ornament and air dry for several days or in a 200-degree oven for one to two hours. When dry, you can paint the ornament or add sparkle using loose glitter and decoupage paste.

    Ink

    • As a parent, you likely treasure the tiny prints of your child̵7;s hands or feet from the hospital. You can recreate the same image using non-toxic ink and paper. To get a good print, place the paper on a hard surface or piece of cardboard first. For great memories, purchase a journal and add a handprint each year on your child̵7;s birthday so you can see how much she has grown over the years.

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