This sentimental heart of mine is always looking for crafts that help freeze time a little, and allow us to look back on each stage of our kids’ lives. Hand print and thumbprint projects are a perfect choice!
I found the idea for these darling thumbprint heart magnets on Pinterest (courtesy of Rhythms of Play) and couldn’t wait to try them out with Cole. We made a few tweaks– namely using paint instead of ink– and just love how they turned out! These magnets are the sweetest little Valentine’s decor and make such a sentimental gift for loved ones.
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Supplies:
- container of large glass gems (we found ours at the dollar store!)
- acrylic paint
- small paintbrush
- sturdy paper or card stock
- scissors
- modge podge
- hot glue
- magnets
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To make the thumbprint heart magnets:
- Make the hearts. Brush a thin layer of paint on your child’s thumb and press it gently to the paper. Repeat and press the thumb on a diagonal angle to create a heart shape. We made multiple hearts on each page of paper. Don’t worry if some don’t turn out– we had plenty of hearts that were nothing more than blobs. Just keep playing around with it and you’ll find just the right angle to make the hearts work. Let hearts dry completely.
- Attach the gems. Choose the best glass gems and measure them for size and fit over your dried hearts. Apply a drop of modge podge to the center of the flat side of the gem, twist gently to help the glue spread out towards the edges, and then turn it downwards over the heart and press down firmly.
- Cut off the excess paper. Once your modge podge is completely dry (it’s a good idea to leave it overnight) use a sharp pair of scissors to cut around the gem and remove the excess paper.
- Add the magnet. Using a dab of hot glue, attach a magnet to the back of each thumbprint.
- Name and date. Don’t forget to write your child’s name and the year on the back of the magnet for nostalgia’s sake.
Follow along with us on Pinterest for more seasonal and holiday craft ideas!
