Make-It Monday: Handprint Farm Animals

Aren’t little hands the cutest?!  If you are looking for a cute, farm-related handprint keepsake for yourself or your friends and family, check out these Handprint Farm Animals.  These are super easy to make with whatever you have around the house (paint, paper, foam, felt, etc.) and can even send them through the mail so your kids can share the love near and far.

Find a helpful how-to video below:

Materials

• Paint, Paper, Foam, or Felt (in different colors – use whatever you have around the house!)
• Writing Utensil (pen, pencil, crayon, etc.) or Paintbrush
• Markers (black, brown, pink, and red)
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions for a Paper/Foam/Felt Pig or Cow

1. Use a writing utensil to trace a handprint for the body, oval for the head, two ears, and a tail on pink paper/foam/felt (or white for a cow).  Cut them out with your scissors.
2. To add hooves, use a black market to color the bottom of each finger.  Then, use a scissors to cut small triangles out.
3. On the head, use black and pink markers to add eyes and a snout.  On the ears, use a pink marker to darken the inner ear.
4. It’s time to glue!  Glue your ears to the back of your head and tail to the back of your handprint.  Wait a few minutes to dry.
5. Glue your head to your handprint over the thumb.
6. Add some mud spots for a pig or black spots for a cow if desired.

Instructions for a Paper/Foam/Felt Chicken

1. Use a writing utensil to trace a handprint for the body on white or yellow paper.  Then, draw two feet and beak on orange paper, and a comb and wattle on red paper.  Cut them out with your scissors.
2. On the thumb, use a black marker to add an eye.
3. It’s time to glue!  Glue the feet under the palm and the beak, comb, and wattle to the thumb to finish the face.

Instructions for a Painted Pig or Cow

1. Use a paintbrush to paint the four fingers and palm with pink paint (or white for a cow).
2. Press the hand firmly on your paper.  If necessary, fill in empty spots with your paintbrush.
3. Using the paintbrush, add an oval for a face (where the thumb of the handprint would be), ears, and a tail.  Let dry for a few minutes.
4. Using a paintbrush and paint or a marker, add eyes and a snout.  Let dry for a few minutes.
5. Using your paintbrush and paint or a marker, add some mud spots for a pig or black spots for a cow if desired.
6. Add scenery or a message on the rest of your paper as desired.

Instructions for a Painted Chicken

1. Use a paintbrush to paint all five fingers and palm with white or yellow paint.
2. Press the hand firmly on your paper.  If necessary, fill in empty spots with your paintbrush.  Let dry for a few minutes.
3. Using a paintbrush and paint or a marker, add a beak, comb, eye, and wattle to the thumb to make a face.  Let dry for a few minutes.
4. Using a paintbrush and paint or a marker, add feet under the palm.  Let dry for a few minutes.
5. Add scenery or a message on the rest of your paper as desired.

Make-It Monday projects will be posted each Monday (except for holidays) throughout the museum closure for COVID-19.  For a full list of previous projects, visit Make-It Monday.

Questions? Contact Sarah, the museum's education coordinator.