Handprint Keepsake Christmas Ornament

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🎄 Before Christmas craft: These handprint ornaments are quick, low‑effort, and perfect for making in the run‑up to Christmas — even if your baby strongly disagrees with the process.

🎄 Handprint Christmas Ornaments (That Don’t End in Tears… Mostly)

This was surprisingly easy — and the results are genuinely lovely. I love how white they turn out, with no need to paint like clay or salt dough (because who has time for that). Even better, you’ll probably already have all the ingredients at home, which feels like a small Christmas miracle in itself.

This clay is perfect for keepsakes while our angels are still bubbas, but it’ll also be fab when they’re older and slightly more cooperative. These make beautiful handprint ornaments as they are, or a great blank canvas for painting if you’re feeling brave.

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 cup bicarbonate of soda

• ½ cup cornflour

• ¾ cup water

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👩‍🍳 Method (a.k.a. Trust the Process)

1. Preheat the oven to 80°C. Low and slow — like us in December.

2. Add all the ingredients to a pan and mix to combine.

3. Stir continuously over a medium heat until the mixture looks like mashed potatoes. Not gourmet mash. School‑dinner mash.

4. Tip onto a plate and leave until cool to the touch.

5. Knead lightly until you have a smooth dough, then roll it out on baking paper to about 1cm thick. Any thinner and you risk pushing straight through when making the handprint (ask me how I know).

6. Once rolled, shape and cut as desired. Cookie cutters are by far the easiest option here.

✋ The Handprint Stage (Proceed With Caution)

For the keepsake I made, I initially cut the shapes first and then tried to add the handprints. Learn from my mistake:

👉 It is 100% easier to do the handprint first, then cut the shape.

Place the hand down and press each digit individually to make sure you get the full print.

Now, full transparency: my son absolutely hated having his handprint done. I had to enlist my mum to hold him while I gently but firmly pressed his hand into the dough.

We managed two. That is two ornaments total this year, unless we’re aiming for long‑term emotional damage. I’m sure not all toddlers will respond this way. Mine simply chose violence.

Once you have the handprint, cut around it as desired. Use a straw to make a hole at the top for hanging (I forgot on one, obviously).

✍️ Optional but Lovely: Personalisation

If you have an name stamp kit (here is one just like mine for under £4 on Amazon), you can add a name and date. This is especially lovely if you plan to make one each year and quietly sob about time passing.

⭐ Using Up the Leftover Dough

I used the remaining clay to cut out stars and Christmas trees, making holes with the small end of a chopstick for a slightly more delicate look.

This is more fiddly and time‑consuming than the straw method, which was an absolute breeze — so choose your battles.

🔥 Baking Time (The Waiting Game)

Place your finished pieces on baking parchment, transfer to a baking tray, and pop into the oven.

• Thinner pieces (around 0.5cm): 1 hour, turning halfway

• Thicker handprints (around 1cm): up to 4 hours, turning halfway

Check for soft spots — if it’s fully hard, remove from the oven and leave to cool.

🧽 Finishing Touches (AKA Making Them Look Intentional)

Once cooled, sand off any rough bits. I used:

• 120 grit to remove imperfections

• 300 grit to make them silky smooth

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Now comes the hanging decision.

If, like me, you’re gifting these to your in‑laws, this is your chance to choose a truly questionable cord and bow combination so it really stands out on their Christmas tree. Alternatively, choose something tasteful.

I used cords saved from a posh gift bag I kept “just in case” about ten years ago, so I’m feeling extremely smug about that. Wired ribbon works well if you like shaping bows, but these would also look gorgeous with simple twine or a red‑and‑white candy cane cord.

Disclaimer: Handprint cooperation levels may vary. Emotional support, backup adults, and lowered expectations are strongly recommended.

If you give this a go, I’d love to see what you make — or hear how it went. I can’t wait until my boy is old enough to actually enjoy this so I can see what absolute monstrosities he decides to make for his grandparents.

Save this for later or send it to another tired parent who might need a low‑pressure Christmas craft.