Handprint Gingerbread Cookie Wreath Craft Idea

Little hands grow fast, and this cheerful holiday wreath captures them just as they are this year. Each paper handprint becomes a “gingerbread cookie” with white icing and colorful sprinkles. Together, they form a sweet wreath you’ll want to hang every December.

The best part is the base: a simple paper plate with the center cut out. It’s sturdy, cheap, and gives kids an easy guide for placing their handprints. This project works well at the kitchen table, in a classroom, or at a holiday craft party.

Grab your supplies, and let’s start baking our paper cookies!

Craft Supplies:

• 1 paper plate with the center cut out (sturdy plates work best)
• Construction paper or cardstock in brown/tan tones (you want two colors)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick, craft glue, or a stapler
• White puffy paint or 3D glue
• Loose craft glitter or sequins
• Craft ribbon, for a bow and hanging loop

Helpful extras: A baking sheet or tray to catch glitter, a few paper towels, and a marker to write names and dates on the back.

Directions:

Step 1: Prepare the Paper Plate Ring

1. Fold the paper plate gently in half. Don’t crease it too hard.
2. Snip a small slit in the center of the fold.
3. Unfold the plate. Slide your scissors into the slit and cut around the inside edge, where the flat center meets the raised rim.
4. Remove the center circle. You now have a sturdy ring for your wreath base.

Step 2: Trace the Handprints

1. Have your child place one hand flat on a sheet of paper, fingers spread a little.
2. Trace around the hand with a pencil. Keep the lines loose and smooth around the fingers.
3. Repeat on the brown or tan paper.
4. Keep tracing until you have about 12 to 16 handprints. Aim for an even mix of both colors.

Tip: Wiggly hands are part of the fun! If your little one can’t stay still, trace one great handprint, cut it out, and use it as a template for the rest.

Step 3: Cut Out the Handprints

1. Cut along each traced line. Older kids can try this themselves with safety scissors.
2. Don’t worry about perfect fingers. Simple, rounded shapes look just like cookies.
3. Sort your handprints into two piles by color.

Step 4: Arrange the Handprints on the Ring

1. Lay the paper plate ring flat on the table.
2. Place your first handprint so the palm rests on the ring and the fingers point outward.
3. Tilt each hand slightly in the same direction, so the wreath seems to swirl in a circle.
4. Alternate the two colors of handprints all the way around. Let each one overlap the last.
5. Before attaching anything, step back and check the spacing. Shuffle the hands until the circle feels full.

Step 5: Attach the Handprints

1. Lift one handprint at a time and add glue to the palm area.
2. Press it firmly onto the ring and hold for a few seconds.
3. Work your way around the wreath until every hand is in place.

Prefer a quicker option? Staples work great and hold tight. Place them near the palm, where the next handprint will hide them.

Let the glue dry for a few minutes before moving on to decorating.

Step 6: Add the “Icing”

Here’s where your handprints turn into gingerbread cookies!

1. Squeeze a thin line of white puffy paint or 3D glue along each finger. You can trace the outline or run a line down the center of each finger.
2. Add a few squiggles or dots on the palm if you like.
3. Keep the lines thin. Thick lines take much longer to dry.

Step 7: Sprinkle on the Glitter and Sequins

1. While the white paint is still wet, set the wreath on a tray or baking sheet.
2. Sprinkle glitter over the icing lines.
3. Gently tip the wreath to shake off the extra glitter. Pour it back into the jar for next time.

Now comes the hard part: waiting! Let the wreath dry flat for several hours, or overnight to be safe. Puffy paint needs time to set completely.

Step 8: Add the Hanging Loop

1. Cut a piece of ribbon about 10 to 12 inches long.
2. Fold it in half to make a loop.
3. Turn the wreath over and attach both ribbon ends to the back of the ring at the top. Use a staple, strong tape, or a dab of craft glue.

Step 9: Tie the Finishing Bow

1. Cut a longer piece of the same ribbon, about 18 to 24 inches.
2. Tie it into a big, fluffy bow.
3. Attach the bow to the bottom of the wreath with a staple or glue.
4. Trim the ribbon tails at an angle so they look neat and don’t fray.

That’s it! Your Handprint Gingerbread Cookie Wreath is ready to hang.

RELATED —> Paper Plate and Dot Sticker Gingerbread Man Craft

Hang your finished wreath on a door, a window, or the fridge where everyone can admire it. Every time you see those little sprinkle-covered fingers, you’ll remember a cozy afternoon of crafting together.

Make one this year, then make another next year. Before long, you’ll have a growing collection of gingerbread handprints that tells the story of your family’s holidays. Happy crafting!