| This is a fun craft to do with a group of | | | | to keep their fingers from touching, the more |
| moms and their kids, one child per adult | | | | still they keep their hand, the better the |
| works the best. Each mom will need:---One | | | | clarity. A good print will show |
| soft brush, any size but 1/2" works the | | | | fingerprints! But if it smears, it usually |
| best---One jar of "One-Stroke Ceramic | | | | does, it's all for fun anyway. If it starts |
| underglaze", either Duncan E-Z Stroke or Gare | | | | to become a battle with the child, let him |
| One-Stroke. (Of course they can share these, | | | | go, when he sees the other kids having a good |
| but it's best if they have at least 3 colors | | | | time he will offer his hand to be painted. |
| to choose from. The best are a dark green, a | | | | (I say "he" because it is usually the boys |
| dark blue or a dark brown. One jar of each | | | | that wimp out, the girls are more |
| color will do 50 hands altogether)---One pint | | | | adventurous. lol)Make sure the paint goes all |
| jar of "clear gloss glaze", which all can | | | | the way to the ends of the fingers and thumb |
| use.---A sponge---Paper towels and a | | | | and press the hand straight down onto the |
| washcloth---One blank UNglazed ceramic tile, | | | | surface of the tile, quickly but gently and |
| 4-1/4" (for kids 2 or 3 yrs. old or so) or 6" | | | | firmly, rolling the fingers slightly so the |
| (for kids over 3) Unless you know someone who | | | | print doesnt look like skeleton fingers lol. |
| does hand-painted tile as a career, these | | | | Lift the hand straight up and see how cool! |
| would have to be ordered in cases of 100 or | | | | Wash their hands with soap, the paint is |
| so. The best thing is to call the hobby | | | | water soluable and non-staining, but dont let |
| ceramic stores, where you will get the | | | | them lick it. With a fine brush, write the |
| underglaze and clear glaze, and ask if they | | | | child's name and date or birthday or age |
| have a "molded greenware or bisque tile they | | | | right on the tile. Set it in a safe place to |
| sell", and order the quantity you need. Tell | | | | dry well.If you are nervous about smearing |
| them you would like them "fired to | | | | the dry glaze, have them fired at "cone 04" |
| bisque."The most important thing is that the | | | | before painting the clear gloss on top. This |
| childrens' hands are scrubbed with soap and | | | | is the proper way, but if the underglaze is |
| water, then dried well. Salt, sugar or oils | | | | good and dry and you are very careful, it is |
| on the hands will prevent the glaze from | | | | ok to put the clear glaze on unfired |
| bonding with the tile. Make sure to wipe the | | | | underglaze and fire the tile once at "cone |
| tile well with a clean sponge in plain water. | | | | 06" and the results will be the same. Either |
| Allow to dry a few minutes.Tell the kids | | | | way, get the large floppy brush again and |
| that it is like hand-painting only without | | | | paint 3 thin coats of clear gloss on the tile |
| wiggling their fingers. Make it fun, some | | | | and fire to "cone 06".You can buy frames from |
| get scared. Hold their clean hand gently | | | | most ceramic stores that sell the tiles. |
| over a tile to make sure their hand will fit, | | | | They will last forever. Have fun!Dy Witt |
| fingers spread out a little. Pick the right | | | | used to display and sell at street fairs, and |
| size tile and paint one wet coat of glaze | | | | painting kids handprints was always a fun |
| across the flat of their open palm, not too | | | | thing. Her 21 years experience painting with |
| runny but not too dry, follwing the | | | | ceramic glaze is obvious when you view her |
| instructions for mixing on the bottle. Try | | | | murals and tiles here on her website. |