Hey there, amazing moms! With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to engage in creative and memorable activities with your kids.
One fantastic idea that combines artistry and sentimental value is making handprint crafts together.
Not only will these crafts provide endless fun, but they also offer a myriad of benefits for both you and your little ones.
So, let’s dive in and explore why summer handprint crafts should be on every mom’s to-do list this season!
You’ll also find summer handprint craft ideas below as well as ways you can display and preserve your crafts.
Summer Handprint Crafts
Cherished Memories
Handprints serve as precious mementos of your child’s growth. By capturing their tiny hands in art, you create a time capsule that preserves those fleeting moments forever.
Imagine the joy of looking back at these creations years from now and reminiscing about how small those hands once were!
Summer Handprint Crafts
Boosting Creativity
Handprint crafts unleash the imagination of both moms and kids.
From butterflies and flowers to animals and superheroes, the possibilities are endless.
Encourage your children to come up with their own ideas, and let their creativity soar as they transform simple handprints into incredible works of art.
Summer Handprint Crafts
Sensory Exploration
The tactile experience of dipping little hands into paint or molding clay helps children develop their sensory skills.
The cool, squishy texture of paint or the smoothness of clay stimulates their sense of touch, providing a sensory-rich experience that enhances their cognitive development.
Bonding Time
Summer is all about spending quality time together, and handprint crafts offer the perfect opportunity to do just that.
As you work side by side, your children will feel loved and cherished.
Engage in conversations, share stories, and laugh together, creating beautiful memories that strengthen the bond between you and your kids.
Summer Handprint Crafts
Fine Motor Skills
The process of creating handprint art involves coordination and control of hand movements, helping your little ones refine their fine motor skills.
From gripping paintbrushes to carefully placing their hands on paper or other surfaces, these activities enhance their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Summer Handprint Crafts
Here are some supplies you may need for summer handprint crafts:
Washable Paint: Choose non-toxic, washable paints in various vibrant summer colors. Acrylic or tempera paints are good options.
Handprint Ink Pads: If you don’t want to use paint, these ink pads are great for tiny hands!
Paintbrushes: Have a selection of paintbrushes in different sizes to apply the paint to your child’s hand or for additional painting details.
Paper or Canvas: Use white or colored construction paper, cardstock, or canvas as the base for the handprint crafts. You can choose the size depending on the project you have in mind.
Water and Palette: Keep a container of water and a palette handy for mixing and diluting paints.
Smock or Apron: Protect your child’s clothes by having them wear a smock or an old shirt while painting.
Baby Wipes or Damp Towels: Have some baby wipes or damp towels nearby to quickly clean up any accidental spills or to wipe your child’s hands between colors.
Pencils or Pens: Use pencils or pens for tracing handprints or drawing additional details on the crafts.
Scissors: Keep a pair of child-safe scissors on hand for cutting out shapes or trimming excess paper.
Glue or Glue Stick: If you plan to attach the handprints to other materials or create collages, have glue or a glue stick available.
Optional Decorative Items: Depending on the specific crafts you want to create, you may consider having additional decorative items such as glitter, sequins, googly eyes, ribbons, or stickers.
Remember to consider the age and abilities of your child when choosing supplies and always supervise them during the craft-making process.
Have fun creating memorable summer handprint crafts together!
Types of summer handprint crafts to make
There are many fun and creative handprint crafts that you can make with kids during the summer. Here are some ideas:
Handprint Sun
Use yellow paint to make a handprint on a piece of paper or canvas. Then, add a smiling face, rays, and other details to turn it into a cheerful sun.
Handprint Fish
Paint the palm of the hand blue or any other desired color and the fingers in a different color. Press the hand onto paper or fabric to create the fish’s body. Once dry, add details like eyes, scales, and fins.
Handprint Flower Garden
Dip the child’s hand in different colors of paint and press it onto paper to create flower petals. Add stems and leaves using paint or markers. You can also use fingerprint dots to create centers for the flowers.
Handprint Butterfly
Paint the child’s hand in their chosen color and press it onto paper horizontally, with the fingers as the butterfly’s wings. Once dry, add antennae, eyes, and decorative details.
Handprint Ice Cream Cone
Paint the child’s hand brown for the cone and press it onto paper. Use different colors for the fingers to represent scoops of ice cream. Decorate with glitter or small pieces of colored paper for sprinkles.
Handprint Octopus
Paint the child’s hand in any color and press it onto paper or fabric with the fingers pointing downward. Add eyes, a mouth, and other details to create an adorable octopus.
Handprint Beach
Create a beach scene by making handprints of different family members. Use blue for the ocean, yellow for sand, green for palm trees, and other colors as needed. Add details like seashells, beach umbrellas, and sun to complete the scene.
Handprint Crab
Paint the child’s hand red and press it onto paper or fabric. Once dry, add eyes, claws, and other crab details. You can also glue on googly eyes or use markers to draw the facial features.
Handprint Fireworks
Dip the child’s hand in different colors of paint and press it onto paper to create handprint fireworks. Add glitter or metallic paint for extra sparkle.
Handprint Watermelon
Paint the child’s hand green and press it onto paper or fabric to create the rind. Then, paint their fingers red and press them above the green print to create the watermelon’s flesh. Once dry, add black seeds with paint or a marker.
Remember to use child-safe and washable paints and supervise the children while they are working on these crafts. Have fun creating and making memories!
Summer Handprint Crafts
Now that we’ve explored the types of handprint crafts, let’s discuss how you can display and preserve these handprint creations once they’re complete:
How to Display and Preserve Handprint Crafts
Framing
Select a few special handprint crafts and frame them as unique pieces of art.
Hang them in your child’s room or create a gallery wall to showcase their creativity.
These framed handprints will serve as a constant reminder of your child’s growth and artistic journey.
Keepsake Books
Collect and organize your child’s handprint crafts in a scrapbook or a dedicated keepsake book.
Add dates and brief descriptions to commemorate each piece, creating a delightful keepsake that you can treasure for years to come.
Customized Gifts
Transform handprint crafts into personalized gifts for loved ones. Incorporate handprints into greeting cards, create handprint ornaments, or even decorate mugs or photo frames.
Not only will you spread joy to others, but you’ll also immortalize these creations in a functional and heartfelt manner.
Digital Archives
In this digital age, capturing your child’s handprint crafts through photographs or scans is an excellent way to preserve them.
Create a dedicated folder on your computer or in the cloud, ensuring that these cherished memories will always be safe and easily accessible.
Summer Handprint Crafts
This summer, make a promise to embark on a creative adventure with your kids through handprint crafts.
Let the paints, brushes, and clay be the tools that enable you to create beautiful memories together.
Embrace the benefits of these crafts, display the final artworks with pride, and preserve these treasures for a lifetime.
Your little ones will treasure these moments, and you will relish the joy of witnessing their growth and artistic flair.
Happy crafting, super moms!