A few years ago one of our editors, Georgie thought it would be lovely to capture the kids’ handprints as her youngest had turned one and, although she had just been born the year before, this particular Christmas was a real family of five moment. This craft is a lovely way to get the kids involved in decorating the tree (without them insisting on hanging EVERYTHING on the bottom four branches of the tree!).
To make the ornament simply make some salt dough (you can find a recipe here) or buy some modelling air-dry clay (available here). Roll the dough out and have the kids press their hands into the clay. Cut out the hand shapes (and don’t forget to put a hole in the top to thread some ribbon – we used a straw) then leave to dry (this takes 24 hours if using the modelling clay or you put in a low oven to dry if using salt dough).
Next the painting! Acrylic paint is best (we used red and white and then mixed the two colours for Father Christmas’ face) and any final details can be put on with a Sharpie pen. The older children loved painting their creations (Georgie did Hettie’s – it is so small and adorable!).
And voila! Your Christmas ornament is complete and it makes a wonderful memory of just how little the kids were as the years pass. It also makes a lovely gift for a grandparent fro the children.
