Little hands grow up fast. One season they’re grabbing at tinsel, and the next they’re tall enough to hang the star. This polar bear handprint ornament captures that tiny hand just as it is right now and turns it into a cozy keepsake you’ll unpack with a smile every December.
The palm becomes a chubby polar bear body, the fingers turn into legs, and a sweet cartoon bear face peeks out from the thumb in a glittery Santa hat. Add a few sparkly snowflakes, some red hearts, and a heartfelt poem, and you have a gift grandparents will treasure for years.
This craft works beautifully at the kitchen table, in a preschool classroom, or at a holiday party station. Let’s make one together!
Craft Supplies:
- Cream or white construction paper
- White cardstock paper {for the printable}
- Bear poem printable – on box.com – password is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026
- A pencil
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Clear contact paper
- 2 small googly eyes
- Stickers/embellishments
Directions:
1. Trace the Handprint
Have your child place their hand flat on the white construction paper with the fingers together and the thumb stretched out to the side. Trace around the hand with a pencil.
2. Cut Out the Hand
Carefully cut along the traced line. Don’t worry about perfect edges. A slightly rounded, chunky shape actually makes the bear look extra cuddly.
3. Flip It Into Bear Position
Turn the handprint upside down so the four fingers point down. Those fingers are now your bear’s legs, and the palm becomes the round body. The thumb should stick out to one side. That’s where the head will go.
4. Cut out the Bear Head
From your print out, cut out the bear head shape. Use crayons, coloring pencils or markers to decorate the head shape. Just make sure you don’t add the wiggle eyes or any other embellishments just yet!
5. Attach the Head
Glue the bear head over the thumb area of the handprint. Let the head overlap the hand a bit so it looks like the bear is turning to say hello.
6. Attach the Poem Tag
Glue the poem tag across the bottom of the handprint so it overlaps the bear’s legs. Write the child’s name on the signature line.
7. Laminate the Ornament
Use two pieces of clear contact paper to “seal” the bear ornament together. When done, trim around the ornament, leaving a narrow clear border of about ⅛ inch so the seal stays tight.
8. Decorate, Punch and Hang
Now for the fun part! Decorate the ornament with wiggle eyes, stickers etc.
When done, punch a hole near the top of the bear’s back, inside the laminated border. Thread a piece of baker’s twine through the hole and tie it in a loop.
Your polar bear is ready to hang on the tree, dangle from a gift, or clip onto a festive display!
BTW – I purposely kept the poem generic so you can also do this craft with a BROWN BEAR instead!
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This little polar bear is more than just paper and glue. It holds a moment in time and the exact size of a small hand, during one cozy holiday season. Each year you hang it on the tree, you’ll remember just how tiny those fingers once were.
Gather your supplies, warm up some cocoa, and make a few memories together. Happy crafting, and merry Christmas!
