Disclosure:  This is an unsponsored post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I love to craft.  I am obsessed with handprint, fingerprint, and footprint art.  I guess I feel like they grow so fast, there has to be a way to preserve the memories of the small hands and feet while you can.  Its personalized, and fun for the kids as well.  These crafts always make grandparents smile, and are an amazing reminder for me year after year.  

This Thanksgiving we did two crafts.  the first was a napkin holder that I had gotten from Home Depot two kits a few years back.  I didn’t make them at the time because I knew I wanted to wait.  I didn’t use the enclosed sticker, instead I painted the holder white (or rather (A) did) and then we did turkeys on both sides, one side is (A)’s hand and the other is (E)’s.  Sorry no photos of (E) as she needs to be supervised due to her age and I haven’t learned how to take photos and also make sure there aren’t turkeys on my wall yet ;o)

Here is the blank kit.

It took several coats of white paint to cover nicely.  Its just typical craft paint nothing special. 

Handprints applied.

(A) assembles the holders (a great way for him to learn how to use a screwdriver).

 Our beautiful finished turkey napkin holders.

Our next project was a set of platters.  We decided to make turkey platters to give as gifts for Thanksgiving this year.

First we went to Homegoods and purchased two platters.  You see in the picture a plate and mug which we will use for one of our Christmas Crafts later this year.

Our supplies in cart.

Once home we cleaned the platters thoroughly and then I went over then with rubbing alcohol.  (A) and I then searched Thanksgiving crafts to find a design that we liked.

I lost the design battle and (A) chose one that I thought was too close to the napkin holders, but was still adorable, so we went with it.

To do the painting and drawing I used the following (not endorsed in any way, I just like these products).

I painted the trees and (A) helped with grass.

(A) painted his hand and pressed it on each plate. He then helped me to paint his sisters hand to place on each plate.

 I drew eyes and feet, and wrote the year and “Thankful”.

(A) then made leaves with his fingerprint in all different fall colors.

The platters were baked on 350 for 30 minutes to set, and then allowed to cool in the oven with the door open.

The platters are “supposed” to be ok to eat on.  I used for bread and would use for cookies, I am not sure I would put my turkey on them.  They are super neat and very adorable.  Both family members who received them were thrilled.  I cannot wait for our next projects!!!

Now that i’ve gotten the hang of the salt dough, I have a million ideas for shapes and prints of the kids!  I thought I would make them and post for anyone who may want to make seasonal hand/foot prints of their kids.  I have of course tinkered a bit with the process and findings are posted here.

Changes Made:

• At first I was going to go to the craft store to purchase air dry clay to test out, but reviews said that it is brittle and time consuming (to let it dry).  I wanted to post this before St. Patricks day.  Plus when I went I saw the price tag, which is a bit much even with a coupon.  At the same time, (A) enjoys mixing the salt dough so I stuck to the home-made dough.
• I used the same recipe that I did for the Salt Dough Valentine ( click for link) that I previously posted, its still my favorite.

RECIPE

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.

• This month’s shape is a 4 leaf clover.  I did this because I have two children so each got two spots, three leaf would be cool if you had one or three kids etc.  The possibilities are endless.  I used Kelly Green craft paint, and then a little white mixed in later on.
• Last time I did feet, so I decided to switch it up and use hands (of course any design could be done with either, or both if you have one child/want each to have their own).
• I had to Triple the recipe to make 2 clovers (I like them nice and thick, makes me feel like they are sturdier).  This also allows me to have enough left over for (A) to play with during the process, it’s the only way to make the shapes I need and not have him want to play with those :o).
• I kicked the temperature up a notch to 250 degrees, it did not burn the dough, and really cut down the cooking time (4 hours instead of the previous 6 1/2, again I make them thick).
• I still think its a bit difficult to see the impressions (even though we pressed hard) without something to draw the attention, so instead of outlining each with words (like last time), I used a contrasting lighter color of green to paint the indents.

• I used a small stiff paint brush instead of a foam brush to paint.  I also let (A) paint the base layer of green and then did the impressions on my own.

• I went to Christmas Tree Shops and purchased a medium clear plate stand to display it (.89) instead of putting in a hole to hang it, I could have done both, but I thought this was a nice change.. If I change my mind, I suppose I could use the sticky command strips.

 This is a low cost, high fun activity, and (A) constantly asks to play with Salt Dough (thank goodness because I have more ideas for the upcoming holidays/months!).

Disclosure:  This is an unsponsored post.  All opinions here are my own.

I love to do projects, that is clear.  I am an avid Pinterest participant.  So of course with Valentine’s Day right around the corner I had to find something to do for the grandmother’s.  I am slightly obsessed with hand and footprints, I mean they change so quickly.  Their hands and feet will never again be the size they are right now.  It is this obsession that most of my projects for the family from the kids center around.  I wanted to do something special this year and decided on a salt dough heart.  In each half of the heart I wanted to put one of the kids footprints.  Instead of making it a stepping stone I wanted to make it a wall hanger.

BOY did this one frustrate me!  I thought that this would be easy, i’ve seen it so many times, but there is some bad information out there so I tried to weed it out for you.

Here is what I learned, and I will also include for you the links to the sites I used to create my masterpieces.

• Not all salt dough recipes are the same, some of them are different and did not work for me ( I tried 3).
• You need to poke holes in the top otherwise it will bubble and pop.
• Low and slow  is the key.. a higher temperature results in browning of the dough.
• It actually takes way longer than the sites say to harden and dry out.
• You may have to flip your piece to cook the back side.
• I used my silpat to cook it on so that it didn’t stick, when I used non-stick spray the pieces came out oily looking.
• Use your hands to shpe the dough, it looks much nicer than cutting it (my opinion).
• Tinting the dough also didn’t work so well, I painted it afterwards.
• If you are poking holes to hang, make them large and be sure it went through large on the other side.

RECIPE

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.

1. Once dry I painted each side twice.  I considered different colors to look like conversation hearts, but (D) decided he liked the pink and we went with it.
2. I poked the ribbon from the back to the front so that you could see the bow.
3. To personalize and also bring attention to the footprints, I used a permanent marker around the edges and wrote all of the kids’ favorite things this year.
4. On the back, I wrote their initials (always in a monogram I love monograms) and their ages.  I also had (A) trace his name on the back because that is what they are working on in preschool.

My baked project. 

Painted Pink 

The front of my completed heart.

For cards I really wanted to do something personal, but didn’t want the hastle of ordering online and waiting.  I used the Snapfish print at home cards and uploaded my picures of the kids.