These projects would make great gifts and a special rememberance for mom, dad or someone special as a holiday gift or keepsake. These two crafts include a way to transform a simple rock and also how to make a special handprint craft.  One of our crafters, even did a variation on this craft to making a hanging tree ornament. You can add a little poem to the craft too which we received from one of our crafters.

Rock Paperweight

What you need:

• Rock
• White glue
• Felt, material
• Acrylic paints
• Markers
• Water based varnish

What you do:

1. Find a rock that you love. Preferably large and smooth. Wash rock with warm water and dish soap.
2. Decorate the rock using felt, material, markers or acrylic paints. Be creative- make it look like your favorite person or pet for example. Attach material with white glue. If using paints wait until completely dried before applying varnish.
   
   Also see: "Footprints" poem

Handprints

What you need:

• 4 cups of flour
• 1 cup salt
• Food coloring
• Water to moisten
• Large Bowl

What you do:

1. Mix all the ingredients together in large bowl. Add water to get desired dampness.
2. Take half of the salt dough and gently flatten with palm of your hand. Don't let it get too thin. Keep it thick.
3. Ask your little one to make her handprints in the dough. You can do the same for feetprints too. With a toothpick have your child write their name on the back of the mold with the date. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Ideas & Poems from you

Hand print poem
From: Sunny Mail

I see a lot of people asking for a handprint poem, here is one I use

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls
But everyday I'm growing up
And soon I'll be so tall
That all these little fingerprints
Will be hard to recall
So here's a special handprint
Just so that you can say
This is how my fingers looked
When I placed them here today

---

Another handprint poem
From: Nancy

I have a poem/craft my child made for me when he was in Headstart. The teacher wrote out the poem on a piece of colored construction paper, then at the bottom of the page were my son's handprints, done in white paint. You could type up the poem on your computer on a piece of white paper and cut it out and glue it on the construction paper, then have your child put his or her prints on it, frame it and give it for a gift. I have done this for the little people in my life to give to their parents. They loved them!!

These little hands will never grow,
They will always stay just so.
When I am grown and far away,
These little hands with you will stay.

---

Making a hanging ornament for the tree
From: Teresa
Two years ago, I used the salt clay and made handprints, but instead of imprinting them into the clay, I rolled the clay out (to about 1/4" thickness) and cut it out using a large circle template (about 5" in diameter, but you should sdjust it to the size of your child's hand). I made a hole near the top of each circle, and dried them in the oven. When they were cool, I wrote my boys' names (one on each side of the ornament) in permanent marker, then had them make a paint handprint on the side their name was on. We made the handprints red, then I tied green ribbon on the top so that they could be hung froom a tree. They made wonderful gifts for grandparents, aunts, and uncles, and took up much less space than the imprinted handprints.

HandPrints
From: Jim
When we did the handprints with the Brownie Scouts, we used the aluminum(sp)  pie tins.  They were 3 for $1.50.  They were also sturdy enough not to bend  if they had to be moved right away.

A Child's Footprint
This craft features a great gift for Dad on Father's day or Mom on Mother's Day or a wonderful Christmas gift. This Footprint Craft includes both the child's footprint, a nice momento, and a wonderful, touching poem.  Write the poem in the shape of a large footprint using waterproof marker.  Using watercolors or watered down tempera paints paint the child's foot and print it over the written poem a couple of time. After all is dried laminate the piece of paper and attach string on the back for hanging.

Mother's Day Gift Buckets
To show that you appreciate and love your mom why don't you make her this wonderful gift "bucket"?  After decorating the bucket, fill it with all the items your mom loves- perfume,candy, books, facial cream, lotions etc...  She'll love the gifts and the homemade container.  For the little ones you can paint the bucket white let it dry and then using another color of metal paint and place the child's hand in the paint to make handprints all over the bucket.  Not only will this be a terrific gift, but a perfect mom keepsake!

Box Photo Album
This week's Craft of the Week features an adorable Box Photo Album for mom on Mother's Day. This terrific craft for kids and gift for mom was created by Kathy Ross popular crafter and author of many wonderful kids' craft books. It has step-by-step instructions with pictures.