Kids Hand Print Snowman Bulb Decor Gift for Christmas

by TabbyDeAnne

122K12533

Intro: Kids Hand Print Snowman Bulb Decor Gift for Christmas

Hello ladies and gents! This is a very special project that my 5 year old son and I did together. Well, the beginning anyway. I wanted something for our Christmas tree that I could put up every year and it would have my sons hand print on it. I loved this so much that I made two of them! One for me and one to give to my mother for Christmas. I know she is probably going to cry. She is such a sentimental just like me!

This project is so inexpensive you can make one for all your family! I hope you enjoy this!

What you will need:

• A small hand (here I used my 5 year old sons)
• Several different paint colors (water-based acrylic is safe)
• A small paint brush (See picture)
• Round Christmas bulb
• Piece of ribbon or bulb hanger
•Krylon Lacquer or other sealant (I added a link to what I used)
• Paint tray (optional)

STEP 1: Toddlers Time to Get Messy!

  • Take your white paint and put a dab of it on your little ones hand.
  • Spread the paint all over his hand. You want to work pretty quickly so the paint won’t dry on his hand.
  • Place the bulb in your child’s hand and push his fingers in a grip around it.
  • It only takes a few seconds then remove his fingers without smudging the paint. If your child is old enough then you can just have him release the bulb.
Your child’s work is finished! He can go play games or whatever he enjoys the most while you get to being creative!

STEP 2: Let It Dry.

Let your bulb sit up for a few until it is dry to the touch. (I used an empty, clean baby food jar as a stand for my bulb. It was like a third hand. Any small jar or bowl should work as long as the bulb is larger.)

Once your bulb is dry begin painting the faces on the finger tips of your child’s hand print. I started with the black paint for the eyes, mouth and buttons of the snowman.

Next paint the carrot nose which I used a light orange paint for.

Follow that with the hat and scarf. Any color works but I found that the brighter the color the more eye catching it was. I got a little goofy with some of the snowmen! It was all in good fun!

Let the paint dry again for a few then do the snow! Dab the tip of your paint brush in your white paint and tap it all over your bulb.

STEP 3: Let's Seal the Deal!

Once your bulb is dry to the touch you will want to seal it. I spray lacquered one of the bulbs and left the other without.

Use the spray lacquer very lightly. You can do several separate coats but don’t put it on too thick because it may make the paint on your bulb run and ruin it all together.

(Follow all instructions and warnings. Use precaution when handling any spray paint. Read the can for full warnings and directions.)

STEP 4: Add Your Flare!

I love to use ribbon and so that is what I used to hang one of the bulbs from the tree.

I got the ribbon off of the packaging for my infant’s onies! I love to reuse!!

I hope this project will be one that helps you keep Christmas memories alivefor years to come!

I want to do this every year with both my son's and in about 10 or so years it will be the only bulbs on my tree. All little handprints getting bigger through out the years...

Have a Happy Holiday!

31 Comments

seamster 13 years ago

Great idea, and well-deserved win! Congrats!

TabbyDeAnne 13 years ago

Thank You So Much! I am so stoked! I called all my friends and family! I feel like giving a long winded speach! lol!

KayleneC1 7 years ago

I tried making these with red bulbs using the apple barrel white acrylic paint and the red leeched into my white paint and the snowmen turned pink as they dried! I ruined 2 boxes of bulbs (one matte and one glossy thinking that was my problem). What am I doing wrong??

SusannahG22 8 years ago

I made these for my mom! All three of my kids and she'll have them forever! She absolutlely loved them!!!

Erika021084 8 years ago

I made one!!! Thank u so much I'll be making one every year for my baby!! Great idea

glow1109 9 years ago

Trying to this as a fun activity at school. Did you use shatterproof ball? And how long did it take hand print to dry before you could decorate? And what size ornaments did you use? Thanks you

jenny1976 9 years ago

Can the plastic Bulb be use for this project ...I would hate for it to break 2 ,5 or 10 years from now...I would like to keep them for a very long time since I will be using my little girls hand prints....Great idea thanks for sharing.

CreativeGeek 10 years ago

OK, I wanna make one of those all of a sudden.

mjbell2 12 years ago

Great idea! And what a memorable keepsake! Thanks for sharing!

TabbyDeAnne 12 years ago

Thank you so much! I loved it to and make one every year now. lol

TabbyDeAnne 12 years ago

I'd be happy to help you. What's the question?

TabbyDeAnne 12 years ago

Follow this 'ible and it should be easy. The eyes are dots made with the end of a toothpick. The nose is made with a skinny tipped paint brush by pressing down on the end that is closest to his face and lighter as you move to the tip. The scarves are just a line from one end to the other of the neck and then a letter V upside down in the middle of the line and the had is a filled in letter A that leans a bit to one side. The 3 buttons for the chest are made with the tip of the toothpick and so are the 5 black circles for the mouth. All the snow can be made with the toothpick as well. Does this help?

creativelychallenged 12 years ago

My son made these in his kindergarten class a few years ago. By far my favorite ornament!!!! his teacher was awesome! she attached a small school picture on a tag attached to the ribbon so you can see not only how small his hand was, but also what he looked like at that age. on the back of the picture tag she put this little saying: "These aren't just 5 snowmen as anyone can see... I made them with my hand which is a part of me. Now each year when you trim the tree, you'll look back and recall Christmas 2003 when my hand was just this small!"
Absolutely love it! Makes me cry every year when i take it out!

TabbyDeAnne 12 years ago

It's funny you mention that because this year my little guy is in the first grade and his teacher did the same thing! So now I have the one he and I made last year and one that he and his class did this year. It was so sweet and had the same little saying on it. I loved it and will make one every year now! It will become a family tradition until his hand is too big for it! Have a wonderful new year and thanks for the comment!

glassgiant 13 years ago

My 4yo son and I made some for my wife, parents and in-laws. Awesome idea!

TabbyDeAnne 13 years ago

Awww! That looks GREAT! I love it! Very cool!

CrLz 13 years ago

Sweet craft idea, perfect for grandkids to grandmom!
More Comments