The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · January 2014
Ages2–6 yrs
Prep10 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessHigh
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class
Kids press two painted hand prints into a V-shaped heart on cardstock. While the paint is wet, the card is flipped onto a tray of salt, glitter and sequins for a sparkly homemade Valentine's Day card.
⚠️ Safety first
- Glitter and small sequins are choking hazards. Keep them away from mouths and supervise closely, especially with babies and toddlers.
- Keep salt and glitter away from eyes, and wash hands well after hand printing.
- Use non-toxic, washable kids' paint. The post doesn't name the paint used.
- An adult helps spread the paint on little palms and does the flipping and pressing onto the salt tray.
Before the kids arrive
- Fill a tray with salt, then add plenty of glitter and small sequins to make the salt glitter tray.
Steps
Pour salt into a tray, then add lots of glitter and many small sequins.
Squeeze 3 favorite paint colors onto a paper plate.
Press one hand firmly into the paint. An adult helps spread the paint evenly over the palm.
Press the painted hand on the cardstock at a slant, then paint and press the other hand across it in a V shape to form a heart.
Right away, flip the card paint-side down onto the salt glitter tray and press gently.
Lift the card to see your shiny heart, then let it dry.
Use the leftover paint on the plate as a writing and drawing surface until it dries.
Tips
- Flip the card onto the salt tray immediately (this part is important). Once the paint begins to dry, it won't pick up the glitter as effectively.from the author
- The salt is there for a reason: glitter and sequins show and shine better on a white base, and they stick better.from the author
- I usually re-purpose the salt glitter tray as a shiny writing surface.from the author
- Making quite a few cards? It's more exciting for kids to use different techniques than to make many similar-looking cards.from the author
- It's so easy that even toddlers and babies can make them, and family members would love a cute hand print card from the baby or toddler!from the author
- After the cards were done, we used the paint plate as a writing surface for about 10 minutes before the paint dried out completely.from the author
Make it your own
- Make Salt Glitter hand print Christmas cards with the same technique.
- Mix in other card techniques, such as blow painting Valentine's Day cards, when making a big batch.
Questions readers asked
Did you use a special bright paint?
The post doesn't say which paint was used. The salt base helps the glitter and sequins show and shine better.
What readers say
💬 3 comments
Read all 3 comments
JayNine · Jan 2014
Wow! I really love how bright these look! Outside of the salt assisting in adding to the brightness, did you use a certain type of bright paint? They look so lovely. At first I thought they were a shaving cream puffy paint type with the swirls due to handprints as well...Very Very Cool! We Will be doing this today! ;) Hopefully I will have the energy to share after completed LOL! Thanks for sharing!