Making Handprint Ornaments

In my family giving handmade gifts to grandparents and aunts & uncles is a really big deal. From as early as I can remember, I would spend the weeks months leading up to Christmas making handmade gifts. Every year my mom and I would brainstorm different gifts I could make for my extended family and every year it was something different. One year it was sponge painted napkins, then fabric wreaths, felt Christmas trees (which I actually saw on my parent’s tree this year) and then pine cones center pieces and yarn coasters. To this day, I think my mom brings out every single handmade Christmas gift I have ever given her. The time I spent making those gifts and watching family members open them were some of my most cherished Holiday memories. Now that I am an adult, I’m looking forward to carrying on that tradition with Miss E!

At just 21 months, it’s often hard to find a craft that Miss E will sit through so I knew I needed something with minimal work and mess. One of my favorite places to shop for gift ideas is Pottery Barn Kids. They always have something for everyone, including fun activities for the kiddos. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love PB? They always have a broad selection of quality gift and keepsake items for gift giving and receiving for any and every special occasion year round.

I just fell in love with these hand print ornaments at Pottery Barn Kids. I have always wanted to do something like this with Miss E and I thought this would be the perfect year (we tried hand print ornaments with paint last year and it was a total disaster!).

 

The kit can be purchased at Pottery Barn Kids and only costs about $12.99 which is a really great deal. I made 2 hand print ornaments and 2 other ornaments with one kit!

The kit includes everything you need to make the ornaments, the clay, ornament cutters, a mini rolling pin, ribbon and hole punch. It also has a little sheet of directions that were really helpful.

We started by rolling out the clay with the little rolling pin. Miss E helped during our practice rounds and the rolling pin was just her size. Don’t you love those dainty little hands?! She melts my heart.

When we were ready for the real deal, I kneaded the dough to get the bubbles out and then used the rolling pin to flatten the dough.While the mini rolling-pin is cute, I did have to use my kitchen one to really flatten the dough. But on the bright side, the dough was pre-made and you didn’t have to add anything to it was SO easy and clean.

Once I rolled the dough out, I used the round cutter to cut the circle shape and then peel away the excess dough. Then it was show time for Miss E. We placed her tiny hands inside the circle and pressed them gently into the mold. Perfection. So easy and we made so many memories in the process. She loved it.

Lastly, I poked the little holes in the top of the hand prints to string a ribbon through.

Here are my final ornaments! I waited about 24 hours for them to dry and then looped the ribbon through the hole.

I always hate to waste left over materials, so with the excess dough I made two small white wreaths by twisting the dough together. I think they are so simple and so sweet.

In the end, I as able to make one large print, one small print and two small white wreaths!

And they just look so cute hanging on the tree! Good thing red & white is my theme this year :)

This hand print kit would make a great baby gift and keepsake, makes every baby shower, christening , baptism, birthday, or any occasion for that matter, all the more special. I know Grandparents will love them!

Do you do handmade ornaments or gifts each year? What are you making for 2012?

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own  http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE.