How to Make a Handprint Paperweight

Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles will love this personalized gift from their favorite kid.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brushes
• Poster Paints
• Aluminum Foil
• Aluminum Foil
• All-purpose Flour
• Food Coloring
• Salt
• Salt
• Butter Knives
• Cookie Sheets
• Mixing Bowls
• Rolling Pins
• Toothpicks
• Paper Towels
• Paper Towels
• Toothpicks
• Paper towels
• Salt
• Cookie sheets
• Salt
• Mixing bowls

1. Make a ball of salt dough clay (see "How to Make Salt Dough," under Related eHows). Add food coloring to the dough, or wait and paint it when it's dry.

2. 

   Put the ball onto a sheet of aluminum foil on a cookie sheet.

3. 

   Roll the ball flat with a rolling pin until it's about 1 inch thick.

4. 

   Spread your fingers and press your hand into the center of the clay, leaving a clear impression.

5. Remove your hand from the clay.

6. 

   Use a butter knife to cut a shape such as a circle or a heart around the handprint. Be careful not to tear the foil.

7. 

   Write your name and the date with a toothpick somewhere on the paperweight.

8. Bake the dough at 200 degrees until it's dry (about 10 minutes).

9. Let it cool.

10. 

    Paint the handprint with poster paints if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Let an adult do the baking.

[aniita76]

on 6/10/2008 nmiller--I'm in the same boat--only a day later than you. I was wondering,..did they ever harden? I had in the oven for a total of 20min,..and an hour later, they're still quite soft ;-(

[nmiller]

on 6/9/2008 I baked my handprints at 200 for 10 minutes, but they still seemed soft, especially on the bottoms. So I put them back in for another 10ish minutes and they are still the same. Did I do something wrong? Help! How long can I keep them in the oven baking?