Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions are my own.
I love preserving handprints and footprints. I use them for almost everything. Something about how fleeting they are. You blink and they are grown. I feel that way when I look at my little (A). I just had to sign him up for (GULP) kindergarten!!! I also, love salt dough. It’s true, I have used it a million times, and it’s a great cheap medium for preserving those little miracles. Why else? When little (E) puts it in her mouth (and of course she did) I don’t have to freak out because of something being in it. It’s just flour, salt and water…
Last year I made Valentines out of their feet in the shape of a heart. Then for St. Pats I made Clovers out of their hands. This year of course had to be a little different.
Let’s review how I do it.
- 1 cup of fine grain salt
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of lukewarm water
- Cookie Sheets
- Stepping stone imprint letters, numbers and shapes
- Oven at 250 for about 4 hours.
We chose an appropriate shape for this month’s design (I say month because let’s face it, I will probably do this again soon). As we were SUPPOSED to get the storm of the century we decided to do mittens, with their hands inside of them.
I let the kids mix as long as they can. Once they are sufficiently bored with that part I mix it completely.
I then give each of them a piece for them to play with until I need their hand print.
I free hand the design for the ornament. Last year I cut them out with shapes, but I didn’t love the sharp edges.
They are both pros at making impressions with their hands and feet at this point so it is quick and easy. I help (A) push in the numbers for the year, and then make little holes for the ribbon to go through when we are done.
Bake them for roughly 4 hours on 250 (I make mine thick, and want them completely dry).
Once cool, we paint them. You don’t have to, but that’s fun for them, and fun to look at as decorations for me.
I let the kids choose their own colors. It’s nice for them to participate so much now that they are older.
Let them dry and then put around the edges in sharpie the things that they love right now. This was a nice exercise in brainstorming, as (A) came up with things that each of them really liked.
Then surprise a loved one with a little cute present. I always make one for us and one or two to pass on to grandparents, aunts etc. I used to try to make for everyone, but that was SOOO much work. Now we make two extra and the kids get to decide who gets them. Here are the finished products!!
