There’s really not much that can compete with the cuteness of your baby’s teeny-tiny footprint…except maybe an even tinier version of that print. Check out this awesome craft project from Make Sew Baby that turns your little one’s actual footprint into a wearable charm for a bracelet or necklace!
Shrink Plastic Baby Footprint Jewelry
What You'll Need:
- at least 1 sheet shrink plastic (does not need to be Shrinky Dinks brand)
- water based ink pad
- chain or string
- jump rings
- (optional) rhinestones
- (optional) jewelers or super glue
Step One: Press your baby's foot in some water based ink from an ink pad and make an impression on the sheet of shrink plastic. The impression should be made on the side that is frosty looking. Some sheets come completely clear in which case you may want to roughen one side with some sand paper in order to make a surface to catch the ink.
Make sure your ink pad is water based, not oil based. Oil based ink will run and smear
You can also choose to add a name, date, date of birth or other pictures to accompany the hand or footprint, using other stamps.
Step Two: Trim the printed impression from the sheet. Use a paper hole puncher to make a small hole on the border around the handprint or footprint. This hole will be used to hold the charm onto a necklace or bracelet. Try using a jump ring threaded through the hole and then hang the chain on the jump ring. You can buy jump rings at your local craft store in the jewelry making section.
Step Three: Heat your oven to 325 degrees and get a cookie sheet ready. It’s a good idea to cover the sheet in aluminum foil as well.
Place the shrink plastic pieces on the cookie sheet and put them in the pre-heated oven for about 5 minutes. They might start to curl up and twist. If they do it's no problem whatsoever. You can use a spoon or a spatula to flatten them back out when you get them out of the oven.
Let them cool.
Step Four: Once they are cooled you can insert a jump ring through the hole you had punched previous to baking.
At this point, you can add your creative touch—try adding a rhinestone! You can buy flatback, colored rhinestone crystals and use glue to attach them.
Step Five: Make it into jewelry! You can hang these handprint charm keepsakes on a necklace or ribbon, on shoe laces or zippers. You can pair them with other charms like silver charms or beads. You can really get creative!
