Making handprint art with a thumbprint heart is an easy kissing-hand craft and homemade gift idea that kids can help make for parents and grandparents. Art with kids’ handprints and thumbprints makes a great gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or a birthday. (First published April 29, 2019; this post is regularly updated and republished to improve the content.)
This handprint art craft project and gift idea will show you how to make handprint art on a wooden canvas, a paper plate, or colored cardstock. Handprint crafts like this handprint art with an optional thumbprint heart are a great gift idea for mom, dad, and grandparents for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, or a birthday. Or use this easy handprint art project as a fun back-to-school book activity for “The Kissing Hand” at home or in the classroom. Use the step-by-step instructions and video tutorial below to make these gorgeous handprint art crafts! You might also enjoy making framed handprint crafts.
Related: Best Fingerprint Art Ideas for Kids
Handprint Art Craft Supplies
- 8-inch wooden canvas, paper plate, or colored cardstock
- Liquid watercolor paints (optional; the instructions below share how to color a wooden canvas with it)
- Acrylic paint or tempera paint (acrylic paint is recommended if making handprint art on a wood board canvas)
- Flat wash paintbrush (optional)
- Varnish (optional)
Handprint Kissing-Hand Craft
Make art with kids’ handprints with this fun craft project tutorial. Handprint art crafts make a lovely homemade gift idea for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, or a birthday that kids can help make. This handprint craft can also be made as a back-to-school book activity for “The Kissing Hand” or “A Kissing Hand for Chester Racoon.”
Scroll down for the step-by-step instructions and video tutorial to make beautiful handprint art crafts on a wooden canvas like those shown in the photographs. Or use the same directions to make them on a paper plate or colored cardstock. Another great handprint craft idea kids can make is this Handprint and Fingerprint Art Tree.
Related: Salt Dough Heart with Handprint and Footprint
How to Make Handprint Art on Canvas or Paper with a Thumbprint Heart Stamp
First, read through the instructions and watch the video tutorial to make handprint art crafts before getting started so you know the steps involved and can make a more informed choice about the craft supplies you’d like to use. Then gather the handprint craft supplies from the options on the list above. You might also enjoy making a handprint ring bowl or thumbprint heart magnets.
1. Color the canvas (optional).
- Skip this step if you are using colored cardstock to make art with kids’ handprints. Colored cardstock comes in vibrant colors and is sturdy enough to make art with handprints.
- Use a flat wash paintbrush to paint a wooden canvas (or a paper plate) with liquid watercolor paint to color it, as shown in the video below.
- This step is optional; the wooden canvas or paper plate can also be left as is to make this handprint art craft.
- We used a small amount of red, brown, and turquoise-blue liquid watercolors diluted with a little water to make the three handprint crafts shown in the photographs.
Related: Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make
2. Make handprint art on Canvas or Paper.
- To make art using handprints, use a flat wash paintbrush to paint a child’s hand with acrylic or tempera paint. (We used white acrylic paint so that it would stand out on the colored wooden canvases, but you can use any color you like.)
- Next, invite the child to make a handprint in the middle of the wooden canvas, paper plate, or colored cardstock.
- Press the fingers and palms down onto the wooden canvas and quickly lift it up to make a nice handprint.
- Be sure to press each finger down and lift quickly instead of rolling the fingers. The handprint craft video tutorial below shows how best to complete this step.
Related: Thumbprint Heart Keychain Charms
3. Stamp a thumbprint heart in the middle of the handprint art. (Optional)
- This step is also optional. You can leave your children’s handprint art just as it is or add a cute little thumbprint heart in the middle of the palm.
- To do this: use a thumb dipped in paint to stamp a thumbprint heart or a fingertip dipped in paint to stamp a fingerprint heart on the palm of the handprint, as shown in the video tutorial and the photograph below.
- We used acrylic paint to create the gorgeous handprint art and thumbprint hearts shown in the photographs.
Related: Fingerprint Flower Necklaces
4. Seal and protect handprint craft (optional).
- Seal and protect your handprint craft with varnish.
- Skip this step if you make this craft with a paper plate or colored cardstock. (The varnish is only recommended if you use a wood canvas because watercolor paint can be easily damaged without it.)
- I don’t normally recommend a spray varnish, but it is necessary for this handprint craft. Because varnish applied with a foam brush or paintbrush can damage the handprint art.
5. Hang the handprint art craft or give it away as a gift.
- If you use a square wooden canvas to make this handprint craft, you can easily hang it on a push pin or a small nail from the sides or the corner, as shown in the photograph below!
Related: Shell Frames with Handprint Art
Handprint & Thumbprint Heart Keepsake Craft Video Tutorial
The video tutorial below shows how to make this simple homemade gift idea!
Related: Four Seasons Handprint & Fingerprint Art
Handprint Art Craft and Gift Idea Kids Make
Handprint keepsake crafts like this are a great gift for parents and grandparents. For more handmade gift ideas, pop over to have a look at this gorgeous collection of homemade gifts that kids can make.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
If You Like Handprint Gifts, You May Also Like
- Best Thumbprint Heart Crafts & Gift Ideas
- Four Seasons Handprint and Fingerprint Art
- Christmas Handprint Art Ideas
- Watercolor Suprise Heart Art
- Thumbprint Heart Magnets
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