With Christmas approaching, yesterday the kids and I decided to give a handprint Christmas tree a whirl.
I love the idea of crafts with hand or footprints involved, as I see it as a way to preserve a moment in time, a memento to keep. I toyed with doing footprints initially, but the logistics of that seemed a lot trickier and messier than handprints, so the hands won out!
Thinking it through, I decided to get the children to do lots of handprints on paper for me, so that we could then choose the best ones and cut them out for the tree. This was fun and easy for them to do, as they didn’t have to think about positioning their hands or making every one perfect.
Once the prints were dry, we set about creating our tree.
We used a red piece of A2 card and first cut out a little black bucket from card as the tree’s base.
We then layered the prints on top of one another, from 5 at the bottom, working our way up the five tiers to just 1 print at the top. I put them all into position first to test it out, then grabbed the glue to stick them all down, with Boo’s help. Boo then wanted to add a star to the top, so we simply cut that out of yellow card and popped it on. It was then the part that they’d been excitedly waiting for all day (the paint took a surprisingly long time to dry!), time to decorate the tree. We went for yellow pipe-cleaner tinsel and multi-coloured pompom baubles. You could also do fingerprint baubles.
It was easy and fun to do, and I think it looks really effective. It’ll be a sweet keepsake to bring out every Christmas.
What do you think?
I love all the hand and footprint activities. The reindeer handprints, that we printed on fabric one year, come out each Christmas and the children always measure their hands against them. Your tree looks wonderful.
That sounds lovely, such a sweet keepsake. Thank you very much.
Wonderful idea! I’ve added this to my ever growing Christmas craft board on Pinterest! x
Thanks very much, it was fun! x
What a wonderful and sweet project. I still have ‘feet Rudolf’s’ and similar items from my girls, such as puzzle pieces painted and used as picture frames, tiny thumb print snowmen, popsicle sticks covered in sequins and wrapped peppermints as photo frames, from so many years ago that still get added each year to our tree. They have all been wrapped and stored for years as my girls are now 13, 18, and 21. There is really nothing quite like the memories that come with those each year as I add them to our tree or hang them on our wall. You will definitely cherish these creations and smile, perhaps even tear up a bit as they become grown up and their tiny hands evoke memories that make you wonder how that time flew by so quickly. Thank you for sharing your family’s keepsake creation and the special thoughts and feelings that come with creating those future memories.
Ah, thanks for your lovely comment. I know I’ll tear up in years to come, I don’t doubt it! Lovely to have things like this to keep, isn’t it?
Thank you! Pretty easy to do, too, so even better! x
I love this idea, and my girls would love doing it – anything messy and they are up for it! X
It is fun and not as messy as I thought it would be! x
Aww this is amazing. Must give this a go with the kids xx
It’s so easy and I love it! x
What a great idea!! love that you used pipe cleaners for the tinsel #LetKidsBekids
Thanks very much!
Your tree looks fantastic. We did this a couple of years ago and the children loved it. I like your pipe cleaners for tinsel, great idea.
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
Thank you. It was fun for them and I think it’ll be sweet to look back on.
A wonderful Christmassy craft, lots of fun! #LetkidsbeKids
They loved it!
What a simple and great way to involve kids in a Christmas craft 🙂 it’s cute that you use their handprints too! I can see my mummy wanting to do this with me this year! #letkidsbekids x
Yes, do it! Have fun 🙂
Such a lovely idea and I like your approach, keeping all aspects fun and not worrying about making sure the handprints are perfect etc. I love hand and foot prints for the memory side of things too as it really does capture a moment in time xx
I know if I was trying to get the prints perfect none of us would have enjoyed it! Thanks x
Thanks so much for sharing with the parenting pin it party. This looks awesome. Cheers, Helen
Thank you!
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