Thumbprint Shamrock Keepsake Frame

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This cute Thumbprint Shamrock Keepsake Frame is a really fun and easy to make St. Patrick’s Day Kids Craft Project! No fancy or expensive items required, just some paper, paint, craft sticks, glue and some colored yarn. It could not be any simpler, so have a go with your kids or grandchildren.

Thumbprint Shamrock Keepsake Frame

In a few easy steps I show you how to make a picture frame with ice cream sticks, some paint and a little glue.

This is a really fun and easy kids craft project. The frames would make the perfect gift for parents and grandparents on St Patrick’s Day.

It’s a fun kids craft project to do together, and y’all know I love keepsakes involving thumbprints, handprints, and footprints. Afterall, our kids don’t stay little very long.

You can easily swap out the graphic in the middle to use this craft idea for any holiday or special occasion during the year!

It would make a great crafting activity with larger groups of children, and would work well for preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary aged kids.

For younger kids, you’d need to provide a bit more assistance, while the older kids could show their creativity and given a bit more independence.

What you will need: 

No expensive crafting items required to make these keepsake frames, just a few bits and pieces that most of you will have in your crafting boxes at home.

• White Paper
• Wood Craft Colored Sticks – I included a link to the pre-colored sticks, for simplicity and ease of use. If you have extra paint on hand, or are making multiple of these, it might be more frugal to purchase Plain Craft Sticks and paint them yourself. It would add an extra step to the process, but if you click the links you’ll see that 750 plain sticks is less expensive than 150 colored sticks.
• I recommend using Craft Paint or Washable Paint.
• Glitter
• Scissors
• Glue or Glue Gun with Glue – whichever you have on hand.
• Variety of different colored Yarn.

What kind of glue to use on Popsicle sticks?

If the kids want to do the entire activity themselves I recommend using Tacky Glue. However, if you plan to make the frames up in advance, so that all the kids need to do is make the shamrock thumbprints, then a Glue Gun with Glue makes quick work on the frames.

PLEASE TAKE CARE when using glue guns around children and avoid burning, as both the glue and the gun become really hot!

How to make Thumbprint Shamrock Keepsake Frames

• Start by dipping your child’s thumb or finger in the paint. 
• Press down the finger onto a sheet of white paper, do this twice to create a heart shape. 
• Repeat this process a further 2 times, slightly overlapping each heart, this will create a shamrock. (refer to photo above). 
• Sprinkle glitter onto the painted shamrock while it is still wet. The glitter will adhere to the paint while it dries!

• Arrange the craft sticks by color of the rainbow 3 on the top and 3 on the bottom.
•  Next place two craft sticks on each side and glue them together.
• I used my glue gun for this, because it’s what I had on hand.
• If making at school or for a kids party, craft glue would work fine, and be far safer with small children around.
• You could always glue the sticks ahead of time as well, and let the kids use their glue for the steps remaining.

• Cut the Shamrock from the paper, including a reasonable sized border, and glue it onto the back of the frame.
• Glue a piece of yarn onto the back to hang the frame.

Variations:

This simple craft activity can be easily adapted, you can get as creative as you want. Here are some ideas:

• This celebrates St Patrick’s day, but you could use thumbprints to make love hearts for Valentines Day, bunny rabbits or chicks for Easter, pumpkins for thanksgiving and Christmas trees for a festive twist.
• Swap the shamrock thumbprint and replace it with your child’s hand or foot print.
• You could also frame your child’s photograph or a drawing that they have done.
• Group and glue a few frames together, ideal if you have a larger family and each child wants to get involved.
• Add more glitter to the sticks if you want to add a little more sparkle.
• Glue some buttons, or foam crafting shapes to the frame.

Try some of my other great crafting activities here at When is Dinner:

• Shamrock Magnet Kids Craft Project
• Wooden Stick Pencils Craft

Originally Posted 3/16/15