Kids Hand Prints CalendarTo Create With Your ToddlerThis guide shows you step-by-step how to make a kids hand prints calendar, just like I did with my toddler. These calendars make thoughtful and attractive Christmas - or birthday presents, if someone has a birthday towards the end of the year. I have found they are a real hit with the older generation, who always seem to treasure children's art more than most.
You don't need any special decorations. You can buy them in individual packs, or usually find what you need in a basic children's craft kit. Neither are very expensive.
The Hand Prints CalendarYou Will Need:
First, you need to prepare the paper before doing the hand print.
Lay out the paper under the card as shown, and using the edge of the card, draw a line down the paper.
Encourage your toddler to press their hands down as flat as possible. When I did this, I got mine to practise before I put the paint on his hand - I almost forgot that he would not automatically know to press down flat on the paper. In the photo, notice that his left hand is not completely on the card. It's not a problem - art does not have to be 'correct'.
Leave the prints to dry. Come back later and position the coloured card onto the backing card.
To centre the mini calendar, position it as shown here and measure the remaining width of card. Here that width is 11cm.
Divide that number by 2 - here 5.5cm. I measured 5.5cm in from the left and made a small mark. Then I did the same on the right side. Stick the calendar down, laying it in the centre as guided by the 2 markings.
It's finally time to let your toddler decorate the kids hand prints calendar!Given the choice, many kids will stick anything and everything to the calendar. Too much freedom to glue usually results in the hands being obscured. Be in control of the glue, and only choose decorations that match and are not too heavy for PVA glue, or the card itself. Don't be afraid to put alot of glue on the picture. It helps all the decorations stick, and PVA glue is virtually invisible when it dries. Variations on this design - you could make a kids hand prints calendar by printing multiple hand prints all over the card, or just let them grasp the edges, to make a finger prints design.
The Foot Prints Calendar
Foot prints calendars are a good idea if you have a baby, and want to give a present that has prints from both children. Taking a baby's hand print is not an option, and 2 foot prints look better than a toddler hand print next to a baby foot print. The only practical difference between kids hand prints and foot prints pictures is that with a foot print, the child's foot may well slide around. It's nowhere near as easy as getting a good hand impression. So what you need is 2 or 3 extra sheets of the thin coloured card. Use one sheet in case you need to have a few attempts before getting a decent toddler print. 
The baby foot print will be an easier job - hold the card against the foot as shown.The 2nd extra sheet is necessary in case you don't manage to get the two prints side by side. I succeeded here in these photos, but wasn't so lucky another time I tried! What I did was cut each print out and stick them together on the extra sheet. With all the extra decorations, it wasn't really noticeable. And that's how you make kids hand prints and foot prints. A bit messy, but good fun! Return from Kids Hand Prints Calendar to Toddler Christmas Crafts
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