Salt dough handprint crafts make a wonderful homemade gift idea for parents and grandparents. This salt dough craft also has a footprint in it, and is made in the shape of a heart! This salt dough heart craft makes a great keepsake craft and gift idea for Valentine’s day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Grandparents Day!
Related: Valentine Crafts and Gift Ideas Kids Can Make
Related: Four Season Handprint and Fingerprint Tree
How to Make a Salt Dough Handprint and Footprint Heart Keepsake Craft
We were inspired to make this adorable handprint and footprint heart keepsake craft by the super cute pumpkin craft by Parker’s Mommy that you can see HERE! When I saw how cute the pumpkins looked with both and handprint and footprint inside, I knew I had to try this salt dough craft in the shape of a heart!
Related: Watercolor SURPRISE Heart Art
Salt Dough Heart Craft Supplies
- Flour
- Salt
- Hot water
- Acrylic Paint
- Paint Brushes
- Mod Podge
- Old towel
- Your child’s hand and foot
Related: Shell Frames with Handprint Keepsake Gift
Handprint and Footprint Heart Kitchen Supplies
- Measuring Cups
- Mixing Bowl
- Mixing Spoon
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Cooling Rack
- Straw or Chopstick (optional)
Related: Thumbprint Heart Magnets
Salt Dough Recipe
The recipe below was enough to make the two large hearts like the ones pictured above with a little left over to make another small cookie cutter heart.
- 4 cups flour
- 2 cups salt
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups of water
Related: Heart Art Salt Painting
How to Make Salt Dough for Crafts
- Mix salt and flour in a mixing bowl.
- Slowly add hot water. (You may not need it all.)
- Mix flour and water together and knead until it is the consistency of play dough.
Related: Personalized Painted Heart Candle Holder
How to Make a Handprint and Footprint Salt Dough Heart Keepsake
Step 1 – Make Salt Dough
Use the salt dough recipe and the directions above to make salt dough.
Step 2 – Form Salt Dough Hearts
Place parchment paper on cookie sheet. Use the salt dough you made in step one to form 2 large hearts. Make them directly on top of the parchment paper and cookie sheet. (Kids love to help with this.)
Step 3 – Make Footprint in Salt Dough Heart Craft
Lay an old towel down on the floor and place the cookie sheet with hearts on it. Have your child sit on the towel on the floor facing the cookie sheet so you can help make the footprint in the salt dough heart. Dip your child’s foot and hand into the flour first in order to make sure that it doesn’t stick when you press it into the salt dough.
Step 4 – Make Handprint in Salt Dough Heart Keepsake
Use the opposite hand to make a handprint next to each salt dough footprint.
Step 5 – Create Hole to Hang Heart Shaped Salt Dough Handprint and Footprint Craft (Optional)
Use a straw or chopstick to create a single hole in the middle of the top of the heart in order to hang it.
Step 6 – Allow Salt Dough Footprint and Handprint Heart to Air Dry Overnight.
The thickness of this salt dough craft makes it take all day to cook unless you allow the salt dough heart to dry overnight before placing this handprint craft in the oven.
Step 7 – Bake Salt Dough Heart Craft
Bake at 200 F for about 2-3 hours in the oven. Take them out if you notice the salt dough heart start to brown. This handprint and footprint craft may need a bit longer than 3 hours to cook depending on size and thickness that you have mad the salt dough heart
Step 8 – Place heart keepsake on a cooling rack and allow to cool overnight.
Take the salt dough handprint and footprint craft out of the oven and allow it to sit overnight before painting it.
Step 9 – Paint Handprint and Footprint Heart Salt Dough Craft
Make sure the salt dough hearts are completely dry before painting this footprint and handprint craft.
- Paint the handprint and footprint keepsake any color you like. Kids love to help with this!
- Don’t forget to write your child name and date on the front or back along with any personal message or poem that you would like to include.
Related: Thumbprint Heart Necklaces
Salt Dough Handprint and Footprint Heart Craft Step by Step Photo Tutorial
Related: Slow Falling Heart Sensory Bottle
Handprint and Footprint Salt Dough Heart Craft
Handmade gifts are always a hit with friends and family. A handprint and footprint heart craft made out of salt dough makes a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Grandparents day!
Make a Fingerprint love bug card to go with your salt dough handprint and footprint heart gift. We have lots of card message ideas you can use to personalize your gift for almost any occation including Valentine’s day and Mother’s day.
You may also like this amazing collection of Valentine crafts and gift ideas kids can make… Just click on the link to see them all!
We hope you enjoy creating this salt dough heart craft for someone you love. For even more ideas have a look at this collection of Heart Art Project Ideas.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
If you Liked this Footprint and Handprint Craft, You may also like:
- Slow Falling Heart Sensory Bottle
- Thumbprint Heart Keychains
- Best Valentine’s Day Art Projects
- Thumbprint Crafts and Gift Ideas
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Nell has over 20 years of experience working with children and is the founder of Rhythms of Play. She believes in the wonder of childhood, the power of the imagination, learning through play, and getting outside in all seasons! Learn more…
elizabeth says
atwhat is the mod podge for?
nell says
atGood question Elizabeth. Mod Podge is a glue based sealer. Using it to seal and protect the salt dough heart with handprint or footprint is optional.