Handprint Crafts Make Wonderful Christmas Gifts

Giving a gift in the shape of a child's handprints has so much sentimental value. Since handprint crafts are so simple to create, it is surprising that more people don't do these projects with their children and give them as gifts to family and friends. Here are two of my little nephew's favorite handprint crafts, the Christmas wreath and the reindeer.

While we make this craft during the Christmas season, it is also ideal for other times of the year. Simply change the colors you use. To make this simple project, you will need:

5 or 6 pieces of Red and Green construction paper or cardstock *
Scissors
Glue
6 inches of yarn
Pen or pencil

To make your wreath:
1. Trace your child’s handprints. Try to fit four prints on a sheet of paper and extend the tracing down an inch or two below the hand.
2. Cut out at least 12 handprints. You can use more prints to make a bigger wreath, but it is hard to make a complete circle with fewer prints.
3. Lay out the handprints in a circle so that they overlap each other slightly.
4. When you are satisfied with the design, glue the handprints in place.
5. Glue your yarn in a loop at the top of the wreath to form a hanger.
6. If you will be using the wreath on the front door, be sure to spray a coat of protective finish over it first. Otherwise, it will become damaged and discolored very quickly.

* For a longer lasting version of this project, cut the handprints from sheets of craft foam and hot glue them together.

The reindeer handprint craft is one of my favorites. Some people include a poem about their child's "Deer little hands and feet" on the back of the craft.
For this craft, you will need:

Brown felt
Tan felt
Googly eyes or buttons
Red pompom or jingle bell for nose
Six inches of red or green yarn.

Directions:
1. Lay out a piece of brown felt and trace around your child’s foot while your child is wearing a shoe. This will be the reindeer’s head.
2. Lay out a piece of tan felt and trace around each of your child’s hands.
3. Cut out your felt pieces.
4. Place the shoe print so that the heel faces down and the toe faces up.
5. Glue a hand print to either side of the shoe print at the top right and left edges to form the reindeer’s antlers.
6. Glue on the googly eyes and position the pompom at the bottom center of the shoe print to make a nose.
7. Form a U shape from the yarn and glue it to the top back of your reindeer’s hand to create a hanger.
8. Don’t forget to add your child’s name and age to the back of the reindeer hand print.
 

-Katelyn Thomas