Do you want to add something special to your Thanksgiving table this year? This is the perfect craft to begin now if it is your baby's first Thanksgiving!
My daughter and I have the tradition of creating a handprint “turkey” on a new placemat each November. Over the years, it is fun to see how much her little hands have grown, and I like the way the placemats are all different styles. I chose different styled placemats deliberately because I wanted to have the symbolism created by bringing different styles together. That is the spirit of Thanksgiving after all. To bring family together around the table where we each may have our own style, view points, and personalities, but together we make-up our beautiful family!
Here’s how I create this fun and simple project each year:
- First, buy placemats or decide to use ones you already have at home. I decided to buy two that match each time I purchase placemats for this project. That way, in the event I ever choose to decorate a side table, I might want a couple that go together. I also do it this way in order to make the choosing easier some years by already having one purchased and stored with our holiday decorations. You could buy 12 different placemats all in one year if your budget allows! Do what’s best for you.
- Buy paints in holiday colors, or gather paint you already have at home in the shades you want for your turkey. The type of paint (acrylic verses tempera) doesn’t matter. Some years we do all one colored handprints, some years my daughter likes to have each finger a different color. Again, you can customize to whatever you choose!
- Use a paintbrush to brush on the paint to one of your child’s hands, and then press it onto the placemat. Leave their hand pressed there for about 30 seconds to really transfer all the paint evenly.
- Spray a sealer over the placemat to help protect the paint. I use Krylon brand “Gallery Series Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol” in the satin finish spray. They are not sponsoring this article, I just happened to find their sealing spray works great. It is available at most craft stores and you can also find it on Amazon.
I hope you enjoy this fun and simple memory-maker for years to come. Happy Thanksgiving friends!
