Free Preschool Crafts » handprint crafts

Sunflower hands craft

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:24:47 +0000

Sunflower hands

Capture the size of your preschooler’s little hands with this fun sunflower craft that’s quick to make at home or in school, with just a few basic supplies. It’s a great summer day camp activity, too.

What You Need: Yellow construction paper; pencil; glue; sunflower seeds; black pipe cleaner; brown pipe cleaner; scissors; stapler.

How to Make It: Trace child’s hand 8 to 10 times on yellow construction paper, using pencil. Have child cut out the hand shapes (littler kids will need help). Arrange the hands upside down (so the pencil marks don’t show), overlapping in a circle, and glue, tape or staple together. Staple straight brown pipe cleaner to back of sunflower. Cut black pipe cleaner in half and bend into circle. Staple to center of flower. Use glue to add sunflower seeds to center.

Handprint sheep craft

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:55:41 +0000

Handprint lamb

For Easter, a farm unit or anytime, try these handprint (traced hand) sheep. One version (that’s Mom’s big ‘ol hand on the left) uses cotton balls for the fleece while the other (there’s Alec’s cute little hand) uses popcorn.

What You Need: Black construction paper; glue; white crayon; googly eye (optional); pencil; scissors.

How to Make It: Trace around hand and cut out. Position so fingers face down (these are the legs and the thumb is the lamb head). Use glue to cover “palm” with cotton balls or popcorn. Use white crayon to draw in eye and mouth, or use googly eye.

Handprint turkey with feathers

admin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:47:42 +0000

Here’s a twist on the classic handprint Thanksgiving turkey craft. If you’re wondering why the hand in the example is so big, it’s because 3-year-old Alec didn’t feel like getting paint on his hands so Mom used her own, which gives us a chance to remind you to, as always, “enjoy the process,” because the most important thing at craft time is that preschoolers are having fun.

What You Need: Brown washable tempera paint; glue; feathers; googly eye; scrap of red and yellow cardstock or construction paper; full sheet of light-colored construction paper.
How You Make It: Paint hand using brown paint and press onto paper. Once dry, use glue to add feathers to finger areas. Glue on googly eye. Cut out wattle shape or use a heart-shaped paper punch to make one from red paper and glue on. Cut rectangle legs from yellow construction paper and glue on.

Spider bracelet made by tracing hand

admin — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:32:42 +0000

These spiders can be made as bracelets or rings. Preschoolers love wiggling them around. It’s even more fun because it’s made by tracing the child’s own hand!
What You Need: black construction paper; 2 googly eyes; office brad; white crayon; scrap of white paper; glue; scissors; stapler.

How You Make It: Fold construction paper in half. Have child place hand at fold, about halfway down the palm. Using white crayon, trace fingers (but not the thumb). Unfold and cut out. Use pencil or crayon to roll “legs” so they curl under a bit. Cut strip of black construction paper 1 inch wide and about 1″ longer than the child’s wrist. Staple ends together. Use brad to attach wrist loop to spider’s body. Glue on eyes and little triangles cut from white paper for fangs.

Child’s no-bake clay handprint gift

admin — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:38:21 +0000

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 (alum is a preservative; only use it if you want the dough to last a long time AND you know your kids won’t eat the dough), 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.