Handprint Reindeer Christmas Card Craft for Kids

A handprint reindeer card is made by pressing a painted hand upside down so the fingers become antlers. Add eyes and a red nose, and you have a card that also records how small their hands were this year.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Fold the cardstock in half to make a card and lay it flat on a covered table.
2. Brush a thin, even layer of brown paint on your child’s palm and fingers. Too much paint makes blobs.
3. Turn the hand so the fingers point down and spread them wide. Press firmly on the card for 3 seconds.
4. Lift the hand straight up and wipe it clean right away.
5. Let the print dry for about 30 minutes until it no longer feels tacky.
6. Glue two googly eyes near the base of the palm, where the face is.
7. Add a red pom-pom or a dot of red paint at the bottom of the palm for the nose.
8. Draw small branches on the antlers (the thumb and pinky) with the marker.
9. Write a message inside, such as “Merry Christmas from our family.”

Tips for Little Hands

• Paint the hand with a sponge brush. It spreads paint more evenly than bristle brushes.
• Practice once on scrap paper so the real card comes out well.
• For a baby, press the card against the hand and have a second adult hold the wrist.
• Keep googly eyes and pom-poms away from children under 3, and draw the eyes and nose instead.

Make It Your Own

• Trace the hand on brown paper, cut it out and glue it on for a no-mess version.
• Make a whole reindeer family in different sizes on one big card.
• Add a loop of ribbon and turn the print into a hanging ornament.