Thumbprint Heart Necklace DIY Jewelry-Making Tutorial

A homemade thumbprint or fingerprint heart necklace is a unique, personalized craft and gift idea that kids or adults can make for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, Christmas, a birthday, a wedding anniversary, or a memorial.

Use this easy fingerprint jewelry-making tutorial to make multi-colored thumbprint heart necklaces and personalized DIY fingerprint pendants or charms. Heart charms, crafted from an individual’s thumbprint or fingerprint, are a simple symbol of love and connection. Friends and family will treasure these sweet homemade keepsake crafts and gifts, which kids or adults can make and string on a simple cord, hang on a hand-beaded necklace, or wear on a gorgeous chain.

Use the step-by-step beginning jewelry-making tutorial below to make heart necklaces for family, friends, and the other special people in your life. I promise that your Mom, Grandma, BFF, sweetheart, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, great-aunt, Godmother, or favorite teacher will love it! I sure love mine, and each of my family members loves the heart necklaces my daughter made for them. You can see the heartfelt gifts she made for family and friends in the photos below. You might also enjoy making these other creative thumbprint heart magnet crafts.

Fingerprint Heart Necklace DIY Jewelry-Making Tutorial:

Personalized thumbprint heart necklaces, pendants, and charms offer a unique way to preserve loved ones’ fingerprints. This makes them cherished keepsakes for the important people in our lives. They make a great personalized gift idea for Moms, Dads, Grandparents, lovers, and significant others. Fingerprint heart necklaces also make treasured gifts for siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, best friends, teammates, classmates, or a favorite teacher.

Thumbprint pendants and charms are unique, custom, one-of-a-kind gifts for family, friends, and loved ones, perfect for all sorts of significant occasions. String them onto a necklace to create a thumbprint heart necklace with this step-by-step heart necklace jewelry tutorial below, or put them on keychains to make personalized pendants and charms for keys and backpacks.

Scroll down to read the step-by-step instructions and watch the DIY thumbprint heart necklace video tutorial. This helpful, step-by-step beginning jewelry-making tutorial makes it easy to create DIY necklaces with colorful fingerprint hearts. Alternatively, use the pendants to make thumbprint heart keychain charms instead.

First published May 3, 2018; this DIY heart necklace charm post is regularly updated to improve the content. Fingerprint art necklaces with finger stamps made into cute animals and other custom designs are another similar, quick, and easy keepsake craft idea for loved ones and friends.

Benefits of Making Personalized Thumbprint Heart Necklace DIY Pendants and Charms and Their Many Uses:

Personalized, handmade heart crafts like these are perfect for commemorating special occasions and other milestones. This makes them excellent DIY gifts for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Christmas, a wedding anniversary, a birthday, graduation, or to say “I love you” any time of year. You might also enjoy this list of thumbprint heart crafts with several other DIY projects you can make with your fingers and thumbs.

For adults, these unique personalized treasures, with children’s fingerprints in the shape of a heart, can symbolize the bonds we share with close friends and beloved family members. Each keepsake heart craft serves as a heartfelt reminder of your children, partner, spouse, and other cherished relatives and family members, such as a mother-in-law or a cherished family friend.

For children, these simple heart crafts can serve as comforting symbols of parental love, especially during significant life transitions, such as starting school or spending the night away from home. These heartfelt crafts can also be a sweet token of affection for classmates and friends. My daughter made necklaces, keychains, and backpack charms for her classmates for Valentine’s Day one year, and everyone loved them.

A thumbprint heart necklace DIY gift can also serve as a memorial token for loved ones who have passed away, offering a tangible connection to our closest friends and relatives. I will always cherish the fingerprint heart memorial gift I have of my father’s thumbprint. Thumbprint heart charms are also fun keepsake crafts for kids to make at summer camp to bring home for their parents and friends. You might also enjoy making this Slow Falling Hearts Sensory Bottle. It also makes a great homemade Valentine’s Day gift!

How to Make a Fingerprint or Thumbprint Necklace Craft:

Before starting this fingerprint craft, please watch the video tutorial and read the step-by-step instructions for the thumbprint heart pendant. This will make it easier to choose the types of chains and pendants you want to purchase, and allow you to wear your thumbprint heart charms as necklaces. For example, you can use DIY jewelry-making supplies to make necklaces with pre-made cord or chain-link options. Alternatively, you can learn how to bead a necklace by hand to hang handmade heart pendants from.

Once you understand the basic process, gather the fingerprint or thumbprint heart jewelry-making supplies you prefer from the recommended supply options below the video tutorial. Finally, invite the whole family or classroom to the table to make homemade thumbprint heart necklaces with the step-by-step how-to directions and thumbprint heart video tutorial below the jewelry craft supply list.

You might also enjoy making fingerprint art necklaces with fun fingerprint shapes and designs in addition to these heart pendants. Both kids and adults can make and decorate these simple crafts together. This makes it easy to craft multiple gifts for different people. Or make keychains with the same pendants and charms for necklaces. Click the links for the DIY details. Another fun idea is to create a Handprint Jewelry Dish to hold your heart necklaces, rings, and other jewelry.

Fingerprint or Thumbprint Heart Necklace DIY Step-by-Step Video Tutorial:

The video below shows step-by-step instructions for making fingerprint necklaces and thumbprint heart keychains. Alternatively, use the same types of DIY jewelry pendants to make fingerprint art necklaces, photo necklaces, fingerprint flower necklaces, or keychains.

DIY Thumbprint Heart Necklace Jewelry Making Supplies:

Before making thumbprint heart necklaces, choose the photo pendant charm shapes and pre-made chains you want to use from the recommended jewelry-making supplies and thumbprint heart craft materials below. Or make DIY thumbprint heart keychain pendants and charms with the same craft supplies!

• Heavy cardstock (bright white is best).
• Fingerprint ink pads or acrylic paint.
• Scissors.
• Choose at least one of the following:
  • Mod Podge (or another white PVA glue that dries clear).
  • Diamond Glaze Adhesive.
  • B6000 Adhesive
  • B7000 Jewelry Glue (recommended).
• A damp cloth or a water wipe for wiping away excess glue or adhesive.
• Pendant trays with glass cabochon jewelry-making craft supplies (choose at least one of the following options):
  • Oval photo pendant trays with oval glass cabochons.
    • Or try THIS SET of oval jewelry pendants; it includes 10 oval glass cabochons, bezel-tray pendants, and chains.
  • Square picture pendant charms and square glass cabochons.
• Pre-made necklaces for pendants. Choose at least one of the options from the list below (or make a hand-beaded necklace and put a DIY heart charm on it):
  • Sterling silver snake chain necklace (fits all pendant shapes).
  • Silver-plated snake chain necklaces (fits all pendant shapes).
  • Imitation-leather cord necklaces (fit all pendant shapes).
  • Multi-colored satin silk necklaces (This necklace fits through the oval pendant hanging loop, but not the square pendants).

Related: Gorgeous Handmade Gifts Even Kids Can Make

Fingerprint Heart Necklace DIY Step-By-Step Jewelry Making Tutorial:

Learn how to make colorful keepsake necklace crafts with the step-by-step thumbprint heart necklace DIY jewelry-making instructions below. Please read the directions before making these adorable fingerprint heart charms and necklaces. There are a few ways you can put these heart pendants together. Choose your favorite method before starting this easy jewelry-making project for kids and adults. You might also enjoy making a Mother-Daughter Necklace Set. (Or use the step-by-step instructions to create a necklace set for you, your BFF, or your sweetheart.)

1. Gather heart necklace DIY jewelry-making materials:

• Several pendants and charms are available to make these simple heart charms.
• Gather the materials you want to make fingerprint heart necklaces from the list of recommended jewelry-making supplies above.

2. Prepare the surface to make fingerprints and thumbprints:

• Use heavyweight paper to make thumbprints or fingerprints in the shape of hearts on a flat surface or workspace.
  • Bright white cardstock works best.
    • Most other types of paper are not thick enough to withstand the process of making fingerprint art jewelry pendants.
    • The glue or adhesive can blur the fingerprint hearts.
      • If the paper is not thick enough, the thinner paper can become translucent after the glue is applied in steps four and six.
• Optional: Precut cardstock in the shape of the pendants before starting. (Alternatively, you can cut the excess paper from the glass stone in step six of this fingerprint jewelry-making project.)
  • If you choose to cut the cardstock first, trace the glass cabochons and cut them out before making thumbprint hearts on the paper.

3. Make fingerprint or thumbprint hearts:

Create fingerprints or thumbprints to make a heart for a necklace pendant. Use the easy step-by-step instructions below to make fingerprint or thumbprint hearts for each pendant or charm:

How to make a fingerprint or thumbprint heart:

• Press a finger or thumb into a finger ink pad (or brush it with acrylic paint), as shown in the video tutorial below.
  • Use a lot of ink or a small amount of paint on your finger, pinky, or thumb.
  • Too much paint will make the surface of the heart art prints uneven, and it won’t fit nicely inside the jewelry pendant.
• Press the finger or thumb with ink or paint down onto the heavyweight paper.
• (Optional) Press your finger or thumb into the ink pad, or reapply more paint if needed.
• Tilt your finger or thumb diagonally from the first print, and press down on the paper again to make a fingerprint or thumbprint heart.
  • Tilting the finger or thumb at a slight angle will produce the two upper lobes and the rounded bottom of the fingerprint heart shown in the photographs for this craft tutorial.
• Please allow the paint or fingerprint ink to dry before moving on, or it can smear in the next step.

4. (Optional) Use a permanent marker or gel pen to draw a face or other designs onto the fingerprint heart art:

• My daughter used a black permanent marker to draw faces on some of the thumbprint heart keychains and necklaces she made for her friends.
• You can also use a gel pen to decorate fingerprint art, as my daughter did, to make gorgeous fingerprint butterfly pendants, included in the original fingerprint art necklace tutorial.
• Please leave the fingerprint heart prints plain if you don’t want them to have faces, names, dates, locations, song titles, or other designs.

5. Glue the glass cabochon to the fingerprint heart art:

• Place a drop of Mod Podge (or another clear-drying white PVA glue), diamond glaze adhesive, or B7000 jewelry glue on the back of the glass cabochon (flat side).
  • Don’t use too much glue. A little goes a long way.
  • Update: After making these pendants several times with different glues and adhesives, I recommend using B7000 jewelry glue, ideal for glass and metal, or the slightly thicker and faster-setting B6000 adhesive.
  • I don’t recommend using hot glue to make jewelry pendants because it doesn’t adhere well over time, and the pendant will likely break apart.
  • The other recommended glues and adhesives in the jewelry-making supplies also work. My next favorite is the Diamond Glaze Adhesive.
• If you use an inkpad to make heart prints, be mindful not to use too much glue or glaze adhesive, as this can smear the thumbprint artwork.
• Place the jewelry cabochon on top of the fingerprint heart (glue side down) and press firmly to remove any air bubbles.
• Allow the glue or adhesive time to dry. Overnight is best, but it can be rushed.

6. Cut away any remaining paper if needed:

• Use a small pair of scissors to trim and cut away any excess paper around the glass cabochon.
• This step might not be necessary if you precut the paper into the shape of the cabocons in step two above.

7. Glue a glass cabochon (with a thumbprint heart attached) into each jewelry pendant tray:

• Apply jewelry adhesive or glue to the inside of a pendant tray.
  • Again, be mindful not to use too much ink, as it can smear the thumbprint heart art or make the heart prints look cloudy.
• Place the glass gem with a thumbprint heart into the pendant tray, then press down firmly again to remove any air bubbles.
• Hold the glass cabochon down firmly for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Wipe the edges of the thumbprint heart charm clean with a slightly damp cloth or water wipe, taking care not to get water in between the glass dome and the pendant tray.
• Allow the fingerprint necklace pendant to dry completely, following the manufacturer’s instructions for the glue or adhesive.

8. String each fingerprint or thumbprint heart pendant onto a necklace, chain, or cord:

• Thread a necklace through the loop of the thumbprint heart pendant to finish your fingerprint heart necklace.
• Hand-bead a necklace or use one of the pre-made necklace options below:
  • Sterling silver snake chain necklace (fits all pendant shapes)
  • Silver-plated snake chain necklaces (fit all pendant shapes)
  • Imitation leather cord necklaces (fit all pendant shapes)
  • Multi-colored satin silk necklaces (fit into oval pendants but not square pendants)
• If you choose to make a homemade necklace, please ensure that you string the thumbprint heart pendant onto it when it is halfway finished. Otherwise, the homemade fingerprint charm may not fit over the beads to hang down in the middle.

Personalized Heart Necklaces:

DIY Thumbprint heart necklaces, keychains, and magnets make easy gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, or an anniversary. They are also a fun, keepsake heart craft to make at summer camp and a lovely memorial gift when a loved one passes away. Alternatively, you can make fingerprint art necklaces or keychains using the same jewelry-making supplies.

Related: Personalized Heart Candle Holder Gift Idea

The Symbolism of a Heart Necklace

Wearing a heart necklace typically symbolizes love, deep affection, and emotional connections in significant relationships. Heart charms can also serve as a personal, tangible reminder of a cherished person, memory, or sentiment. It often represents romantic commitment, deep friendship, emotional family bonds, or self-love. A heart necklace may also be worn to symbolize devotion, protection, or honoring a loved one.

Use this easy fingerprint heart jewelry-making tutorial to make one-of-a-kind fingerprint necklace pendants to show your beloved family and friends how much you care. These heart-shaped gifts are tokens of love and affection that your loved ones will surely treasure. A thumbprint heart pendant or charm is an excellent keepsake craft and gift idea for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, an anniversary, or a memorial. They also make wonderful homemade favor crafts for weddings and birthday parties.

Beyond their emotional significance, these thumbprint heart accessories add a unique and personal touch to any outfit, blending sentimentality with style. Whether worn daily or on special occasions, they keep loved ones close at all times. You might also enjoy this list of other gorgeous keepsake crafts and gifts kids can make.

How did the heart-shape ❤️ we know today become the symbol for love and affection?

There are several theories about how the heart-shaped icon, or heart emoji ❤️, became the symbol of love and affection. Learn more about the evolution of the heart, and why we draw (or stamp in this case) hearts the way we do, in this informative YouTube Video by CBC Kids News about the history of the heart icon.

Fingerprint Heart Necklace DIY Gift Idea Kids or Adults Can Make:

DIY photo necklaces and keychains are a few other lovely, handmade gift ideas that kids or adults can make for their loved ones, including that special someone. If you are making thumbprint heart necklaces to give as gifts, I recommend making “Thumb-Buggy Loves you” fingerprint love bug cards shown in the photo below to go with them. These simple DIY cards, made with a thumbprint heart, are a perfect complement to a thumbprint heart necklace.

Please learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this original craft HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!

DIY “Thumb-Buggy” Fingerprint Love Bug Card:

Make fingerprint love bug cards with your necklaces if you plan to give them as gifts. You can see one of the fingerprint love bugs (with a thumbprint heart head) that my daughter made in the photograph below. Isn’t it adorable?! We have several thumb-buggy card message ideas that you can use in addition to “Thumb-Buggy Loves You” shown in the photograph below to personalize your gift for several holidays and other festive occasions, including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or an anniversary! You can even make them into thank-you cards!

Easy Keepsake Crafts and Homemade Gift Ideas:

Be sure to pop over to check out these other beautiful thumbprint heart gift ideas kids can make. Alternatively, visit this list of DIY and ready-made gift ideas for the whole family. Simple keepsakes, such as fingerprint and thumbprint crafts and gifts, are always a favorite with friends and family. Look at this list of thumbprint heart crafts and gift ideas for even more homemade keepsake gift ideas.

Heart Art and Craft Ideas:

For more heart arts and crafts, look at these fun heart art projects and painting ideas. Several of the suggested heart art crafts, painting ideas, and projects in the round-up of activities would also make great gifts for loved ones or someone special. Alternatively, make a salt dough heart keepsake with a Handprint and Footprint.

More Fingerprint and Thumbprint Craft Ideas:

• Fingerprint Art Magnets 
• Thumbprint heart magnets 
• Fingerprint Art Necklaces 
• DIY Fingerprint Art Keychains and Backpack Charms 
• Fingerprint Flower Necklaces or Keychains
• Easy Fingerprint Lights Christmas Cards
• Best Fingerprint Art Ideas for Kids
• Cute Fingerprint Snowman
• Christmas Wreath Fingerprint Art
• Four Season Handprint and Fingerprint Tree Art

If you liked Thumbprint Heart Necklaces, you might also enjoy:

• Heart Art Projects (and Cute Heart Crafts, Too!)
• DIY Keepsake Gifts for Him or Her
• Beautiful Handmade Gifts Kids Make
• Ultimate Family Gift Guide