How to Make DIY Handprint Ornaments

Capture a child's footprint or handprint in this easy DIY salt dough ornament. Use our easy how-to to whip up a batch, then have the kids help make a handprint ornament. After a little time in the oven, your hand or footprint ornament will be ready to hang on the tree.

How to Make a Handprint Christmas Ornament

Supplies Needed

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup salt

• 1 cup warm water

• Food coloring

• Rolling pin

• Pencil or straw

• Ribbon

• Scissors

Step-by-Step Directions

Use these simple how-to instructions to make your own handprint or footprint ornaments. You should be able to mix the dough and create a set of ornaments in under 30 minutes, but you'll need to allow three hours of baking time.

Step 1: Make Salt Dough

Make the salt dough for your ornaments by combining flour, salt, and water. Knead the dough until smooth—it should have a play-dough-like consistency. Divide the dough evenly into two separate balls and add a few drops of food coloring to each dough ball and knead to swirl the color into the dough. Place the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roll the dough into a tube. Twist two doughs rolls together to combine the colors and create a marbled effect, then wrap the twist around itself to create a ball. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness.

Related: Make a Baked Cinnamon Ornament 

Step 2: Create Print

Press a hand (or a foot!) into the flattened dough to create the imprint. You may need to press down on the top of the child's hand to make sure you get a good imprint. To cut a perfect circle around the handprint, look for a bowl that's bigger than the handprint and turn it upside down over the print. Press the bowl into the dough to create a perfectly round ornament. Pull away excess dough. Poke a hole where the ornament will hang using a pencil or plastic straw. Bake the ornament at 250 degrees for 90 minutes; flip, then bake another 90 minutes.

Step 3: Bake and Hang Your Handprint Ornament

After baking, allow the handprint ornament to cool. You can decorate your salt dough ornament with crafting glue, glitter, and other embellishments. Then string a ribbon through the hole and hang on your Christmas tree. Continue crafting with the kids by making one of our favorite easy homemade Christmas ornaments.

Related: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree