A hand and footprint kept properly, not on the back of an envelope. Air-dry clay, a frame, and everything you need to take the impression in one sitting. No baking, no mess, no second attempt required.
What's in the kit
- A frame, in white or black
- Sealed air-dry clay
- A roller for flattening it
How to take the print
- Pick your moment. A sleepy or just-fed baby has open, relaxed hands. A hungry one has fists, and fists don't print.
- Set up first. Open the clay only when everything else is ready. Air-dry clay starts drying the moment it meets the air.
- Roll it flat. Work it soft, then roll it out evenly with the roller so the surface is level.
- Press once, lift straight up. Support the back of the hand or foot, press down firmly, then lift cleanly without dragging. A drag smudges the detail.
- Let it dry, then frame it. Leave it flat and undisturbed to set, following the timing on the packet, then mount it in the frame.
Why it works
- Air-dry clay. No oven, no timer, nothing that needs the kitchen. You leave it on a shelf and it sets on its own.
- Everything in one box. The clay, the roller and the frame arrive together, so the project doesn't stall halfway waiting for something you didn't know you needed.
- One sitting. The part involving the baby takes a minute or two. The rest happens without them.
- It ends up on a wall. The frame is the point. An impression in a drawer is a lump of clay. Framed, it's the thing people stop and look at.
Choosing a frame
White or black, same kit otherwise. White disappears into a pale wall and lets the print carry it. Black frames it more firmly and holds its own against busier walls or darker wood. Neither is more correct than the other.
Getting a good print first time
Two things go wrong. The first is a curled hand: wait for a relaxed one rather than trying to open a fist, and don't force it, because a forced hand prints as a claw. The second is dragging on the lift, which blurs everything you just did. Press, hold for a second, lift straight up.
If the clay is still soft you can usually smooth it back and try again. Once it begins to set, the impression you have is the one you keep, so take your time before you press.
Materials & care
- Keep the clay sealed until you're ready to use it
- Dry the impression flat and undisturbed, out of direct sun
- Dust the finished piece rather than washing it. Air-dry clay is not waterproof
- Hang or stand the frame somewhere it will not get knocked
Common questions
When is the best time to do it?
Earlier than you think. Newborn hands change fast, and the print you take in the first weeks is the one people are most glad to have. That said, any age makes a keepsake worth keeping.
How long does it take to dry?
Follow the timing printed on the clay packet in the kit. We're not going to quote a number here that might not match the batch you receive.
Can I do a hand and a foot?
You have one packet of clay, so plan what you want before you open it. Some people do one of each on a single piece, others use the whole surface for one print.
Is it a good gift?
It is one of the few baby gifts that isn't outgrown. It works as a shower gift or a new-baby gift, and it doesn't need to be used immediately.
