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, Grandparents Day, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day.
Handprint art crafts make a great gift idea for mom, dad, and grandparents for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day. This easy handprint craft can also be made as a book activity for “The Kissing Hand.” Use cardstock, a paper plate, or, a wood canvas to create gorgeous art with handprints!
Related: Four Seasons Handprint and Fingerprint Art
Related: Best Fingerprint Art Ideas for Kids
Handprint Art Craft Supplies
- 8in X 8in wooden board canvas, paper plate, or colored cardstock
- Liquid watercolors (optional)
- Acrylic paint or tempera paint (Acrylic paint is recommended for the wood canvas, tempera can be used on paper plates and cardstock)
- Flat wash paintbrush
- Varnish (optional)
Handprint Kissing Hand Craft
These handprint art crafts make a lovely homemade gift idea for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day. 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.”
One of our favorite back-to-school books is called “The Kissing Hand.” If you enjoy this story as much as we do… You will love this “kissing hand” craft for kids!
During the last 20 years, parents and teachers have passed along the secret of the Kissing Hand to children facing first days of kindergarten, first grade, and other separations. Now younger children can get in on Mama Raccoon’s secret and find comfort in A Kissing Hand for Chester Raccoon, a board-book adaptation of the original picture book. Chester could feel his mother’s kiss leap straight into his heart. “With a Kissing Hand,” said Chester’s mom, “We’ll never be apart.” “Just press your hand upon your cheek and feel that loving glow. It’s Mommy saying, ‘I love you,’ wherever you may go.” (source)
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How to Make Handprint Art with Thumbprint Heart
Step 1 – Paint Wooden Canvas, Paper Plate, or Use Colored Cardstock
Use liquid watercolor paint and a flat wash paintbrush to paint a wooden canvas, paper plate, or, use a piece of colored cardstock! If you choose to use liquid watercolors, allow the watercolor paint to dry before continuing on to the next step.
We used a small amount of red, brown, and turquoise-blue liquid watercolors diluted with a little bit of water for this handprint craft.
Alternatively, you can skip this step and use a piece of colored cardstock to make art with kids’ handprints. Colored cardstock will give you vibrant colors to choose from, and is sturdy enough to make art using handprints that can be given as a keepsake gift.
Related: Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make
Step 2 – Make Handprint Art
Use acrylic paint or tempera paint to make art using handprints. Use a flat wash paintbrush to paint the child’s hand, and then invite the child to make a handprint in the middle of the wooden canvas, paper plate, or colored cardstock.
Gently press each finger and the palm of the hand down onto the wooden canvas to make a nice handprint. Make sure you press each finger down as opposed to rolling the fingers. The handprint craft video tutorial below shows how best to complete this step.
If you are using the square wooden canvases they are made to easily hang on a push pin or a small nail from the sides, or, from the corner!
Related: Thumbprint Heart Keychain Charms
Step 3 – Stamp Thumbprint Heart (Optional)
Use a thumb to stamp a thumbprint heart, or, use a fingertip to stamp a fingerprint heart on the palm of the handprint. We used acrylic paint to create the gorgeous handprint art and thumbprint hearts that you see pictured.
This step is also optional. You can choose to leave your children’s handprint art just as it is. If you would like to make a thumbprint heart the video tutorial shows how to complete this step.
Related: Fingerprint Flower Necklaces
Step 4 – Seal and Protect Handprint Craft (optional)
Seal and protect your handprint craft with varnish. You can skip this step if you use a paper plate or colored cardstock. The varnish is only recommended if you use a wood canvas. The watercolor paint used to color the wood for this handprint keepsake can be easily damaged without it.
I don’t normally recommend a spray varnish, but it is necessary for this handprint craft. Varnish applied with a foam brush or paintbrush can damage the handprint art.
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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 make a great gift idea 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!
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