A Gift Craft Kids Can Make for Christmas or Any Holiday

The holidays can be stressful, bills piling up, and there is never enough money for everything. You never really know if what you bought is what they want anyway. That is not what the holidays are supposed to be about. Since I was a kid, my father instilled the value of hand making presents for Christmas and other holidays. You might not spend much, but the labor of love is much more valuable. People in general appreciate thought and effort way more than the price tag, or the name brand of an item. If you don't already do it, maybe it's time to start a new tradition in your family, make cookies, crochet or knit, paint, make something from the heart and give a special home made gift.

The following project is for kids, you can of course modify it and pick an intricate design if you would like to make an adult version.

Supplies:

Porcelain coffee cups (they can be purchased at your local craft store, I bought a 2 pack of regular size for $6.99 at Michaels, or a "Mega Mug" for $6.99. They are available in black or white.)

Paint (I used PeBeo Vitera 160, it is dishwasher safe after you bake it). As few or as many colors as you would like, pick a color(s) that will stand out against your background. They run about $4.50 per color but you really don't need much for a dramatic effect.

A Paint Pen (I used PeBeo Porceline 150, it is dishwasher safe after you bake it). Pick a color(s) that will stand out against your background. A dishwasher safe paint pen will run you about $5.99. I selected a fine tip for detail when writing.

1 Wide paintbrush (about ¼" to ½" craft brush)

A cup with water, paper towels, baby wipes, oven, and old newspapers.

Directions:

Thoroughly clean children's hands. Lay down Old newspapers to prepare the area.

Pick a hand and put a thin coat of paint on the child's hand. Place hand on the coffee cup, trying not to smudge and the carefully remove the hand leaving a cute handprint behind. I did this craft with my twins who are 2-3/4 yrs old, there were some smudges but it just gives it character and makes it unique.

Clean the brush in water and dry with the paper towel. Clean the child's hand immediately with baby wipes.

Use you paint pen to add a name to the cup and the child's name to the handprint. I also wrote a message on the bottom of each cup.

Place cup aside and let air dry for 24 hours.

NOTE: If you are using multiple colors sometimes you may want to wait 24 hrs in between colors as to avoid smudging the 1^st handprints that were applied. I used 2 colors for each child, I let my daughter paint one night, and then my son added his the next morning.

Look on the bottle of paint for specific baking instructions. The type I used needed to be baked for 40 minutes at 325F then air cooled. Wash the cup before using for the 1^st time.

There you have it, an easy inexpensive holiday or Christmas craft a child or toddler can make with adult help. This will be a keepsake as well as a useful item around the house. Start a new tradition by going back to the way it used be done, with love not money.