Christmas handprint ornament tutorial

Now that I'm a mom, I have to make holiday memories.  Literally.  My daughter doesn't go to daycare or preschool so she doesn't come home with cute handmade ornaments.  So made an ornament together, more so me than her.  I thought a handprint impression would be cute.  So here are the instructions so you make one with your little one, or even for your pet!

You will need:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
food coloring
ribbon
marker
wax paper

Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl.  Add food coloring to water (I used red so it would be pink), then add to the flour/salt mixture. Knead dough well.  Should be smooth and stiff.  Form into ball and roll on to wax paper.  Dough should be about 1/2 inch thick. 

 

Next it's time to press your child's (or pet's) hand or foot into the dough.  I didn't get a picture of the actual act of impressing because it's all hands on deck and Penelope did not like it. The impression should be fairly deep because it will rise when baked. 

 

 

Use a butter knife to cut out the print.  Then make a hole at the top to string the ribbon.  I used a fine point Sharpie marker to make the hole.

   

There was a lot of dough left over so I rolled it out so you could see.  Enough to make two prints. 

 

 

Lastly, place on a cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees for 2-3 hours.  After 2 hours and 10 minutes, I checked it and the bottom was still soft, so I baked it the whole 3 hours.  Timing will depend on how thick you make the dough.  The bottom was still a little soft, so I flipped it over and left it on the counter to harden. 

 



New cookie sheets are on my shopping list, don't judge.

Once it's cooled, you can write your child's name and year on the front.  Or give them markers and let them decorate it themselves!

 

 

String a ribbon through the hole and hang on the tree!