Pressed Flower Handprint Keepsake

We love using using pressed flowers for crafts and we also love handprints, so this combined craft is an absolute favorite keepsake to make with your kids! This would also make a beautiful birthday or Mother’s Day gift.

RELATED: Pressed Flower Suncatchers

You can also do a footprint. This would be adorable in a baby’s room or as a keepsake to make for baby’s first birthday.

You can make this a two-part activity, collecting and saving flowers and then creating the handprint frame. City park grasses around playgrounds often have lots of wildflowers that will get cut throughout the spring and summer. Picking some of those wildflowers before they are cut are perfect for this activity.

If you’ve never made your own pressed flowers, it is really easy! See our simple tutorial how to press flowers.

Supplies Needed

• Pressed Flowers – you can make your own by collecting wildflowers or fallen flowers from your garden. See how to make your own pressed flowers. Or you can order some pressed flowers here.
• Floating frame – clean the glass beforehand
• Washable ink pad – non-toxic. Any color will do since you’ll be washing it off when done.
• Paint sponge
• Tweezers – for picking up the flowers
• Scissors
• Mod podge
• Q-tips
• Isopropyl alcohol – for cleaning up extra mod podge as needed
• Paper towel
• Parchment paper or paper plate
• Paint pens

Suggested Frame Sizes

• 1-year-old:
  handprint frame: 5 inches X 5 inches
  footprint frame: 4 inches X 6 inches
• 5-year-old: 5 inches X 7 inches
• 9-year-old or small adult: 6 inches X 8 inches
• Large adult hand: 8 inches X 10 inches

How to Make a Pressed Flower Handprint

1. Make the handprint with ink.

Take the frame apart and use only one piece of glass for the handprint. Begin by creating a handprint in the center of the glass. Lightly press the hand into ink, making sure the entire palm and fingers are evenly coated.

Use a washable ink pad. It doesn’t matter what color of ink is used because you will rinse it off when you are done. Alternatively, you can trace a handprint on paper or print on a piece of paper and tape to the back of the glass to follow as a model handprint, also.

2. Flip the glass over.

Once the handprint is made, carefully flip the glass over and place it on parchment paper with the handprint facing down.

3. Add Mod Podge.

Using a paint sponge or paintbrush, dab a light layer of Mod Podge onto a small section of the handprint area. Work in small sections to prevent the glue from drying before adding the flowers.

4. Add the pressed flowers.

Use tweezers to gently pick up and place the pressed flowers onto the glued area. Arrange them as desired.

Continue working in sections until all flowers are placed and you’re happy with the design. Use some of the flowers with stems for the fingers.

Use scissors to trim longer stems or pieces if needed.

5. Clean extra mod podge.

Use isopropyl alcohol (adults only) to clean up any stray glue smudges around the handprint.

6. Optional: add the date

If desired, add a date, name, or special message using paint pens.

Set the glass aside and allow it to dry completely.

Once dry, carefully rinse only the back side of the glass with clean water to remove the ink handprint. You could also simply use a damp paper towel to remove the handprint and then dry the glass with a clean paper towel.

After the ink is removed and the glass is clean and dry, place the second piece of glass on top with the flowers enclosed inside. Reassemble the frame.

Enjoy your finished work of art! You can display this on a shelf to brighten any room, or give it as a gift!