Child’s no-bake clay handprint gift
A clay handprint impression from a preschooler is always a welcome gift for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day or any other occasion. This recipe is enough to make about three handprints.
What You Need: 3/4 cup salt, 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon alum powder, mixing supplies, paint, paintbrush, pointy object (paper clip, toothpick, etc.) to write name and date.
How You Make It: Mix dry ingredients in bowl, add water gradually and knead dough. Form into ball, flatten to about 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick and even out edges using your hands or a plastic knife. Child presses hand, with fingers apart, into clay. Adult can etch name and date with pointy object, or paint it on later. Let dry (at least overnight) and paint.
“We tried it” tip: We tried baking this clay, but after an hour at 300 degrees it was still soft on the bottom. It hardened up after a few days. Also, if the dough crumbles, add a little more water.
Additional resource: For more ideas for making things with baby or child footprints and handprints, including poems and quotes, visit www.babyfootprints.info.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Where do you find alum powder?? I can’t find it anywhere??
February 26th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Alum, also sold as aluminum sulfate or granulated alum, is also used in pickling so it might be in the canning aisle, or check health food-type stores. However, that’s a hassle: Many people substitute cream of tartar in play dough with great results.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
alum can be found in the baking section or the spices section at most grocery stores
October 16th, 2008 at 4:19 am
do you mix the paint in the actual dough or can the kids paint it later on?
October 16th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Kids should paint onto the dough after it has dried. If you’d like colored dough, mix in food coloring rather than paint. Have fun!