These thumb print necklaces are very easy to make & are a very cute keepsake for any Mother, Father, Grandma, Aunty etc and you can make them for any occasion – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas or just to say I love you.
We have worked with this homemade clay before. It’s a very soft dough and once dried is similar in appearance to porcelain. It is a lovely bright white colour & is very easy to work with. Check out our Valentine’s Day Magnets that we made with this clay here.
To make this homemade clay you will need:
1/2 cup Cornflour
1 cup Bicarbonate soda
3/4 cup of water
Place all the ingredients into a medium saucepan and combine using a whisk. The liquid will resemble runny cream. Stir continually over medium heat using a wooden spoon until it starts to thicken and resemble a thick mashed potato. Tip the dough onto baking paper, cover with a damp tea towel and allow to cool.
Once cool…
1. Take a small glob of the clay
2. Roll the clay into a ball (by the way, I didn’t ask Master L to pose like this…it’s all him & his future Oscar rehearsal lol).
3. Flatten your ball then make a hole for a ribbon/string to go through after it is baked with a BBQ skewer (or straw).
4. Imprint your child’s thumbprints into the dough. Print their right thumb on the left side and their left thumb on the right side to form your heart.
5. Your finished product is ready for the oven.
Place your little treasure onto a drying rack (cake cooling rack) and back in the oven on the lowest setting for approximately 2 hours – just to make sure they are completely dry. The drying racks allow them to dry evenly including underneath.
Once they are dry, take them out of the oven and allow to cool completely. Then paint your heart. You could add glitter to your paint for a bit of ‘bling’ too if you like.
Then thread your pendant through your ribbon or string (you could also use some ‘pre-made necklace’ which I have seen at my local craft shop). If you like, you could also get the kids to thread on beads etc but we stuck with ‘simple’ on this one.
Any left over clay makes for a lot of fun play too!
You can see the finished necklaces below modelled by my beautiful babies.
I’m sure anyone would be delighted to receive this very special keepsake…I know I would..hint, hint Daddy!
You may also like our:
Where do I find the bicarbonate soda?
Hi Vanessa, any Supermarket will stock it. It will be in the baking aisle with the flour etc : ) Jenni x
Thanks Jenni
Any time : )
It’s another name for Baking Soda
Thank you, I looked and couldn’t find it. So I can just baking soda?
Hi what gas mark will they go in on please, thank you .
Hi Amanda, you will need to put it on the lowest setting : ) Jenni
hI wHERE DO I FND “CORNFLOUR”? I am in the USA
Hi Holly, you can buy it at your local grocery store in the baking aisle…I believe it is called Corn Starch in the US : ) Jenni x
How high/low has the oven got to be ?
Thanks
Hi Sara, you will need to put it on the lowest setting your oven has : ) Jenni x
Just put ours in the oven my 3 yr old had fun making them. Thanks for the great idea!
Yay – that’s so wonderful to hear :). Thanks
Louise x
Hi, thank you for this post I love the idea! Any tips on keeping the dough from cracking? I had to sand all of mine after they dried and they still have cracks and crevices. Also, the edges started drying despite using the damp tea towel while the dough was cooling from the stove. Any tips to remedy that? I’m not at all crafty, but I’m trying for the sake of my son!
Hi Michelle,
Sorry to hear you’re having a hard time with the cracking – I sometimes wonder if it’s effected by the climate. One thing though – you should only cover the clay dough with a damp teatowel ‘before’ you bake it not ‘after’. It just keeps the dough from starting to dry out before the keepsakes are made.
I’ve also found it best to place them in the oven immediately after making them so they don’t start to crack in the open air.
I hope the above helps.
Louise xx
Did you have to paint it once dome with a clear coating? What would you use for that? Nail polish?
Hi Melanie, It’s a good idea to perhaps give it a coast with nail polish or Craft Smart Spray on sealer (we buy this at our local craft store). Louise x
How many necklaces does this single recipe make?? We have 10 children in our class.
Hi Sarah, I’m sure there would be enough to make 10 :). Louise x
Many thanks for all you do!
I’ve just discovered your wonderful site this a.m. I babysit my 3 grandchildren…3,4,&6 yes old. I can’t wait to get started on these fun “I’m bored” activities. I have a plastic storage bin that I put stuff in that may come in handy on craft days.
That’s so wonderful to hear Vadene! We’re so glad to have you! Jen x
Instead of cooking and baking the clay, do you think this would work with air-dry clay, and paint it after the print has (hopefully) hardened inside?