I hadn’t planned to write about this little craft Clara and I made, but after seeing a photo of John’s Granny beaming while holding our creation, I wanted to record it here so we’ll always remember. We made a small, cheerful birdhouse decorated with Clara’s handprints on the roof.
The birdhouse started out painted dark red and was an inexpensive find from a home goods store. Since Granny has such a sunny personality, we decided to brighten it up and add Clara’s handprints before sending it off to West Virginia. We covered the facade in white paint and painted the roof yellow to hide the original red. A few of our lines turned out a bit wobbly, but that imperfection feels like part of the birdhouse’s charm.
Next, I coated Clara’s hands with white paint and we pressed them onto the roof four times—two right-hand prints on the right and two left-hand prints on the left. After the paint dried, I sprayed the birdhouse with clear outdoor sealant to protect it from the weather, applying three thin coats to make sure the paint would hold up. We signed the bottom with a Sharpie and added the date to personalize it.
Soon after, John’s parents brought the birdhouse to Granny’s house and took a sweet photo of her holding it. Clara was thrilled to see Granny with the birdhouse she helped make, and I’m grateful we had the chance to create such a simple, meaningful gift together.
If you enjoy handprint crafts, there are plenty of other easy projects to try that celebrate little hands and simple creativity. Handprint projects are often quick, adaptable, and make wonderful keepsakes that family members cherish.
Are you working on any kid-friendly crafts right now? They’re often some of my favorite projects to make.