If you know children, you know most love to get their hands messy. They also love to pick wild flowers and weeds to share with those they love. Why not let them to be crafty for Mother’s Day by allowing them to create a fingerprint flower vase to give to Mom or Grandma this year?

Toddlers and young children may see Mom, Dad, or their brothers and sisters enjoying crafts. They may wonder why they don’t get to make something as well. This craft is perfect for little hands and will result with a gift any mom or grandma will love.

Since it’s springtime, your toddler or preschooler has probably already brought you a handful of daffodils or dandelions. Did you have a vase to put them in? Your child can make their own fingerprint flower vase that can be used for all of their future bouquets.

You don’t really need a lot of art supplies for this craft, just an empty jar or two and enamel paints in a variety of colors. You may also want to have some newspapers on hand to keep the mess to a minimum. However, if you’re working outside in the sunshine, you may not be concerned about the mess.

You’ll want to help your child with this craft project because it’s important they don’t put their fingers in their eyes or their mouth. Here’s how to do it:

• Start with clean and dry glass jars. It doesn’t matter which type of jar is used as long as the label has been completely removed. If you’d prefer to use an actual glass vase, these can be purchased inexpensively at any dollar store.
• Read all of the instructions on the back of the enamel paint bottle so you know how it should be used.
• Have them hold the jar by the mouth so they don’t mess up the paint.
• Let the children choose a color. They can dip their fingers into the paint and decorate the jar or vase by making flowers with their fingerprints.
• Your child can make any number of flowers on the vase. How they decorate the jar/vase is entirely up to them.
• After they’ve made a circle of fingerprint flowers, they can go back with a contrasting color to make the center of the flowers.
• Follow the directions on the paint to let the paint dry. If this includes baking it in the oven, an adult would need to handle it. Drying time may mean allowing it to air dry for up to three weeks before using it for the first time.

If you’re uncomfortable using enamel paints for this craft, you can use acrylic paints instead. The flowers will wash off, however, unless the project is protected by an acrylic sealer.

When Mother’s Day arrives, let your toddler or young child present their fingerprint flower vase. They may even want to give it with flowers inside. Any mom or grandmother would be proud to have this precious keepsake.