There’s something magical about the first crisp days of autumn. The leaves start turning, the air smells sweet, and caramel apples pop up at every fall festival. Why not bring that cozy feeling home with a simple craft your little ones will adore?
This paper plate and handprint caramel apple is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. It uses supplies you probably already have around the house, comes together in minutes, and doubles as an adorable keepsake. Best of all, kids get to dip their own little hands into the “caramel” (well, sort of!) and watch a sweet fall treat come to life. Let’s get crafting!
Craft Supplies:
Gather these supplies before you start:
- 1 red paper plate – this becomes your shiny apple
- 1 wooden popsicle stick – for the apple’s handle
- Light brown construction paper – for the caramel handprints
- Glitter glue in copper or gold – to make the caramel sparkle
- Loose craft sequins – red and copper look extra festive
- White paper – for your sweet message
- Stapler – for securing the craft stick to the plate
- School glue – to hold everything together
- Scissors – a grown-up job for the trickier cuts
Directions:
- First things first – grab your red paper plate, craft stick and stapler.
- Staple the wooden popsicle stick to the top-back edge, letting it stick up above the plate. This becomes the handle of your apple, just like the ones you’d hold at a fall fair.
- Next is the caramel! Lay your child’s hand flat on the light brown construction paper and trace around it. Do this twice so you have two handprints. Grown-ups, grab the scissors and carefully cut them out. These brown hands will become the dripping “caramel.”
- Grab your paper plate. Glue both handprints onto the lower half of the plate, letting them overlap slightly in the center. The fingers should drape down like caramel dripping off the apple. So cute!.
- Now for the fun part. Squeeze wavy squiggles of copper or gold glitter glue across the brown handprints. This gives your caramel that gooey, shiny look. Let your child go wild here, there’s no wrong way to drizzle.
- While the glitter glue is still wet, scatter the leaf-shaped sequins over the palms of the handprints. Press them down gently so they stick. The mix of red and copper leaves adds a perfect autumn sparkle.
- Take your white paper and write a short message on it. We wrote “A sweet treat made with my little hands ♡ [Name]”
- Trim it down and glue it across the middle of the handprints.
- Add any other embellishments you see fit. When done, let everything dry completely, then find the perfect spot to show it off.
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Long after the leaves have fallen, this little craft will remind you just how tiny those hands once were. Handprint projects have a way of capturing a moment in time, and years from now, you’ll smile every time you see it. Tuck it into a memory box, frame it, or add it to your seasonal decor. It’s more than a craft, it’s a memory made with love.
Don’t forget to add the date on the back so you’ll always remember the year your little one made it. Trust us, future-you will treasure that small detail.
Happy crafting, friends! We can’t wait to see your sweet fall creations.
