Christmas Day Tradition: Make Glittered Handprint Keepsake Ornaments {and a Martha Stewart Crafts Glitter Wonderland Giveaway}

ESTABLISH A TRADITION:  Every Christmas, make a glittered handprint ornament with the children in your home.

MAKE MEMORIES:  In the short-term, you'll be establishing a fun, easy and inexpensive tradition.  In the long-term, when the children have grown, you'll have a whole little tree's worth of meaningful ornaments and memories.

WIN:  Enter to win a 24-piece set of Martha Stewart Crafts Glitter to get your new tradition started.

 

I am so excited to share the simplest, sweetest and most glittering little holiday tradition to start with your family!  This year we'll be playing host to all of the nieces and nephews, so I wanted a quick and easy craft project that everyone -- infants through teens -- could take part in that would commemorate our Christmas together.  The idea for these ornaments was inspired by Ms. Hollingsworth, one of the first-grade teachers that I work with.  As a holiday present for her students' parents, each child made a glittering handprint ornament.  

I was so taken with the idea that I decided to make it an annual tradition in my home.  My only regret is that I didn't start when my girls were babies.  Nonetheless, by the time they go off to college I'll still have a lovely little set from each.

Here's what you need to start the tradition in your home:

Glittered Handprint Keepsake Ornaments

Time: Less than 5 minutes/ornament

Cost:  Approx. $1/piece 

 

• Clear Glass Christmas Ornaments (I purchased mine at the craft store)
• Non toxic acrylic paint (I like the way the Martha Stewart Crafts acrylic paints work for this project.  Use Satin or Gloss).
• Paint brush
• Fine glitter, in a color that matches your choice in paint(s) (I love all of the dazzling jewel tones in the Rich Glitter Essentials Kit from Martha Stewart Crafts)
• Piece of copy paper, creased down the middle
• Gold or silver paint pen
• Optional:  Coordinating ribbon

Step 1:  After printing more than 20 children in Ms. Hollingsworth's class, I can tell you that the key to getting a good print is to do a "dry run" or "rehearsal" with the child.  Talk them through what you're going to do and let them practice gripping the ornament so that their fingers don't touch one another.  It helped with my 7 and 11 year old as well.

Step 2:  With the paint brush, paint the child's hand.  I recommend the Martha Stewart paint because it adheres well to class, comes in dozens of beautiful colors, is non-toxic, and washes off of little hands very easily. 

Step 3:  Place the bulb in the palm of the child's wide-open hand to get the palm print.  Then tell them to close their hand around the ball.  Make sure that each finger is coming in contact with the ornament, then have the child let go.  If they missed any spots, you can touch up with a dab of paint, using your paintbrush.

Step 4:  Holding the wet ornament over the piece of copy paper, completely cover the wet paint with fine glitter.  Lightly tap ornament on work surface to remove extra glitter.  Set aside to dry.  Gently fold paper in half along the crease, then pour back in to the glitter container.

Step 5:  When the paint has dried, you may use a dry paint brush to brush away the excess glitter.

Step 6:  Using a gold or silver paint pen, write the child's name and the year.  Optional:  Tie a coordinating ribbon through the loop in the top of the ornament.

Repeat every year!

 

I just can't say enough about the glitter from Martha Stewart Crafts.  I've been using it for years in all of my crafting because of its fine texture, radiant shimmer and the fact that a little goes a long, long way.  I'm always dazzled by the sparkling peridot, turquoise and garnet shades of the Martha Stewart Crafts glitter, but being a creature of habit, I always end up with my two favorites -- Antique Silver and White Gold.  So, it was an extra special treat when EK Success Brands sent me the full 24-color Rich Glitter Essentials Set -- a kaleidoscope of WOW!  In the spirit of the season, EK Success Brands is giving a set to one of my readers as well! 

  GIVEAWAY Enter using Rafflecopter below {open to U.S. residents only} Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
a Rafflecopter giveaway    

Savings for all:  For Rook No. 17 readers, EK Success is offering a 20% discount on your purchase at the Martha Stewart Crafts site when you enter BLOG20 at checkout through 12/31/12.

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