How to Make a Baby Handprint Christmas Ornament

There is something about chubby little baby hands. The little fingers working so hard to grasp toys in a newfound way, the precious way those hands will reach for your own, the thought that someday, those hands will grow into adult hands that could even be bigger than your own.

If you love your baby's little hands and feet, make it a priority to capture their handprints and footprints as newborns in keepsakes like prints for their walls or baby scrapbooks with their birth details.

But for the holidays, if you have a baby at home, you can also turn your baby's cute handprint into a keepsake ornament that will hang on your tree or decorate your home year after year. Salt ornaments are popular, but if you don't feel like baking anything, you can try this baking soda clay recipe instead.

Reasons to Make a Baby Handprint Ornament

This is a great craft to do for many reasons. Some of them include:

It's so easy and inexpensive to make. All you need are a few common kitchen ingredients.

This is a wonderful way to preserve memories. A homemade ornament is special and meaningful. Every year, when you look back at that cute little baby hand for your little one's first Christmas, you will remember their baby years with the magic innocence of babies. 

Older children will love this craft, too. If you have older children, they may enjoy getting in on the fun with this craft. Not only is it easy to make, but they will have so much fun decorating and painting the ornament when it's ready to go. 

Ingredients to Make a Baby Handprint Ornament

For this craft, you will need:

• 1 1/4 cups baking soda
• 3/4 cup cornstarch
• 3/4 cup water
• A ribbon for hanging the ornament
• Wax paper
• Something to press the dough out, like a rolling pin or flat-bottomed bowl
• Paint or glitter to decorate the ornament (optional)

Those ingredients are enough to make one ornament, so if you want to make more than one hanging ornament, you will need to double the recipe or make individual batches for each ornament. 

Directions to Make a Baby Handprint Ornament

1. Make the clay. To make the clay for the ornament, combine all the ingredients in a large pot and stir together over medium heat on the stove until the mixture comes together in one mass. It will resemble mashed potatoes. Once the mass has come together, take the clay out and transfer it to another bowl to cool. Cover it with a damp cloth to keep the moisture in, and let the mixture cool for about 15 minutes.
2. Prep the clay. Roll out the clay on your wax paper so it doesn't stick to your counter and flatten it into an even circle with your rolling pin. Or you can use the bottom of a bowl or even a cup to help you get a flat, even surface.
3. Press in the handprint. Next, press your baby's hand into the clay in the middle. Start with the palm of the hand and roll upwards so the fingers press in last. If you mess it up, the good news is that you can simply roll out your clay again and try it over.
4. Add a hole for hanging. Don't forget to make a hole (or use two holes on each side) on the top of the ornament with your finger or the long end of a spatula for hanging your ornament up.
5. Let it dry. Let your ornament dry for at least 24 hours before you decorate it.
6. Decorate your ornament. You can add a little extra embellishment to your baby handprint ornament. After the ornament is dry, brush the ornament with paint or glue. Top with glitter. Hang and enjoy!