Post by Contributing Writer Amy
Need an easy and inexpensive, yet still adorable and practical gift to make for mother’s day? Grandmas and moms will love using this gift that the kids made for them. I will, too, which is why I helped my girls make a set of these handprint tulip dish towels for myself, too. Happy mother’s day to me. :)
You’ll need:
White Dish Towels
Tape
Cardboard
Fabric Paint
Foam Paint Brush
Skinny Paint brush
Toilet Paper Tubes
Permanent Markers
White paper
Baby wipes are handy for wiping off hands, too!
First, wrap the dish bowl around cardboard (I used a cereal box) and tape it to your work surface. Each child did three towels, one for each grandma and one for me. I taped them all down at once so a child with a painted hand could do all three handprints and only wash once.
Next, have your child choose what color flower they want to make. You can squirt the paint right in their palm and use the foam brush to paint their hand. You need to keep the paint pretty thick and stamp it onto the towel 6 to 8 inches from the edge of the towel to leave enough room for the stem and leaves to be added.
Flatten out the toilet paper tube, so it makes an oval with pointed ends. You could dip it in green fabric paint, but I just painted the very end with a paint brush to conserve paint.
Stamp the leaves close together a few inches below the handprint.
Your child can fill in the leaves with the paint brush.
Add a stem! Using the end of the paintbrush worked the best for me.
Last, and my favorite part, is to have your child write their name in black marker on paper. If they are able, they could write the year, “I love you!” or “Happy Mother’s Day!” as well. Place the paper under the dishtowel and use the permanent marker to trace over their writing. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t get enough of the haphazard way little ones write their names. :)
This practical little art piece is sure to make moms and grandma’s smile this mother’s day. :) Happy mother’s day!
Amy is a former reading and third grade teacher as well as a mother to three little girls with big personalities. She believes joy can always be found in playing, learning, and ice cream.
Made it yesterday with my 4 year old, 2 year old, and 7 week old (did footprints for the baby)! Turned out great!
I’m so glad! A baby foot flower would be adorable! I’m sure the towels will be treasured by the recipients. :)
Where did you get the white towels?
Was also wondering where you got the white dish towels
I got the white dish towels at Wal-Mart. I’m guessing Target and other stores with a kitchen section would have them, too. There is a link if you want to just order off Amazon, too. :)
Tell me about washing. Do they need washed before you paint and can they be washed after?
The towels I bought said they were pre-washed, so I did not wash them. I have washed our towels many times and only the permanent marker name fades a bit. However, if you try to soak them before washing (like with Oxyclean) the permanent marker will bleed!