Baby handprints/footprints - HOW?

[Oakmaiden]

I was wanting to make some baby handprints to stick inside the cards my son is making for his grandparents, on behalf of baby daughter. How do I actually do this? I mean, I know the mechanics of it (get babies hand inky/painty and press onto paper) but what is the best thing to use? Ink? What sort? Or some sort of paint?

Any tips, anyone?

was wanting. sigh. I would like to....

I used child safe finger paints to do them with DD. I use a sponge to dab it on to her hands and/or feet and just gently press her hand onto paper. Oh, and I have a wet cloth to hand to wipe it of straight away - didn't do that first time and she ended up with paint all over her face.

Ink may not come off very easily.

I used an ink stamp after checking that it came off my own hand very easily with a baby wipe - some didn't!

You need a firm surface underneath the card to get a good impression.

we did this a few weeks ago....with textile paints onto white tea towels for presents....
nightmare
need at LEAST two people per child!!
and i agree about lots of baby wipes...
ds and dh eneded up doing it topless...
i restrained myself!"

Yes, agree with Popsycal - strip your DS off before starting. If you think he is likely to get in a mess - DD loves painting and always gets covered - maybe even have a small bath ready to put him into straight after.

I did manage it on my own with DD but she was sat in her highchair the whole time and we did it on the table - had a big waterproof mat on table surface.

How old is your DS?

Son is 5 and making the card - daughter is 2 months and is supplying a handprint to go into the card as a sort of signature (and keepsake!). Maybe a footprint would be easier - she doesn't waggle them about so much....

Thank you all for your suggestions.

My sister ended up using her son as a sort of stamp, poor little love. Lovely cards though.

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from experience - feet MUCH easier than hands! and look better too..
used children's poster paint, dabbed on with small piece of sponge. used white paint on pink card, v effective.

I used goache paint, painted ds's feet with it (gold) using a paintbrush then pressed his foot onto card. Had to do quite a few to get some perfect ones but when framed made great granny gifts!

Lie her on her tummy, not her back - much easier to control the foot then. Also, if baby is very young, stroke the top of the foot to make the toes stretch out, because they'll probably curl up from the feel of the paint.

Great fun!

If you've got lots to do, go for just a thumbprint, it's much quicker!