How to Hang Children's Hand Molds

Create a three-dimensional mold of a child's hand resting on his mother's hand.

Create hand molds of babies and children in shapes, such as oval, round, square or a heart. Your mold could be of one child's hand, two children holding hands or a child's hand clasped in one of his parent's hands. Hand mold kits are available at craft and discount stores, including a plaque style kit or one that allows you to make a sculpture of the child's hand. Hang the child's hand mold in his nursery or in the living room to share the treasured keepsake with family and friends. There are various ways to hang children's hand molds, depending upon the size, shape and style.

Things You'll Need

• Epoxy or bonding glue
• Picture hook
• Adhesive disc
• Cord
• Ribbon
• Pencil
• Large nail
• Hanging hook or bracket
• Stud finder (optional)
• Decorations (optional)
• Pipe cleaner (optional)
• Bell cap
• Jump ring
• Small needle-nose pliers

Instructions

Hand Impressions

1. Attach a picture hook or an adhesive disc to the back of the hand mold, using epoxy or a permanent bonding glue. Place it approximately one-third of the way down from the top, in the center of the plaque. Alternatively, place a piece of strong cord or ribbon in the middle of the mold during the creation process. Pour half of the mixture into the container and lay both ends of the cord onto the mold two-thirds of the way down, leaving a hanging loop that extends out of the top of the mold. Pour the remaining mixture on top of the cord. Once the mold is dry, the cord or ribbon will be embedded into the plaque.

2. Hold the hand mold against the wall and make a small pencil mark where the picture hook or hanging loop is.

3. Hammer a large nail or hanging hook into the wall, preferably on a stud. Find the stud with a stud finder or by tapping on the wall. Tapping produces a hollow sound until you locate the stud.

4. Place the cord or ribbon over the nail and adjust it to make it even.

5. Attach a small bouquet of silk flowers or a large bow to the top of the hanging cord or ribbon. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the decorative item and the cord. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to hold it in place and tuck it behind the plaque. Use colors that complement the color scheme of the room. Another idea is to tie one of the child's belongings, such as a hair bow, bow tie or a pair of mittens, to the cord with a small decorative ribbon.

Hand Sculpture

1. Attach a hanging bracket to the wall according the directions of the bracket used.

2. Secure a bell cap to the top center of the sculpture using epoxy or a permanent bonding glue. Run the jump ring through the eye of the bell cap. Compress the jump ring with a small pair of needle-nose pliers until the two ends meet, forming a closed circle.

3. Slip a metal or wire hanging hook through the center of the jump ring and hang the hand mold on the hanging bracket.

4. Decorate the wall around the hand mold with baby portraits, family pictures, the child's report cards, birth certificate or other meaningful items.

Tips & Warnings

• Use multiple hooks or adhesive discs for large or heavy molds.

• Display a hand sculpture on a desk or shelf by hanging it on an ornament hook connected to a wooden base or place your hand impression plaque on a small easel.

• Place several hand mold plaques of your child at different ages, or of several children, on a plate display rack and hang it on the wall.

• Hang a large shadow box on the wall and place hand impressions and sculptures in it.

References

• Martha Stewart: Cast-Hand Craft
• Enchanted Learning: Handprint Craft