Handprint Christmas Decor

So this crafty Christmas decor idea is not my own, but it is so awesome!  I originally found this HERE, and I loved it so much that I ran out to buy supplies!  To make this fabulous Christmas tree with hand prints from your children, you will need:

• A framed canvas (or foam board, or poster board place in an frame)
• Green, yellow, and brown acrylic paint

I found 15"x27" canvas at Michael's Arts and Craft store.  They came in a 2 pack and were priced at $7.99.  I printed a 50% off one item from their website and paid just $4 for two canvas boards!  I didn't have any of the necessary colors, so I bought all three of them for about $.80 each (also from Michael's).

 

First, use the green and paint your child's hand.  I did my oldest child's hand prints on the bottom layer of the tree, my middle child on the middle layer, and the baby on the top.

 

 Next, have your children help you paint the brown tree trunk at the bottom, and the yellow star at the top.  We put our family name in one corner and the year in the other.  

And finally, let it dry and then hang it on the wall!

Now, although this is a fairly easy and cheap project with minimal skill involved, I will say that holding a baby with a painted hand and trying to get him to place his hand properly on the canvas was quite a chore.  In fact, just getting him to open his clenched fist was difficult.  My shirt is currently sitting on my washing machine with stain remover sprayed on it.  But, it was fun and it turned out really cute.  I can't wait to look at this each Christmas and see how my children have grown over the years.