Baby Handprint & Pup Pawprint Impression Ornament
One of the things I’ve most been looking forward to about having kids is getting crafty with them. While there’s not a whole lot in the way of crafts that a two-month-old can do, there is something he can lend a hand—literally—with, and that’s a hand (or foot) impression ornament!
Baby Hand Impression Ornament Kit
I’ve been looking for “baby’s first Christmas” ornaments for months now, and there are just so many options, I couldn’t decide on one. That was when I decided to make a custom one myself! My sister and I used to play with Sculpey clay when we’re growing up, and I was happy to find that they had a handprint ornament kit I could use from Michael’s. They give you all the materials you need, including ribbon, although I switched mine out for some baby blue ribbon from a recent gift my baby received. All you have to do is roll the clay out into a circular template, punch a hole for ribbon, place your handprint, make any inscriptions you want, and then bake for 30 minutes. I kept mine plain white for a simple classic look, but you could also add paint or glitter for a little colorful touch.
I made one for my mom too, and would say either the kit itself or an ornament you make from it would also make a great last minute Christmas gift idea! It doesn’t have to be a baby’s or kid’s handprint either. It can be their footprint too, or a dog’s pawprint. I made one with our baby’s footprint and our pup Tracy Rene’s pawprint too. I love how they turned out and can’t wait to hang them on the tree for years to come. In fact, I may just keep them out all year round!
Tips for a Best First Impression
A few tip to keep in mind: The kit says to wash hands/paws before making the print, but if you aren’t as successful at that as you’d like, you can always paint over it with white paint or a color. Tracy had just gone outside on a rainy day, so I touched up her pawprint with white paint after baking.
Also, I know it can be hard to aim a tiny hand or paw, but don’t worry too much about placement. As long as there is room for holes at the top, the impression can be a little off-center and the inscription can fill in the empty space. Overall, remember it’s handmade, and a little imperfection can make it all the more personal.