How to Create Your Own Twins Handprint(s) using Oven Baked Clay

Making a hand print of your twins or toddler babies can be somewhat easy. It all depends on what medium is used and if your twins or baby cooperate with you. If you like plaster, good for you. If you like clay, good for you too. For myself, I tried plaster and did not like it. I then tried clay and found that it works much better. Using clay is a no brainier.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Twin A
• Twin B
• Clay (two boxes) or Plaster (a small or big container)
• Oven
• Oven mitts
• Poly brushes in Value Pack
• Paint (if you want to paint the handprint)

Making Hand prints of Your Twins or Toddler' s Handprint(s)

1. 
   Clay for Making Handprints

   First, go to your local craft store or discount store, look for a medium that allows for making hand prints.

2. 
   Oven Dial set at 275 Degrees

   Once home, turn your oven on to 275 degrees F. Let your oven reach that temperature while you prepare the clay for your project.

3. 
   Clay, taken from box in Clear Film

   Open one package and remove clear film around clay. Next, with both hands, tear off an amount might big enough for making a hand print for your twins or toddler.

4. 
   Clay Rolled Into Ball

   In both hands, roll torn off portion into a ball. With clay rolled into a ball, place the clay ball on your work area and flatten with the palm of your hand. Flattened clay should be no thicker than 1/2 an inch.

5. 
   Clay in Flattened Form

   Here is what the clay, from rolled form, looks like flattened. The clay is now ready for your twins' or toddler's handprint. If you want to do both hand prints at the same time, you will need more clay. Make sure your babies' hands are clean! Babies always have messy hands.

6. 
   Twin A and Twin B Handprints

   It is now time to find one of your twins or toddler and push their fingers and palm into the soft clay. When doing this, it really is best to have some help. That is, if it is your goal to get all five fingers and palm print etched into clay. On the edge of each handprint, using a toothpick, write in the date and name of your twin or toddler. These handprints are from Twin A and Twin B.

7. 
   Clay Handprints in Warm Oven

   Next, place hand prints, ready for baking, on a cookie sheet and move cookie sheet to already warmed oven for 15 minutes.

8. 
   Baked Clay Handprints, Cooling

   When 15 minutes is up, remove clay hand prints from oven with oven mitts, place in an area away from your twins or toddlers. Let cool for 20 minutes or more.

9. 
   Paint, Small Bowl, Polybrush and Handprints

   If you decide the color of clay is not what you like, you can now add color to the hand prints. Take a small bowl, add one or two small drops of paint, add a touch of water, use a poly brush and stir the water in with the paint.

10. 
    Painting Handprints with Polybrush

    With poly brush in hand, begin making paint strokes over the handprint, getting every nook and cranny, including the edges but not the bottom. There really is no need for the bottom to be painted.

11. 
    Baked and Painted Handprints

    Finally, here is what your twins' or toddler's handprints, painted, look like. The hand prints in clay are not heavy either and they are something to be cherished as your twins' or toddler's hands continue to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have two babies, you may want some help in getting them to cooperate with you.
• This will be something you, your babies or your loved ones will cherish.
• Keep your twins or toddlers away from the oven and away from the paint.

[CCrock]

on 12/27/2007 cute! You can buy colored baking clay called "Sculpy", we used it at my art school for crafts and it comes in all colors...