Salt dough handprints are popular with children and parents.It's fun for the child to play with the dough and later decorate the handprint, but you also end up with a very special souvenir.They are usually turned into ornaments for Christmas trees, but you can always hang them on the wall above your desk, or above the fireplace mantle, where you will see them all year long.Adding glitter or color to the dough can make a special handprint.
Step 1: 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt are mixed together.
The flour and salt should be in a large bowl.They should be well-mixed with a spoon.
Step 2: Adding glitter to the flour mixture is a possibility.
It's not necessary, but it will add a little sparkle to your piece.Start with a small amount and add more as you please.You can use glitter that is extra fine.The glitter will get covered up if you paint the handprint later.Save glitter so that you can mix it with the paint later.
Step 3: When you get dough, stir the warm water a little bit at a time.
Put a small amount of warm water in the bowl and stir it with a spoon.You should keep doing this until you have a consistency.You could end up using all of the water.If you want a pastel color, add a few drops of food coloring to the water.If you want a bolder color, combine water and paint.
Step 4: Continue kneading the dough after turning it onto a lightly-floured surface.
The dough will become less sticky as you continue to knead it.If you add paint or food coloring to your dough, be careful; it may stain your hands.
Step 5: The dough should be rolled out.
If you don't have a rolling pin, you can use a glass, bottle, or jar instead.It should be about 12 to 34-inch (1.27 to 1.91-centimeter) thick.
Step 6: A handprint can be made.
You can either keep the fingers close together or spread them apart.Press your hand into the dough.You want to press firmly enough to make a print, but not so firmly that the dough becomes paper-thin.Adding a name and date is a good idea.This is a great way to remember your child's first Christmas, Thanksgiving, or other holiday.
Step 7: The handprint needs to be cut out.
You can get really inventive here.The handprint can be cut into a circle, square, or oval.You can cut a shape out of a glove.If you are careful, you can leave a border around the hand.
Step 8: There is a hole near the top.
You can make the hole with just about anything: a straw, toothpick, skewer, lollipop stick, or even a knitting needle.
Step 9: If you want the handprint to air dry, bake it in the oven.
The color of your salt dough may fade as it dries.The salt dough can still be painted after it dries.Leave the handprint out in a warm place for a few days after placing it on a baking sheet.If the handprint is very thick, you may want to turn it over a lot.The ornaments can be baked in the oven for 2 to 3 hours.Check the handprint after 45 to 60 minutes if it's very thin.
Step 10: If you want, you can paint the handprint using tempera paint.
You don't have to paint the handprint, but it can make it look different.If you add glitter to the dough, be aware that the paint will cover it.If you don't like it, you can mix a bit of your glitter into the paint.It's a good idea to use metallic or glitter paint.You could fill the letters with paint and a thin paintbrush if you carved in a name or date.
Step 11: Adding glitter would be a good idea.
Too much glitter is not such a thing.You can shake the glitter on top of the handprint with a thin layer of white school glue.glitter glue pens can be used to draw designs.If you can't find glitter glue pens, use white school glue to draw designs and shake glitter onto the glue.When you're done, gently tap off the glitter.You can skip this step if you don't want to add more glitter.
Step 12: Once the paint is dry, seal the handprint.
You can use Mod Podge to do this.You can use a spray-on or paint-ons to seal it.It will make your handprint last longer.If you add glitter, make sure you use a glossy finish or it will dull the sparkle.
Step 13: Adding gemstones would be a good idea.
Hot glue or white school glue can be used to glue these on.You might not want to cover up the handprint, but they would look lovely around the border!
Step 14: Tie the string or ribbon through the hole with a knot.
You can use baker's twine, yarn, or even a ribbon for this.You can match the style of the handprint with your string.It would look great if you made a handprint out of yarn or string.If your handprint has lots of gemstones, try gold or silver ribbon.
Step 15: You can make a Christmas tree.
When making a handprint, keep your fingers close together.Cut the tree out leaving a border of 12 inch (0.64 to 1.27-centimeter) and then poke a hole near the top for the ribbon.If you don't want to get messy, you can add red and gold ornaments using your finger tips.Don't forget to add the trunk.You can thread a red, green, or gold ribbon through the hole after the paint has dried.Add some green glitter to the dough before dyeing it green.When painting a tree, use a darker shade of green.Glue on red and yellow gemstones for ornaments instead of painting them.
Step 16: If you like memories, make a frame.
First you have to make your dough and handprint.To make it look like a mitten, cut out the handprint.To cut a hole in the palm, use a star, heart, circle, or square-shaped cookie cutter.Make a hole near the top of the handprint.Attach a photo to the back of the dough.Add the person's name and the year that the ornament was made.
Step 17: If you love nature and animals, you can make a bird.
Make a handprint by keeping your fingers apart.Cut the bird out and leave a small border.A hole can be made just above the thumb.When the dough is dry, turn the handprint sideways so that the thumb is at the top and the fingers are to the side.For a cardinal, you can paint the palm area red and the thumb and fingers dark red.Just below the thumb is a black eye.Don't forget the orange beak and black feet.Paint the palm area white and the thumb and fingers blue.Just below the thumb is a black eye.Don't forget the black beak and feet.Robin said to paint the palm area red and the thumb and fingers grey or tan.There is a black eye below the thumb.Don't forget the yellow beak and black feet!
Step 18: For Thanksgiving, make a turkey.
When making a handprint, keep your fingers apart.The "turkey" should be cut out with a small border.The hole should be above the fingers.Allow the dough to dry.Paint the palm and thumb brown if you keep the hand upright.The fingers should be painted red, orange, and yellow.Attach a beak and eyes to your thumb.Feet should be placed at the bottom of the palm.
Step 19: You can make a reindeer for Christmas.
When making a handprint, keep your fingers apart.The handprint can be either an oval or a 12 inch (0.64 to 1.27-centimeter) border.Make a hole above the fingers and let the handprint dry.Paint the handprint brown.The fingers and thumb can be painted tan or brown.Glue on a pair of eyes if you want to paint them.There is a nose near the palm.You can add a smile as well.