This Father's Day, as our children are younger (4 years old and 4 months old), I wanted to do a more hands on project with the girls. So, after seeing projects that a few people in a group I am in had done for Father's Day, I found my inspiration!
Things you will need:
Blank Canvas
Letters to create saying - I found that wall decals are great because they are designed so that you see the wall behind them, enabling you to create a border even on the interior of the letters.
Masking tape to mark off your corners
Finger Paints
Modge Podge to seal (optional)
First, we started off with a canvas. Initially I purchased one that was 11"x14" but with the letters, this proved to not have adequate room for the handprints as well. I was glad that I also purchased a canvas that was 18"x24". And the letters I found at the Dollar Tree. These are wall decals, I used the same letters to create the alphabet on A's closet doors in our old apartment. The shape was what I was looking for, well-defined and the centers came out, so all the letters would have paint defining the interior lines as well. I was not sure how they were going to work as the did not stick to the textured canvas well after the first stick. If I was working with a younger child I would test stickers out first (on the back of the canvas). The Dollar Tree also has some poster sticker letters above the poster board. In this case, my 4 year old A did a great job being careful not to move them while painting them.
Next I placed the phrase "we love daddy" on the canvas. With the larger canvas centering was fairly easy as it had a stabilizing plank down the center back. I was not worried about perfection with the alignment.
Now, in preparation for a future project, I got the girls in dresses and took pictures!
Next I took a ruler and had A place her hand in a corner. I measured that 8" from the corner of the canvas would be enough room for her hand. Going around the outside of the canvas, I placed a small pencil mark 8" out, and then used the masking tape to tape off the corners. We did get a little paint here and there in the corners from drips. However, it's washable paint, so it was easily removed.
And now - to paint! I picked up finger paints at Target. I was initially disappointed when I saw that the only finger paints left there were the neon paints. But, turns out, I like the neon colors better.
We also needed to be sure that we outlined all of the letters so that they were not lost in the white of the canvas. My niece (12) and I helped a little.
Next we removed the tape.
Then we removed the letters.
And then - handprints!
I attempted to paint baby R's hands. She was sound asleep and was clenching them. However - baby feet are always super cute!
And voila! Pretty easy if you order all of your items online (affiliate links above do not cost you anything extra and help support our work here at MBD).
Stay tuned for the expanded project ;)
