This easy fingerprint heart art activity for kids strikes the perfect combination by including both hearts and those precious little fingerprints.
Materials for fingerprint heart art….
The materials list for this fingerprint heart stencil are pretty simple. The star of this stencil craft is freezer paper. That’s right freezer paper- the kind you find next to the aluminum foil and cling wrap. Freezer paper is perfect for creating the stencil shape, in this case a heart.
You’ll also need an iron and an adult’s watchful eye, scissors, tempera or acrylic paint, card stock or blank cards, and a plate or tray on which to dispense paint.
Creating your heart stencil….
Cut a piece of freezer paper that’s a bit smaller than your card stock. Cut a heart shape by folding the freezer paper in half. Start with scissors on the fold cutting the shape of half the heart, ending on the fold.
This is a great place to talk about the concept of symmetry and how hearts are symmetrical shapes. Here’s a post with a great free one page printable that will give your students the lowdown on the concept of symmetry.
Ironing on your heart stencil….
Freezer paper has a dull side and a shiny side. Place the shiny side down, on the card stock.
Use your iron, on medium heat, to adhere the heart stencil to the card stock. It’s not necessary or desirable to iron the stencil completely down. Just a touch of heat in the middle of the stencil shape will hold it in place. More heat may make it difficult to remove the stencil.
Use fingerprints to create your heart art….
Dispense chosen colors of paint on small plates or trays. Just a small amount of paint is needed.
Instruct kids to use just their pointer finger, tap it in the paint, and then on the card. Fingerprints need to cover all the edges of the heart stencil in order to make the heart shape evident when the stencil is removed.
Kids can cover as much or as little of the remaining card stock. Let them enjoy a variety of colors and watchign them squish together as their fingerprints overlap.
Removing the freezer paper heart stencil….
Allow the wet paint to dry. Then grab a loose edge of the freezer paper stencil and carefully pull it off. Go slow and try to keep the stencil in one piece.
When the stencil is removed the heart shape is made evident by all those adorable fingerprints! The fingerprint heart art can be done or use this as a base to doodle, draw, and write on top of!
CHECK OUT THIS POST TO SEE HOW TO USE THIS SAME FREEZER PAPER TO CREATE T-SHIRT STENCILS!
Great idea for young children! I teach children from ages 5 -7 and from 8-12 as well as youth and adults. I enjoy your projects and creativity and it often sparks something in me that I can take to my classes. Thank you for making your ideas and projects available to people like me.
You’re so welcome Ruth! I’m glad you’re here!