Invite your children to use their fingertips and thumbs to make Fingerprint Art Glass Magnets. Thumbprint art glass magnets are an easy craft for kids. DIY glass magnets with fingerprint art also make a simple homemade gift idea kids can make for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthdays and Christmas.
Related: Beautiful Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make
Related: Four Season Handprint and Fingerprint Tree
Fingerprint Art Glass Magnet Supplies
Gather the following simple supplies to make thumbprint and fingerprint art glass magnets, or make fingerprint art necklaces!
- Paper (heavyweight printer or drawing – bright white is best)
- Fine tip permanent marker (black)
- Finger ink pads
- Clear glass gems and more clear glass cabochons (UPDATE: These large 1 1/2 – 2 inch glass gems can sometimes be found at the dollar store but they are often smaller and not clear. They are also called flat back marbles, table scatter, cabochons, or floral stones and can be found at most craft stores and at some florists.)
- Scissors
- Clear drying glue
- Magnets
Related: The Best Art Supplies for Kids and Why Young Artists Should Use Them
Related: Hand Painted Candle Holder Gift Ideas
3 Easy Fingerprint and Thumbprint Art Ideas for Glass Magnets
First, invite children to create fingerprint art and thumbprint art using any of the ideas below.
Next, have the kids turn their fingerprint art into magnets using the step by step tutorial in the next section.
For even more fun, make fingerprint art necklaces and keychains too!
1. Fingerprint Art and Thumbprint Art Books for Kids
There are so many fun ways to create art with fingertips and thumbs to make magnets, necklaces, and keychains!
My daughter and I have had a wonderful time together trying the ideas in the books below and making fingerprint and thumbprint art using these finger ink pads and a black permanent marker with a fine tip.
We particularly enjoyed Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book. It contains two of his most popular fingerprint art and thumbprint art books combined into one awesome fingerprint art book for kids.
My daughter also loved the Fingerprint Princesses and Fairies book. Have the kids find inspiration to create their own fingerprint art using the ideas in the books below.
Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing BookFingerprint Princesses and Fairies: and 100 Other Magical Creatures – Amazing Art for Hands-on Fun (Fingerprint Art)
Fingerprint Monsters and Dragons: and 100 Other Adventurous Creatures (Fingerprint Art)
Fingerprint & Draw: On the Farm: Draw & paint more than 30 cool fingerprint and thumbprint masterpieces (Drawing with your Fingers)
Fingerprint Drawing: Art Fun at Your Fingertips!
Klutz Fingerprint Fabulous Book Kit
Fingerprint Fun: Pictures to Complete with Painty Fingertips
Elera 20 Colors Rainbow Craft Finger Ink pads for Rubber Stamps Card Making
2. Thumbprint Heart Glass Magnets
Have children use their thumbs to make hearts to make thumbprint heart glass magnets. Another idea is to make easy thumbprint heart necklaces or thumbprint heart keychains! Click on the links for the step by step tutorials.
Related: Easy DIY Photo Necklaces and Photo Keychain Ornaments
2. Fingerprint Flower Glass Magnets
Invite the kids to create flowers using their fingertips to make fingerprint flower marble magnets. Another idea is to make fingerprint flower necklaces or keychains. Click on the links for the directions to make these simple keepsake crafts.
Related: Handprint Jewelry Dish Kids Can Make
Fingerprint Art DIY Glass Magnets Video Tutorial
Step by step written directions for DIY glass magnets can be found below the video tutorial.
Related: Painted Candle Holders Gifts Kids Can Make
Fingerprint Art Glass Magnets Step By Step Tutorial
Step 1 – Invite Children to Make Fingerprint Art and Thumbprint Art
Invite the kids to use their fingertips and thumbs to make fingerprint art and thumbprint art that can be used to make a magnet, necklace, or keychain! Use any of the easy fingerprint art ideas listed above.
Step 2 – Glue the Fingerprint art and Thumbprint Art to the Glass Gem
- Place a drop of Mod Podge on the back (flat side) of the glass gem and place it on the fingerprint art as shown in the video above.
- Allow the glue to dry overnight.
Step 3 – Cut Away the Remaining Paper Around the Glass Gem
- Use a pair of small scissors to trim and cut away paper around the glass gem. It doesn’t need to be perfect.
- If any paper lifts away from the glass gem you can glue it down in the next step.
Step 4 – Glue the Magnet to the Glass Gem with the Fingerprint Art or Thumbprint Art
- Use a foam brush to paint clear drying glue on top of the paper on the back of the glass gem. Go over the edges of the paper to make sure it is completely glued down.
- Place a magnet into the glue and allow fingerprint art glass gem magnets to dry overnight.
Related: Tons of Fun Arts and Crafts for Kids
Thumbprint Art Glass Magnets Gift Idea Kids Can Make
Fingerprint art magnets and necklaces make an easy gift idea that even kids can make! Thumbprint art glass magnets and thumbprint heart crafts are an easy homemade gift idea that Mom, dad and the grandparents LOVE!
You may also like this amazing collection of fingerprint art ideas for kids, and homemade gift ideas kids can make.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE.
If you Liked Fingerprint Art Magnets, You May Also Like:
- Four Season Handprint and Fingerprint Tree
- Books That Teach Kids Important Life Lessons
- Fingerprint Art Necklaces
- DIY Photo Keychains
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I can’t find where to buy the glass gems. They are no longer available on your link to amazon
Okay, thanks, Rachel. I will try to find a new link but they are selling out fast because this post is so popular! They can sometimes be found at the dollar store and can be purchased at most craft stores. They are called glass gems, flat back marbles, table scatter, or floral stones.
I updated the link but you are right Rachel, they are selling out fast! I don’t know how long the new link I have provided will have stock left–act fast!
Dollar Tree has them
Walmart carries them or Hobby Lobby.
Where did you purchase the clear gem glass? This is an adorable.
Hi Elizabeth! There is a link to purchase the glass gems otherwise known as flat back marbles in the supplies section above! You can also find them at the dollar store if you are lucky… but usually, they are smaller and not clear. They can also be found at craft stores and at some florists. They are also called table scatter or floral stones. I hope that helps!
What kind of paper was used to put thumbprints on?
Good question, Rose!
Bright white heavyweight printer paper drawing paper or cardstock works great. Just make sure the ink dries before you glue the glass gem to the fingerprint art.
Hola buenas tardes disculpa en donde podría comprar las burbujas de plástico o como se piden gracias están muy bonitas
I’m sorry Mary, I do not understand what you have writen. Could you write it in English?
Step 2 is confusing. It states to glue a magnet on top of the thumbprint art, is that right? I thought we glued the glass gem on top. Can you please explain ?
I’m sorry Peggy! I just read it over and your right, it was totally confusing and shouldn’t have even been written in that step. I have edited it to fix it. I hope it makes more sense now. Please let me know if you are still confused. 🙂
Hi,
I am an English teacher at KSTU and i live in Kazakhstan. Where can i get glass magnets?
Thank you for your post anyway!!!
Is it safe to use ink pads on kids fingers? Age 2 and 5 yrs. Want to make sure before I do it. Thank you, I love this project!!!
Yes, Judy! They are non-toxic and designed for little fingers and thumbs!
Hi Samal!
They are available at some dollar stores and most craft stores. Good luck!
I am working on making examples for my K art class and I am running into a problem. When I put a drop of clear glue on the bottom of the glass tile and then place the thumbprint art on it, the artwork sticks. However, the artwork looks smudgy/blotchy when I look at it through the glass (and I should add that the glass is unblemished). How do you prevent the dot of clear glue from messing up the kids’ thumbprint artwork?
Hi Anna!
Great questions. We have learned a few things that might help.
First, we have found that waiting until the ink is dry to the touch is a must or it will smudge when the glue is placed on top.
Second, we have only used and tested Mod Podge and are unsure about which other glues will and won’t work.
Third, a small drop goes a long way. Press it down firmly to spread the glue and remove air bubbles. Too much glue can cause it to smear!
Fourth, use a heavyweight bright white paper for best results. Thin paper can cause the ink to bleed.
Last, even when you follow all of these tips they will look a bit smeared and unclear until the glue (Mod Podge) dries.
I hope that helps!!