Those tiny fingers won’t stay this small forever, but this handprint penguin poem ornament lets you hold onto them a little longer.
With some black paper, and plenty of giggles, your child’s hand becomes an adorable penguin, that is unique as the little artist who made it. Every winter, when you unwrap it and hang it on the tree, you’ll remember exactly how small that hand once was. Grab our free printable penguin poem tag, gather your supplies, and let’s start crafting!
Craft Supplies:
- Black construction paper
- White cardstock paper {for the printable}
- Penguin poem tag printable – on box.com – password is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026
- Pencil
- Glue stick
- Clear contact paper
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Baker’s twine
- Orange/white scrap paper
- Small wiggle eyes – adhesive ones are perfect
- Small decorative bow
Directions:
1. Make the Handprint
Place your child’s hand flat on the black construction paper with the fingers spread slightly apart. Trace around it with a pencil.
2. Cut Out the Handprint
Carefully cut along the outline. Little ones can help with the palm, while a grown-up handles the tricky spaces between the fingers.
3. Give Your Penguin Personality
At this point in time, kids should add a belly/beak cutout to the center of the handprint cutout. Save the wiggle eyes and bow for last.
4. Prepare the Poem Tag
Print our free penguin poem printable and cut out one of the tag designs. Have your child sign their name on the “Love, ______” line, along with the year or their age.
5. Laminate with Clear Contact Paper
Cut two pieces of clear contact paper, each about an inch larger than your ornament on all sides.
- Peel the backing off one piece and lay it sticky side up on the table.
- Place your handprint design face down onto the sticky surface.
- Peel the second piece and press it gently over the back.
- Smooth from the center outward to push out any air bubbles.
6. Trim Around the Edges
Cut around the handprint, leaving about a ¼-inch clear border. That border keeps the seal tight and helps the ornament last for years.
7. Add The Eyes and Bow
Go ahead and glue down the wiggle eyes & bow. You can either use self-adhesive pieces or a little hot glue on the back of each.
8. Punch a Hole and Add the Twine
Punch a hole in the ornament. Thread a piece of baker’s twine through the hole. Tie the ends in a knot to make a loop, and your ornament is ready to hang!
RELATED —> Handprint Snowmen Poem Ornament
This little ornament holds so much more than a handprint. It holds a moment in time that you’ll be grateful to have captured every single holiday season. Each December, this handprint penguin will remind you just how tiny those fingers once were.
We hope this craft brings as much joy to your family as it has to ours. Don’t forget to download the free printable penguin poem tag and pin this tutorial so it’s ready when the holiday crafting begins. Happy crafting, my dear friends! 🐧
