Keepsake Little Handprints Art

Step 2:

Dyeing the Fabric

1. Cover work surface with a plastic table cover.

2. Shake all dye bottles before measuring dye.

3. Wearing latex gloves, measure 2 Tablespoons Lemon Yellow dye and ½ teaspoon Sunshine Orange dye with 3 cups very hot water (at least 140° F) in medium size container; stir well.

4. Immerse the white-on-white printed fabric in the dye bath. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. (You will notice the white pattern that’s printed on the fabric will not absorb the dye, leaving a nice pattern on the dyed fabric.)

5. Remove the fabric from the dye bath and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Wash in warm soapy water, rinse and dry. Iron to remove wrinkles.

Step 3:

6. In the medium dyeing container, measure 2 teaspoons Aquamarine dye and 1 teaspoon Royal Blue dye with 2 cups very hot water (at least 140°); stir well.

7. Immerse the fabric with the hand prints into the dye bath. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

8. Remove from the dye bath and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. Wash in warm soapy water. Make sure all the glue has been washed away. Rinse and dry. Iron to remove wrinkles.

Step 4:

Dyeing the Wood Frame

1. In a small shallow dyeing container, measure and mix 1 Tablespoon Tangerine dye with 1 cup very hot water (at least 140°); stir well.

2. Immerse the wooden frame in the dye bath. Allow it to soak for about 5 minutes.

3. Remove and lay on paper towels to dry.

Step 5:

Assembling the Wall Art

1. Using a rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat, trim the dyed fabric piece with the hand prints to 7½” x 11½” keeping the hand prints centered.

2. Cut the dyed Yellow/Orange fabric into 4 equal strips across the width of the fabric. The strips should measure approximately 4½” x 22”. You will only use 3 of these.

Step 6:

3. Cut one of the strips in half. Pin a strip to each short side of the dyed Blue fabric with the hand prints, right sides together. Using a ¼” seam allowance, machine stitch pieces together. Trim away the excess fabric.

4. Then pin a long strip to each of the long edges of the dyed Blue fabric with the hand prints, right sides together. Machine stitch pieces together, forming a frame. Press the seams toward the hand-print fabric. Trim off the excess fabric.

5. Pin and stitch the rickrack around the hand-print fabric on the seam line.

Step 7:

6. Lay the quilt batting on top of the artist canvas.

7. Center the stitched hand-print fabric on top of the quilt batting.

8. Turn everything over and staple the fabric to the back of the artist canvas.

Step 8:

Embellishing:

1. Select a poem to attach to your Keepsake Wall Art. Here’s what Barbara selected:

You wipe up lots of prints each day

but these two hands are here to stay

close to you and near your heart

to say “I Love You”

when we’re apart.

Love, Eli



2. Print the poem on yellow card stock or scrapbook paper. Trim to measure 2¾” x 4”.

3. Cut a second piece of card stock or scrapbook paper (orange with white dots) to measure 3¼” x 4½”.

4. Center the printed poem on the larger piece and adhere with glue. Add a matching piece of ribbon to the top of the card. Attach this near top of hand-print art with craft glue or heavy double-sided tape, as shown.

5. Attach the dyed picture frame to the upper left front of the hand-print art with craft glue or heavy double-sided tape, as shown.

6. Finish off yellow border by gluing daisy flower accents randomly around the framed piece.