What a sweet and sentimental keepsake ornament. I try and come up with a memorable handmade every year for my kids and this is just perfect. I love how Stephanie accentuated the clay thumbprint to stand out. What a wonderful way to capture those tiny little fingers.
I’m Stephanie Lynn from Under the Table and Dreaming and I am more than thrilled to be back participating in this years Pennywise Presents.
I not only like Beckie’s series for the abundance of inexpensive gifts ideas but I just adore the heartfelt meaning behind handmade gifts. Today I’m sharing some fingerprint ornaments that are sentimental little treasures perfect for giving to family members, especially grandparents.
Materials Needed:
Oven Baked Clay
Wax Paper
Rolling Pin or Clay Roller
Cookie Cutters
A Drinking Straw
Scrapbooking Stamps {optional}
A Dark Crayon
Acrylic Paints {optional}
Ribbon or Twine
Additional Supplies Needed: Cookie Sheet, Oven
Begin with a package of Oven Baked Clay. I found mine at Walmart in the crafting section for just under $5.00 a box and a lot comes in the package – you will have more than enough for over 50 ornaments. Pull away a small amount and knead it until it becomes soft enough to work with.
Place the clay between two sheets of wax paper and roll with a rolling pin or clay roller. {if you do not have tools specifically for crafting the wax paper will protect them} Roll the clay to a 1/4 inch thickness.
Using cookie cutters, cut out several shapes. You can really get creative as there are so many neat shaped cutters on the market.
Use a drinking straw to punch a hole in each of the ornaments for hanging.
Bring in the arsenal of tiny fingers and press away.
Place the clay shapes on a cookie sheet.
I added a little extra touch to some of the ornaments by stamping my little guys name in the clay with scrapbooking stamps. You could also stamp the year or a special message as well. Once you are done embellishing the ornaments, place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake according to the manufactures directions. Most clay only takes 15 minutes or so to harden.
Once the ornaments have cooled, take a dark crayon and lightly color in the fingerprint. If you have stamped any areas they can simply be filled in with an ink pen or pencil. The ornaments can also be painted with acrylic paints or decorated as you wish.
Tie with some ribbon and they are ready to be given.
You can also have some fun with the fingerprints and make some cool figures like our little snowman.
I am hoping to snatch up my nieces and nephews to make a few of these, as I know my parents would treasure a little tree full of these! Thanks so much Beckie for the invite. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and a fabulous holiday season ~
Thank you for this tutorial. I’ve wanted to make clay ornaments, but thought it was much more expensive than this. You’ve shown that it’s frugal and fun!
Oh how cute! I bought some of this intending to make heart cut outs but now I’ll add my new grandsons fingerprints when he comes home at Christmas! Thanks for the idea!
I love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m pinning this and making it soon. 🙂
Really cute! How is the hat on the snowman made? I can’t tell if it has a raised spot or another fingerprint.
I *love* this idea! I just posted about it today in my round-up of fingerprint ornament ideas:
http://www.chickabug.com/blog/2011/12/diy-handprint-and-thumbprint-ornaments.html
Thank you for the inspiration! : )