Last year I made these handprint wall hangings as Christmas gifts for the grandparents. This year I wanted to do something with footprints that my children could make. So, I helped them make three of the footprint paintings pictured above. We kept one and gave the other two to the grandparents. I think they were well received.
Supplies:
Artist Canvas (Ours cost $3 each and were 11″ x 14″)
Acrylic Paint
Paintbrushes
First, my older two children used small paintbrushes to paint the canvas with all sorts of colors. I just let them be creative with the colors and where they were placed.
They covered the entire canvas leaving no white areas. They also painted the edges with a solid color.
Once the canvas was covered (but before it was dry) they used an edge brush (Like you would use to paint around a door frame.) and pulled it across the canvas to blend all of the colors. They loved the way it muted the colors. This was probably their favorite part of the whole process.
Next, it was time to paint their feet and add their footprints to the canvas. I chose to go in order from oldest to youngest. My daughter (the oldest) was so ticklish she laughed through the entire process. 🙂 I was so pleased that all of my children were so cooperative.
I didn’t do anything to the back of the canvas other than to date it and write the ages of my children. The canvas will sit on a nail, but I could have added a picture hanger to it.
While these paintings were Christmas gifts this project would easily lend itself to be a Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day or birthday gift. Some variations on this theme would be to use a solid paint color for the background, use a smaller canvas with an individual footprint or handprint on it, or to use a child’s handprint and footprint on the same canvas.
Whatever the process I am sure that this frugal and fun gift will be something treasured by the recipient for years to come.
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