DIY Kids’ Handprint Wreath: A Meaningful Holiday Craft
Is there anything better than homemade, practical kids’ crafts? Don’t get me wrong — kids create the sweetest artwork. But after a while, even with your best efforts to display it neatly, the papers start to pile up everywhere.
That’s why this handprint wreath is such a favorite in our home. It’s meaningful, seasonal, and actually useful. A keepsake you can hang on your child’s bedroom door and enjoy all month long. Even better, it’s simple enough for little hands to help with.
Here’s how to make your own:
How to Make a Kids’ Handprint Wreath
- Paint the handprints.
Have your kiddos paint their hands green and press them onto plain white cardstock. Cardstock works better than regular paper because it’s sturdier, especially if you don’t have a laminator. Each child can make their own wreath, or you can mix everyone’s handprints together for one family piece. Let the prints dry overnight. - Cut and mount.
Cut out each individual handprint and glue it onto green construction paper. Once dry, cut them out again so each handprint has a clean border. - (Optional) Laminate for longevity.
If you want this craft to last for years, laminating is a great option. I laminate many of my kids’ crafts, and while this wreath will likely hold up for at least one season without it (since it hangs out of reach), lamination adds durability. After laminating, cut out each handprint again. - Arrange into a wreath.
Lay the handprints in a circle to form a wreath shape. You’ll want the prints to overlap slightly, but not too much. Play around with the layout until it looks balanced. - Glue it together.
Once you’re happy with the arrangement, glue the handprints together. I used Mod Podge instead of hot glue since I wasn’t sure how laminated pieces would react to heat. After pressing everything together and placing a few heavy objects on top overnight, it held beautifully.
- Add finishing touches.
Glue a red bow to the bottom of the wreath. Attach a red ribbon to the back at the top for hanging. - Hang and enjoy.
Tape the ribbon to the back of your child’s bedroom door and let it drape over the front. I also taped parts of it to the door so it didn’t swing every time the door moved.
Now you have a sweet, festive keepsake your child helped create (or DIY’d completely on their own, depending on age) that you can enjoy all season long without adding to the artwork clutter. A win for both kids and parents.
For a funny look at the chaos behind holiday crafting with young kids, click here.
