Fingerprint Wreath Photo Ornaments: Simple Christmas Craft for the Classroom

Looking for a quick, easy, and inexpensive Christmas gift your students can make for their parents? 

These Fingerprint Wreath Photo Frame Ornaments are fast, simple, and absolutely adorable. 

They turn tiny fingerprints into a keepsake ornament families will treasure for years!

Below are the step-by-step directions to help you make these festive fingerprint wreaths in your classroom:

Step 1: Gather Supplies

You will need: green Tempera paint (two shades), red Tempera paint, Q-tips, scissors, a hole punch, ribbon, white cardstock, and student photos.

Step 2: Add Student Photos

Take a picture of each student and insert their photo into this PowerPoint. Resize each image to about 2.5 inches tall so it fits neatly inside the boxes on the page. This will ensure the photo is the correct size for the wreath opening.

Step 3: Edit Name Plaques

In the PowerPoint file, type in each student’s name, grade, and the school year to create a name plaque for each student's wreath. Adjust the font style and size as needed.

Step 4: Print Wreath Templates

Choose your wreath design. Options include a blank wreath or one with the year. 

*The year is editable in the PowerPoint file so you can reuse the template each year.*

Print on white cardstock and cut out the wreaths. 

Step 5: Fingerprint Greenery

Pour both shades of green paint onto a paper plate. 

Have students dab their finger in the paint and fill the wreath with fingerprints. They can place prints randomly, create a “V” pattern, overlap them, or mix the shades.

Step 6: Add Red Berries

Cut the tips off Q-tips.

Place a small amount of red paint on a plate and have students dab tiny red dots onto their wreath using the end of the Q-tip.

Step 7: Color the Ribbon

Have students use markers to color a ribbon for their wreath.

They can color a solid design or create a fun pattern. 

Have the students cut out the ribbon and glue it to the top (or bottom) of their wreath.

Step 8: Attach Student Photos

Tape each student’s photo to the back of their wreath so the face shows through the center.

Step 9: Add Name Plaque

Glue or tape each name plaque onto the wreath. 

You can attach it to the front or back—your choice.

Step 10: Laminate

Laminate the wreaths for durability, then cut them out again after laminating.

Step 11: Punch a Hole

Use a hole punch to make a small hole at the top of each wreath for the ribbon.

Step 12: Add Ribbon for Hanging

Thread ribbon (3/8-inch works nicely) through the hole. 

Tie a double knot and trim the ends.

Step 13: Finished Ornament

Your adorable keepsake ornament is complete!

These turn out so cute and make such meaningful holiday gifts.

Step 14: Wrap the Gift

Have students wrap their ornaments. 

(I use my printable Snowman Gift Bag found HERE in my TPT store.)

Your parent gifts are ready to go home!

There are so many different ways you can customize these wreaths. 

Grab everything you need to make the Fingerprint Wreath Ornaments HERE!

Mother's Day Gift Idea - Student Made Keychains for Mom!

If you are looking for an easy, practical, and cheap Mother's Day gift for your students to make, then these heart keychains fit the bill!

Your students can add any design and colors to their heart keychain.

They can also write sweet messages on their heart keychains as well.

This year I did something different and added each student's name on their heart keychains as well.

Here is what they look like when I made them last year without the names.  Both ways turn out great!

Here's how we made the heart keychains:

Step 1:

For this craft you will need Shrinky Dinks plastic sheets, scissors, colored pencils, a hole punch, small jewelry rings, keychain rings, and the printable heart template (found HERE).

I like to use the frosted Shrinky Dinks plastic sheets because colored pencils work well on them.

 

However, they do make clear plastic sheets as well.  These would be great to use permanent markers on.

Step 2:

Using the heart template, trace as many hearts as you can on the rough side of the Shrinky Dinks plastic sheet.  You should be able to get about 4 hearts on one page.  You can also just print the hearts directly onto the plastic paper using your computer printer.

Step 3:

Cut out each heart.  Make sure to keep any extra scraps of the Shrinky Dinks plastic as you cut.  You can use these scraps for your student crafts as well (more about that on step 7).

Step 4:

Add a hole punch at the top center of each heart.  It is important not to forget or skip this step.  The hearts must have a hole punched before baking!

Step 5:

Give each of your students a heart to decorate.  Have them add their own designs, message, colors, etc. to the rough side of the heart.  I have found that colored pencils work really well on the Shrinky Dinks plastic.

Step 6:

Instead of a heart, another great design idea would be to have your students trace their hand on the Shrinky Dinks plastic!  They can then decorate their own handprint!

Step 7:

Using the extra scraps of the Shrinky Dinks plastic that you have, cut out small rectangles using wavy scissors.  These are great to use for students to write their name on and add to their heart keychain.  Don’t forget to add a hole punch at the top of these as well.

Step 8:

Follow the steps on the Shrinky Dinks packaging to shrink and harden each student’s designs.  

I take them home for this step.  I cut and place a brown paper sack on a cookie sheet.  Then, I add all the pieces to the cookie sheet (rough side facing up).

Step 9:

Cook at 325 degrees for approximately 1 to 3 minutes.  Watch them carefully while in the oven.  You will see them first curl up then lay flat.  Once I see them lay flat I let them cook about 30 seconds longer and then take them out of the oven.

Step 10:

Once you take them out of the oven let them cool.  If there are any that are still slightly curled take something (like a pad of paper) to push it flat before it cools.

Step 11;

Using needle nose plyers add a small jewelry ring through the hole punches.  Then, add the keychain ring.  Finally close the jewelry ring tight.

Step 12:

The keychain is now complete!

Step 13:

These keychains make a cute and useful keepsake for moms! 

Step 14:

Your students can make all types of different shapes for their keychains!

Star shaped keychains turn out great too!

Step 15:

Finally, have your students wrap their gift.  You can grab this printable Mother’s Day gift bag HERE!

Now your Mother’s Day gifts are ready to send home!

These keychains also make a great Christmas parent gift, Grandparent's Day gift, Father's Day gift, etc.!

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