Keepsake Handprint Calendar Introduction

This calendar craft is a great way to preserve memories. You can have it as a keepsake for your child to have the rest of his/her life, or as a unique gift to give someone to keep for the years to come. You may also decide to use it for display in your home. Most importantly, it is a fun activity that you and your child can enjoy making together. Older children will probably be able to do most of it by themselves, but younger children will need an adult to help them. Be sure to choose a time when they are usually in a good mood and have at least an hour to create each month. If your child does not seem to like having his/her hands painted, don’t be discouraged- you can always try again a different day. Hopefully they will enjoy it once they get used to it, especially when they see the fun picture they have created! Handprint art is a great way to introduce colors & animals to toddlers. It's also a great way for older children to tap into their creative side while preserving memories at the same time. Use this calendar as a guideline in creating your own. You may choose to make it exactly the same , maybe only some of the items, or maybe even completely different ones! It can be as simple or as detailed as you and your child would like it to be. If you don’t seem to have time one month, don’t worry! You could also substitute artwork your child has created for some or even all of the months.

"Hard presses make an oval shape and gentle presses tend to make a more circular shape."

If you decide to make this calendar as a keepsake for your child to look at when he or she is older, it might be fun to write things on the calendar. Some ideas are: things you and your child did together, family outings, visitors, spent the night at Grandma’s house, vacations, road trips, classes, Gymboree, milestones (new tooth, said a new word, 1st haircut, sat up by self…….) , birthdays, holidays, play dates, played at the park, 1st day of school, doctor visits, basically anything you think would be fun to put on the calendar. In the inside of the front & back cover, you could make a collage of pictures taken throughout the year :) Don't forget to put a current photo of your child on the cover along with the year!

Hint: Don't waste paint! You can always place the leftover paint in an air-tight container.

Supplies Needed To Make Handprint Calendar

Supplies Needed:

printed monthly calendar pages
Nontoxic paint
card stock or construction paper
paintbrushes
hole punch & ribbon

Other items you may want to use:

scissors
computer for printing
baby wipes
scrapbook supplies
photos
ribbons
glitter
fancy scissors with designs

buttons

sequins

googly eyes

January Handprint Penguin and Fingerprint Snowman

To make the handprint penguin: paint a white tummy coming down to the knuckle on the 2 middle fingers, then paint black in the remaining areas making sure not to forget making a ½ circle for the head. With all the fingers in a closed position, firmly press the hand flat on the paper gently rocking it sideways a few times. To make the eyes, paint a thumb white & gently press (you may also choose to use googly eyes. When the paint dries, paint on orange feet and beak (you can also use construction paper. Add a black dot to each eye.

To make the fingerprint snowman: Use a white thumbprint for the bottom circle, an index finger for the middle, & a pinky finger for the head. Decorate the snowman when they dry.

To make the fingerprint snowflakes: Use the pinky, index, and thumb to create different size snowflakes. Suggestion: add silver glitter to the snowflakes to make them sparkle.

February Thumbprint Art

Thumbprint Hearts: Use firm thumbprints in color of choice. When dry, write cute words inside them.
Thumbprint Dogs: paint thumb brown & press firmly in a slightly angled vertical position. This make the head. Next, add a firm, horizontal brown thumbprint coming off the head. When paint dries, add legs, ears, & a collar.
Thumbprint Teddy bears: Use a firm, vertical thumbprint to make body. Use the index finger to place a head on top. Then, use firm pinky presses to make the legs/arms. Detail when dry.

March Handprint Leprachaun

To make the Handprint Leprechaun: paint bottom of the hand & thumb green to form a hat shape, paint the remaining area of the palm a light peach color, paint orange on the fingers & add a stripe under the green. Press hand to the paper. When dry, add eyes, and mouth.

Poem:
I’m a little leprechaun!

Can’t you see?

I’m as tiny as I can be.

I only come around

Just once a year.

That’s when

St Patrick’s Day is here!

April Handprint and Thumbprint Chicks

To make the Handprint Chick: paint entire hand yellow. With fingers in a closed position, firmly press hand on paper & rock it very gently. Use a black pinky print for the eyes. Add a white dot to eyes when dry. Draw or paint on legs/feet. For the beak, you may use construction paper or paint it on.

To make the Baby Thumbprint Chicks: You may use yellow finger or thumbprints. Add details when dry.

May Handprint Butterfly and Thumbprint Caterpillar

To make Thumbprint Caterpillar: Paint 1 finger or thumb on each hand in a different color; alternate them to form a long body. Add tiny legs, face, & antennas when dry.

To make the Handprint Butterfly: Paint either the index finger or thumb green & press about 6 of them in a vertical line. Next, paint everything on the left hand except the thumb in a color of choice. Press that hand to the left of the green body. Then, repeat using the right hand. You can use fingerprint dots to decorate the wings or decorate however you wish.

Poem:

Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar

Into a corner will creep.
He'll spin himself a blanket,

And then go fast asleep.

Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar

Will wake up by and by.

To find his wings of beauty,
Changed to a butterfly!

June Handprint Fish

To make the Handprint Fish: Paint the entire hand orange. Press hand sideways on the paper with the thumb facing the bottom. Next, paint just the thumb & add as many little fish as you’d like. When dry, paint a yellow face & stripe on the tail. When that dries, add the rest of the details by drawing them in. Use white or light blue fingerprints to add bubbles.

June Poem
I hold my fingers

Like a fish,
And wave them
As I go.
See them swimming
With a swish,
So swiftly
To and fro.

July Handprint Elephant and Giraffe

To make the Handprint Giraffe: Paint the entire hand yellow & press on paper making sure to have the fingers toward the bottom of the paper (remember to leave enough room to add the long neck). The palm forms the body, the fingers form the legs and the thumb forms the tail. Use the side of the hand to print the neck and add a fingerprint for the head. When dry use brown fingerprints to make the giraffe’s spots, not forgetting a fingerprint for the end of the tail. When dry, draw in the eyes, hair, etc.

To make the Handprint Elephant: Paint entire hand gray & detail when dry.

August Thumbprint Flowers, Ladybugs, Bumblebee, and Sun

To make the Thumbprint Sun: paint or color a yellow circle at the top of the page. Using the index finger, make yellow oval shapes to form the sun’s rays.
To make the Thumbprint Flowers: Use pinky for the circle in the middle & index fingers (oval presses) for the petals and leaves. Paint a green stem.
Use a red thumbprint for the thumbrint ladybug and a yellow thumbprint for the thumbprint bee. Draw in details when dry.

September Handprint Flowers with Poem

To make the Handprint Flowerpot- Color, paint, use construction paper, or a paper bag to make a flowerpot at the bottom of page. Paint both hands green & press them on top of the flowerpot. Paint in green leaves & stems. Next, use thumb or index finger to make prints at the top of each stem. When the paint is dry, draw in flower petals. Hand write poem inside the flowerpot.

Poem:

Look at me!It isn't showing!
You can't see it,
But I'm growing!

*This design would look great for May as well as for a Mother's Day!*
Click HERE for another version of this same craft with a step-by-step tutorial.

October Handprint & Footprint Ghosts..... Handprint Monster Hand

To make the Handprint and Footprint Ghosts: Paint entire hand white & press onto paper with fingers in a closed position. You may also paint a foot white & place onto the paper. Add eyes and mouth when dry by either painting or drawing it on or by using googly eyes.
To make the Hnadprint Monster Hand (or Witches Hand): Paint hand color of choice & press onto paper with fingers in an open position. When dry, draw on scary-looking, black fingernails and add a few black lines to give it depth.

November Handprint Turkey

To make the Handprint Turkey: paint each finger a different color, paint palm & thumb brown, then press onto paper with fingers in an open position. Paint or draw on feet , beak, and red gobbler. Add a black dot for the eye.

Poem:This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see.
I made it with my hand,
Which is part of me.
It comes with lots of love.
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

December Handprint Santa & Thumbprint Reindeer with Santa Poem

 You can find this santa image & many more fun crafts at: http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/

To make the Thumbprint Reindeer: Make the same way as the dog in February’s instruction only add antlers.
To make the Handprint Santa: paint entire hand white & press onto paper with fingers pointed toward bottom of paper. Add a 2 white finger or thumbprints for eyes. Above that, add a red Santa hat (either draw or make from construction paper). Add white finger prints going across the length of the hat at the bottom & one at the top. Next, add a red nose using index finger. Then, make a pink thumbprint on both sides of the nose. Using the pinky finger, add a black dot for the mouth & one inside each eye. Lastly, add a white dot inside the black part of the eye.

Poem:
Where is Santa?
Where is Santa?
Here I am!
Here I am!
Merry, Merry Christmas!
Merry, Merry Christmas!
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Ho! Ho! Ho!

Make Handprint Cards

Some other great ideas for these designs is to use them in cards. For example, the fish would make a great Father's day card, the flower pot would make a unique Mother's Day card, the chicks would be a fun Easter card, etc. It also would look great on scrapbook pages!