The easiest Christmas handprint crafts are a reindeer card (an upside-down brown handprint with finger antlers), a green handprint tree and a white handprint snowman. Each takes a few minutes of painting plus drying time, and they suit toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary kids because the basic shape is already personal.
Choose washable paint made for children; in the US, look for the ACMI AP (Approved Product) seal, which means a toxicologist has evaluated the product as suitable for children in sixth grade and younger. The seal is about use as directed; it does not mean the paint is safe to eat, so keep it away from mouths and supervise closely. Cover the table before you begin and keep a damp cloth nearby for quick clean-up. An adult should handle cutting, hot glue, small embellishments and any baking or sealing, and wash small hands with soap and water as soon as each print is done. For more festive projects by age, explore our Christmas crafts for kids guide.
Set up for easy handprint crafts
Keep the paint palette small. Brown, red, white, green, blue and yellow will cover most Christmas characters without mixing lots of shades. Press the hand gently but firmly, lift it straight up and let the print dry flat before adding faces or lettering. Make a test print first—children often enjoy that part as much as the finished craft.
For little ones, paint one hand at a time and work on a single item. Older children can choose colors, add names and help plan a small set of cards or ornaments.
| Age | Child can | Adult handles |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers (1–3) | Press a painted hand onto paper | Painting the hand, all details, washing up; keep small parts and loose decorations away |
| Preschool (3–5) | Choose colors, add fingerprint details, draw simple faces | Cutting, hole punching, glue, anything baked or sealed |
| Early elementary (5–8) | Paint their own hand, add names and greetings, plan a card set | Hot glue, oven steps, fabric paint setup and sealing |
12 Christmas handprint craft ideas
1. Handprint reindeer cards
Turn a brown handprint upside down so the fingers become antlers. Add eyes, a red nose and a short greeting underneath. Make several at once on blank foldable cards for simple Christmas cards grandparents will love to receive.
2. A handprint Christmas tree
Layer green handprints in a triangle, starting with one at the top and widening as you go down. Add a brown painted trunk and small fingerprint “ornaments.” This works well on a large sheet of paper for a classroom or family display.
3. Santa handprint art
Paint the palm red and the fingers white before printing. Once dry, turn the print upside down and add a peach face, a cotton-ball beard or painted beard, and a small hat. Glue cotton balls on yourself for toddlers, and keep loose pieces away from children under 3.
4. Snowman handprint scene
Use a white handprint with the fingers pointing down. Each finger can become a small snowman when you add hats, scarves and carrot noses. Add blue dots or white paint splatters around the print for falling snow.
5. Handprint angel ornaments
Make a white or pale-colored handprint on sturdy cardstock, then use the palm as the angel’s dress and fingers as a fan of wings. Cut around the print once it is dry, add a halo and thread a ribbon loop through the top. An adult should do the hole punching.
6. Holly handprint wreath
Print several green hands in a circle, with the palms forming the wreath and fingers pointing outward. Add red fingerprint berries once the green paint has dried. Write the child’s name and year in the center.
7. Handprint Christmas lights
Draw a wavy black or dark green line across the page, then make colorful handprints along it as oversized light bulbs. Add a small painted cap at the top of each palm print. This is a cheerful option for children who want to use lots of color.
8. Cardinal on a branch
Use a red handprint with the fingers together for the bird’s body and tail, then add a black face patch, a small orange beak and a pointed crest. Paint or draw a simple branch beneath it. Fingerprints make good red berries, so this project works well for siblings to make together.
9. Handprint snow globe card
Make a print inside a drawn circle or clear plastic lid shape, then add snow dots and a base below it. A child’s handprint tree, snowman or reindeer becomes the scene inside the globe. Write a message on the inside of the card.
10. Salt dough handprint keepsake
Press a clean hand gently into prepared salt dough to make a shallow impression, then use a straw to create a hanging hole near the top. Follow your chosen recipe’s drying or baking instructions carefully, and let the piece cool fully before painting. This one is best as an adult-led activity because of the preparation and oven step. If you have a dog, keep the dough and the finished keepsake out of reach: Pet Poison Helpline warns that eating even one or two salt dough ornaments can make a dog seriously ill from salt poisoning. If you would rather skip the oven, press the hand into air-dry clay instead and still store it up high.
11. Handprint poinsettia
Make several red handprints around a yellow fingerprint center to form a large poinsettia flower. Add green handprints as leaves. The finished picture looks lovely mounted on colored cardstock or turned into a simple thank-you card.
12. Family handprint tree skirt keepsake
Using fabric paint suitable for the material, add one carefully spaced print from each family member around the edge of a plain cloth tree skirt or table runner. Label each print with a name and year. Check the fabric paint’s label for age guidance, test it on a spare piece and follow its care instructions before washing.
Turn a painting session into a keepsake
- Add the child’s name and year while the project is fresh.
- Mount paper artwork on cardstock or place it in a frame before gifting.
- Use sturdy cardstock or a wooden backing for ornaments that will be handled often.
- Photograph the finished craft alongside the child’s hand for a lovely memory.
- Store fully dry projects flat in a labeled folder or box after the season.
Keep it relaxed
A handprint does not need to be perfectly shaped to be special. Let the print be the feature, use just a few drawn details and stop before the project becomes too fussy. If a child does not want paint on their hand, trace around it instead, or use a sponge to make a hand-shaped print.
For more child-friendly seasonal ideas, visit our Christmas crafts collection and browse the full Christmas crafts for kids guide, which includes a salt dough recipe card.
Frequently asked questions
What paint is best for handprint crafts?
Use washable paint made for children. In the US, the ACMI AP seal shows an art material has been evaluated by a toxicologist and is labeled for use by kids in sixth grade and younger. Use it as directed, keep it out of mouths and wash hands right after printing.
How do you get a clear handprint?
Brush on a thin, even coat of paint rather than dipping the hand, press the whole hand down gently but firmly, then lift it straight up. Do a test print on scrap paper first.
Are salt dough handprint ornaments safe around pets?
Not for dogs that might eat them. Pet Poison Helpline warns that one or two salt dough ornaments can cause serious salt poisoning in dogs, so dry and display them out of reach and call your vet or the helpline right away if one is eaten.
