Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Write the child's name and the year on every handprint craft. That's what turns it into a keepsake.
- Wiggly toddler? Try after a nap, have one adult hold the wrist while another presses the fingers, and keep a wipe ready.
- Paint is quickest, salt dough and air-dry clay last the longest, and felt is the safest for little hands.
- Choose paint labeled non-toxic and washable, and check the label's age range.
In this post30 sections
- How to Get a Good Handprint From a Wiggly Toddler
- Paint and Paper Handprint Christmas Crafts
- 1. Handprint Christmas tree
- 2. Handprint reindeer card
- 3. Handprint Santa
- 4. Handprint snowman family
- 5. Handprint wreath
- 6. Handprint angel
- Handprint Christmas Cards and Gift Wrap
- 7. A batch of handprint Christmas cards
- 8. Handprint wrapping paper
- 9. Fingerprint Christmas lights card
- Handprint Christmas Gifts for Grandparents
- 10. Handprint reindeer canvas
- 11. Family handprint Christmas tree canvas
- 12. Handprint tea towel
- 13. Once-a-year handprint page
- 14. Handprint and photo keepsake frame
- Salt Dough and Clay Handprint Christmas Ornaments
- 15. Salt dough handprint ornament
- 16. Salt dough thumbprint ornament
- 17. Air-dry clay handprint ornament
- 18. Clay handprint trinket dish
- Handprint Christmas Ornaments Without Clay
- 19. Clear ornament fingerprint lights
- 20. Cardstock handprint ornament with photo
- 21. Felt handprint mitten ornament
- Which Handprint Craft to Pick: Paint, Salt Dough, Clay or Felt
- Make It a Keepsake: Name, Year and Storage
- FAQ
How to Get a Good Handprint From a Wiggly Toddler
Most handprint craft posts skip this part. Toddlers curl their fingers, smear the paint and try to lick their palm. These tips make it much easier.
Wiggly toddler handprint tips
Paint and Paper Handprint Christmas Crafts
These need only washable paint, cardstock and a brush. They're the fastest way to get a print, and most work for kids from 1 to 8.
1Handprint Christmas tree
Paint the hand green and stamp rows of prints with the fingers pointing down: three on the bottom, two in the middle and one on top. Add a brown trunk and a yellow star. Older kids can add fingerprint ornaments.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: green and brown washable paint, white cardstock, foam brush, yellow paper.
- For one small hand, stamp the print three times while the paint is wet, adding paint between prints.
2Handprint reindeer card
Stamp a brown handprint upside down on a folded card. The palm is the reindeer and the spread fingers are the antlers. Add a red nose and a marker smile.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: brown washable paint, kraft or white cardstock, red paint or a red pom-pom, marker.
- Choking note: for kids under 3 or anyone who mouths things, paint a red fingerprint nose instead of gluing a pom-pom.
3Handprint Santa
Paint the fingers white and the palm peach, then press with the fingers pointing down. The fingers become Santa's beard. Paint a red hat across the top once it dries.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: white, peach and red washable paint, blue cardstock, brush.
- Two colors on one hand is tricky for toddlers. Paint quickly and press right away.
4Handprint snowman family
Stamp a white handprint on dark blue paper with the fingers spread. Once dry, turn each finger into a snowman with a black hat, an orange dot nose and buttons. Make one snowman per family member.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: white washable paint, dark blue cardstock, fine brush or paint pens.
- Toddlers make the print, and an adult or big sibling adds the tiny details.
5Handprint wreath
Stamp green handprints in a circle, overlapping a little, with the fingers pointing out. Add a red paper bow and red fingerprint berries. It's a great way to use every family member's hand.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: light and dark green washable paint, white cardstock, red paper.
- Trace a dinner plate in pencil first so the prints follow a neat circle.
6Handprint angel
Stamp two white handprints side by side with the fingers pointing out as wings. Glue a gold paper triangle between them as the dress, a paper circle head and a paper halo.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: white washable paint, light blue cardstock, gold paper, glue stick.
- Skip loose glitter. Gold paper gives the same shine without the cleanup.
Handprint Christmas Cards and Gift Wrap
Grandparents keep handprint Christmas cards for years. Make a batch in one sitting, since the paint is already out.
7A batch of handprint Christmas cards
Fold six or more cards and stamp one red or green handprint on each front. Once dry, an adult writes "Merry Christmas from" plus the child's name and the year inside.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: white cardstock, red and green washable paint, envelopes, fine marker.
- Toddlers tire after a few prints. Do three cards, take a break, then do three more.
8Handprint wrapping paper
Roll out brown kraft paper and let kids stamp red and green handprints all over it. Wrap gifts for grandparents in it with plain twine.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: high.
Supplies: kraft paper roll, red and green washable paint, paper plates, twine.
- Work on the floor with an old sheet underneath, and let it dry flat overnight.
9Fingerprint Christmas lights card
Draw a wavy black line across a card. Kids press colorful fingerprints along it as the bulbs, then an adult draws a tiny cap on each one. Great for kids who don't like paint on their whole hand.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock, black marker, washable ink pads or paint.
- Washable ink pads are the least messy option for one-finger prints.
Handprint Christmas Gifts for Grandparents
These take a bit more effort but make a gift grandparents will hang up every year. Write the name and year on every one.
10Handprint reindeer canvas
The reindeer from idea 2, but on a small canvas board. An adult paints the name and year underneath. Make one every Christmas and line them up.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: small canvas board, brown and red paint, fine brush.
- Check the paint label: some washable paints flake on canvas, so test a corner first.
11Family handprint Christmas tree canvas
Every family member adds a green handprint. The biggest hands go at the bottom and the smallest at the top, like a tree. Add a yellow star and everyone's name.
Ages: whole family.
Prep: 20 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: medium canvas, green and yellow paint, brushes.
- Start with the adult prints so the toddler's goes last, while it's still fun.
12Handprint tea towel
Stamp a handprint tree on a plain cotton tea towel with fabric paint, add fingerprint ornaments and write the year underneath. It's a gift grandma can use every day.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes, plus drying.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: plain cotton tea towel, fabric paint, cardboard to go underneath.
- Follow the fabric paint label for drying and heat setting. An adult does any ironing.
13Once-a-year handprint page
Start a page or a sketchbook with one handprint every Christmas, dated in pen. Over the years it shows how much your child has grown. Grandparents love a copy.
Ages: 0 to 8 and up.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: heavy paper or a sketchbook, washable paint, pen.
- Use the same color every year so the prints are easy to compare.
14Handprint and photo keepsake frame
Put a handprint on one half of a mat board and a photo from this Christmas on the other. Frame it with the name and year.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: a two-opening frame or a frame and mat board, paint, a printed photo.
- Let the print dry overnight before it goes under the glass.
Salt Dough and Clay Handprint Christmas Ornaments
Pressed prints last much longer than paint. They're also less messy, since nothing goes on the hand but a little flour or clay.
15Salt dough handprint ornament
Mix about two parts flour, one part salt and one part water into a stiff dough. Roll it out, cut a circle around a bowl, press the hand in and poke a hole with a straw. Bake low until hard, then paint it and add the year. Our salt dough ornaments guide has the full recipe, drying times and sealing steps.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 20 minutes, plus baking.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: flour, salt, water, rolling pin, bowl, straw, paint, ribbon.
- Safety: salt dough isn't food and the salt can poison dogs, so hang it high. A grown-up handles the oven.
16Salt dough thumbprint ornament
Short on dough or patience? Cut small circles and press in one thumbprint each, then paint them as tiny hearts, snowmen or lights. Wiggly toddlers can manage a thumbprint when a whole hand is too much.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes, plus baking.
Mess: low.
Supplies: salt dough, small round cutter, straw, paint.
- Safety: same as idea 15. Keep dough away from pets and adults do the baking.
17Air-dry clay handprint ornament
Roll air-dry clay into a smooth disc and press the hand in. No oven needed: it dries on its own in a day or two. Paint the inside of the print gold for a simple, pretty ornament.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes, plus drying.
Mess: low.
Supplies: air-dry clay, rolling pin, parchment paper, straw, paint, ribbon.
- Check the clay label's age range, and flip the disc once while it dries so it doesn't curl.
18Clay handprint trinket dish
Press the hand into a clay disc, cut around the print and curve the edges up over a small bowl to dry. Paint the inside and write the year on the rim. A sweet ring dish for grandma.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 20 minutes, plus drying.
Mess: low.
Supplies: air-dry clay, a small bowl to shape it on, butter knife (adult), paint.
- Keep it as a decor dish only. Air-dry clay isn't food safe.
Handprint Christmas Ornaments Without Clay
19Clear ornament fingerprint lights
Paint a wavy black line around a clear plastic ball ornament. Kids add fingerprint bulbs in red, yellow, green and blue. Write the name and year in paint marker.
Ages: 2 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: clear shatterproof plastic ornament, acrylic or enamel paint, paint marker.
- Use shatterproof plastic, never glass, and check the paint label's age range.
20Cardstock handprint ornament with photo
Stamp a handprint on sturdy cardstock, cut around it and glue a small photo on the back. Punch a hole and add ribbon. It's the quickest ornament on the list.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock, washable paint, scissors (adult), a small photo, hole punch, ribbon.
- Cover it with clear packing tape on both sides to make it last for years.
21Felt handprint mitten ornament
Trace your child's hand on red felt and cut it out. Glue a white felt cuff across the wrist so it looks like a mitten, then add a ribbon loop and the year in fabric marker. No paint at all.
Ages: 1 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: red and white felt, fabric scissors (adult), fabric glue, ribbon, fabric marker.
- Great for kids who hate paint. Tracing takes seconds.
Which Handprint Craft to Pick: Paint, Salt Dough, Clay or Felt
| Material | Time | Mess | How long it lasts | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washable paint on paper | 10 minutes | Medium | Years if kept flat and dry | Cards, trees, wreaths |
| Paint on canvas or fabric | 15 minutes plus drying | Medium | Many years | Gifts for grandparents |
| Salt dough | 20 minutes plus baking | Medium | Years if kept dry | Ornaments |
| Air-dry clay | 15 minutes plus a day or two drying | Low | Years if kept dry | Ornaments and dishes |
| Felt | 15 minutes | None | Many years | Kids who dislike paint |
Make It a Keepsake: Name, Year and Storage
A handprint with no date is just a cute picture. A handprint with a name and year is a keepsake. Write both on the front or back of every craft, in permanent marker or paint pen.
Keepsake checklist
Want more? See our preschool Christmas crafts for ages 3 to 5 and kids Christmas crafts by age. For a quick toddler day, try these Christmas activities for toddlers at home, and add a salt dough day to your Christmas countdown.
For more Christmas crafts and games, the Christmas Activity Pack below has printable coloring pages, bingo and a 24-day countdown for ages 3 to 8.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a handprint Christmas tree?
Paint your child's palm and fingers green and stamp rows of prints with the fingers pointing down: three on the bottom, two in the middle and one on top. Add a brown trunk, a yellow star and fingerprint ornaments.
How do you get a good handprint from a toddler?
Try after a nap, paint the palm with a foam brush, then have one adult hold the wrist while another presses each finger flat. Press straight down, lift straight up and use a wipe right away. Make a few prints and keep the best.
What is the best way to make a handprint ornament that lasts?
Salt dough and air-dry clay last for years if kept dry. Felt handprint ornaments last too and need no paint. Write the name and year on each one and store it wrapped in tissue paper.
What paint is safe for handprint crafts?
Choose paint labeled non-toxic and washable, and check the label's age range. Wash hands right after, and stay close so paint doesn't reach mouths.
What handprint crafts make good gifts for grandparents?
A handprint reindeer canvas, a family handprint tree canvas, a handprint tea towel, a salt dough ornament or a handprint and photo frame. Add the child's name and the year.
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