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Here is a great way to get some family participation and a priceless memento of your family here and now. This time may never come again but you'll have something that shows just how big everyone's hands are today. Make a wall hanging Hand Christmas Tree out of your families hand prints. We did this about 8 years ago. Some of our kids are now gone from the home and they are much bigger, but we have their hand prints to bring back the memories. Not only does it bring back memories but it is also a very attractive, eye catching. wall hanging. This is a fun way to keep a record of your children's size. |
Things that you need:
Large piece of fabric, the size and type is dependent on your family size, personal taste, and what you can afford. You can go as simple as you want (like a heavier cotton) to something a little bit more extravagant (like a sateen)
Paper to put on the floor under the fabric as a floor protector.
Green, Red, Yellow or silver/gold, brown Acrylic paint
Large pan or plate to pour the paint into while you are painting.
Dowel, long enough to hand wall hanging and thick enough to support the weight
Prepare the fabric by hemming and making a casing large enough for the dowel to fit inside.
Get everyone together with clean hands and (if you have small children) smocks to protect clothing.
You will have to work out your own particular pattern for how many hand prints across and up to come out with a tree shape at the end. Make a pattern of how you propose to do this before beginning. Start at the bottom of the tree and work up. Have the largest hand go first and progressively work up to the smallest hand or work up by age such as Dad, Mom, oldest child and so on. The hand prints should face downward to simulate the pine boughs. Dependent on the size of your tree, size of fabric, number of hands to place etc..
Dip each person's hand in the green paint, that has been poured onto a plate. Place the hand in the desired place and push down to get a good hand print. Have them move their hand around slightly without picking their hand up off from the fabric to assure that the print turns out good. Keep repeating this process with each hand print and each person until the tree is complete.
When the tree is made, make a star at the top with the yellow or silver/gold paint also using hands. Pick someone's hand and have them make about three hand prints, changing the angle each time to end up with a shape to resemble a star.
Using brown, make a trunk, again out or hand prints. With Red paint create the look of lights or ornaments using your thumb. Apply the red randomly.
Let dry thoroughly. Hang and enjoy!
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