Some crafts are sweet in the moment and forgotten by December. This one is different. It captures something no store-bought card ever could: your child’s actual handprints and the exact width of their hug – preserved right at this age, right at this size, for as long as you want to keep it.
Here’s the sweet idea behind it. You’ll make two little turkeys from your child’s handprints, then connect them with a length of ribbon measured to match their arm span. Stretch the finished keepsake out wide and it shows exactly how big their love is – “I love you THIS much!” It’s like holding a hug in your hands, and it’s one those lucky enough to receive it will want to hold onto forever.
It’s simple enough for preschoolers with a little help, and it makes a heartfelt Thanksgiving gift for grandparents, parents, and anyone lucky enough to receive one. Let’s make it!
Craft Supplies:
Gather these supplies before you start. Most of them are probably already in your craft drawer.
- Brown paper (construction paper or cardstock) for the handprint turkeys
- Scissors
- Glue (glue stick or school glue)
- 2 googly eyes
- Orange paper for the beaks
- Red paper for the wattles
- Gold glitter glue for the feathers
- Craft ribbon (any color you like)
- Stapler
- A strip of paper for the message
- A pen or marker
Directions:
Step 1: Trace and Cut the Handprints
Lay your child’s hand flat on the brown paper with fingers spread. Trace around each hand with a pencil – one left hand and one right hand. Then carefully cut out both handprints.
The four fingers become the turkey’s feathers, and the thumb becomes the head and neck. Little ones can help hold the paper still while you trace.
Step 2: Decorate the Turkeys
Now for the fun part. Give each handprint turkey some personality:
- Run a line of gold glitter glue down each of the four “finger” feathers.
- Cut a small orange triangle for the beak and glue it near the tip of the thumb.
- Cut a little red teardrop shape for the wattle and glue it just below the beak.
- Add a googly eye to the thumb, right above the beak.
Set both turkeys aside to dry while you prep the ribbon.
Step 3: Measure the Ribbon to Your Child’s Arm Span
This is the part that makes the whole keepsake special. Have your child stretch both arms out as wide as they can go, like they’re giving the biggest hug in the world.
Measure the ribbon from one fingertip to the other, across their full arm span. Trim the ribbon to that exact length. That’s the “this much” – the measured length of their hug, frozen in time.
Step 4: Write the Message
Take your paper strip and write “I love you this much!” across it in your best handwriting. If your child is old enough, let them write it themselves – a little wobble only adds to the charm. Glue the strip along the middle of the ribbon.
Step 5: Attach Everything Together
Line up your two turkeys at opposite ends of the ribbon. Staple the wrist area of one handprint to the top end of the ribbon, and the wrist of the other handprint to the bottom end.
When you’re done, the two turkeys should sit at each end of the ribbon like open arms reaching out for a hug.
Let everything dry completely, and your keepsake is ready.
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When you hand this to Grandma or Grandpa at Thanksgiving, watch their face as your child stretches it wide and says, “I love you THIS much!” It’s the kind of moment that sticks.
This keepsake has a way of holding onto a moment that passes all too quickly. Little hands don’t stay little for long, and this craft captures exactly how big – and how wide – that love was on this particular Thanksgiving. That’s something worth holding onto. Happy crafting, and happy Thanksgiving!
