December 3, 2011

Handprint Nativity Animals


Finally
...the second of two promised posts. I must start off by saying this was utterly and completely knocked off of someone else. I did NOT come up with this...it's been a couple years since we started doing these and I don't know the original source...but I'd love to give credit to who it's due, so if you know, leave me a comment.

Without further ado, meet our nativity handprint animals:



The first year we did these, they were our nametags for our Christmas presents.  They really spruced up the plain gift-wrapping...but after the gifts were open, I found my mom digging through all the dispersed wrapping paper to retrieve each of the animals, so she could save them. 

 So...last year, I framed it for her in a 12x12 inch frame.  It's now part of her Holiday decor.


These would also make good Christmas cards...whether you handmade each one or did one set and scanned, then printed them out.

What you'll need to make these:
-Construction paper or cardstock
-Paint: brown, white, black, grey, yellow, nude and pink.
-Black Sharpie
-Paint Brushes
-Lots of wipes and paper towels :)

These are pretty simple. Just paint your child's hand and have at it!  (We usually had to do a few practice stamps to teach them how to spread their fingers out correctly.)  Let them dry completely before trying to paint and draw the details.

For Baby Jesus: paint your child's thumb white for the body and stamp it down.  Then, paint your child's index finger nude, for his head and stamp it down on top of the his body. Then, paint the straw and the manger.

I am the camel...who followed the star...with three wise kings...from a land afar.

I am the cow...who offered my hay...so the Savior would have...a warm place to lay.

I am the lamb...who heard angels sing...about where to find...the newborn King!

I am the donkey...meek and mild...who carried Mary...great with child.

If you're counting down with advent activities, do one animal a week.  (Or do them all in one night and only clean up ONE mess!)

If you do this, let me know how it goes!!

16 comments:

Megan said...

So cute Kirbs!! I will most likely steal this idea from you too... I'm not sure I'd have any activities without you.

The Currie Family said...

I really really want to do this....I have been wanting to since I saw it last year. maybe I'll get around to it soon!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for inspiring me! I have a mom who needs nothing and has everything....except the darling hand prints of her grandchildren as the Nativity animals. This might be the best Christmas gift ever!

Unknown said...

I just wanted to thank you so much! I've been looking for awesome holiday hand print ideas, and this was the best yet!I just wanted you to know that I posted a link to this activity on my blog's "Fish Sticks" fan page http://www.facebook.com/fishsticksandkidsense I hope that is ok! Thanks again!

Kim said...

I LOVE it!!

I love any handprint activity and to combine it with the nativity it is possibly the most wonderful thing EVER!!!!

Love the Christmas things that are about the real Christmas story!!

Kristalyn (Learning is Messy) said...

i love these handprint animals. i am writing a series of posts on an Advent Countdown and would like to use this idea. can i use one pic from this post? i will link back and give you credit. please email me at getdownandgetyourhandsdirty at gmail dot com.

Donna said...

Love this ideas! How did you get the spots on the cow? Black Sharpie?

Kirby said...

Thanks, Donna! Yes, black sharpie. :)

Unknown said...

This is adorable! What a wonderful idea!

Unknown said...

I made these in my classroom with my 3 year olds they turned out great my sister will be trying them in her sunday school room as well Thank you so much for the idea soooooo cute

Bonita said...

Just letting you know that I linked to this post on my page called Nativity Activities for Kids: http://www.zujava.com/nativity-activities-for-kids

Anonymous said...

Hi, I love this! Can I use your article/photos in our monthly Mother of Preschoolers (MOPS) newsletter at our church? It is placed on our church's website and handed out at our meetings. I will credit you of course and provide link to your site. Please just let me know. email - kymommie@gmail.com

Thanks!

Becky said...

This is great!! Thanks for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Thank for your the wonderful idea. I made these animals with my preschoolers to hand to elderly residents of the nursing home when we go caroling. I tried to copy all your artistic details, which I could never have imagined on my own. I'm grateful people like you will share their talents online.

Anonymous said...

I am a Mema getting ready to do these with 3 yr. old grandchildren, and I have a qt.; however, I'm not sure you will get this comment.
Did you do each handprint on white and then cut it out???
Thank you for responding to me at:
draper_queen@hotmail.com
Thank you,
Mema Jeanne

Unknown said...

Hey, I love this so much! I would like to try it with my preschool class. I was wondering how you made the lamb, what color did you use and how did you make it look textured? please let me know, and thank you! :)