Learn how to make fingerprint Christmas lights into a photo frame with children.
This particular creation is one of my favorite Christmas activities for preschoolers because it makes the best gift for kids to make their parents.
It’s a simple frame with fingerprint Christmas lights and corresponding photos – what’s not to love?
Oh how I love to let the kids use their fingerprints and hand prints to create in the classroom! It’s always fun to see what the children make.
Related: Christmas Five Senses Book Free Printable
There’s also a free printable available for you at the bottom of the post! It’s a printable set of Christmas cards or gift tags to go along with the Christmas lights photo frame.
Help Kids Make a Fingerprint Christmas Lights Frame
Children have made fingerprint Christmas lights art for many, many years. There’s just something about painting their fingertips and making art that most kids seem to enjoy.
If you haven’t yet, let the kids use their hands and fingers to make their own process art independently.
This particular Christmas gift takes a little bit of adult guidance, though I encourage you to let the children take the lead.
What you need to make photo frames with fingerprint Christmas lights
Wooden frames to house 4×6 photos (I got mine at a local craft store for $1 each)
Acrylic paint (we used white, blue, green, orange, and red)
Printable gift cards (Optional – grab yours at the bottom of the post)
Related: Jingle Bell Activities for Kids
How to Make the Fingerprint Lights Frame
Have the children paint the frame white. One coat worked well for us, but that might depend on which kind of paint you use.
Obviously, since the kiddos painted the frames, they weren’t “perfect”. To me, those little imperfections make gifts like this even more special!
Once the white has dried (we let ours dry overnight), add the fingerprint Christmas lights.
I let the children do most of this part by themselves. Yes, I was sitting next to them in case they needed my assistance. Some needed help, but most were fine on their own.
Related: The Grinch’s Heart Homemade Christmas Ornament
After the fingerprint Christmas lights have dried, add the “strings”. I used black permanent marker and connected the kids’ fingerprints the best I could.
I added little swirls and loops while I did so. Some of the kids did this themselves, while others preferred I help out.
Next, add the kids’ names and the date. Using a fine point black permanent marker, I added each child’s name to the top of the frame. I wrote the year at the bottom of each frame, too.
Finally, place each child’s photo inside the frame, let the kids wrap it all up, and send it home. 🙂
You can also grab some free printable Christmas lights cards and gift tags at the end of this post.
Directions for the “wrapped up in lights” photos
I must admit, I had SO MUCH FUN taking these pictures! The kids and I had our own “photo shoot” for a picture to add inside the fingerprint Christmas lights frame. They seemed pretty entertained as well!
My only concern was that some of them would tell their parents, “Miss Mary Catherine tied me up in Christmas lights!”
Related: Marbled Homemade Christmas Card
Choose a background for the photo. I didn’t want to have the white classroom walls in the picture, so I made my own “backdrop.”
I grabbed a length of green butcher paper and hung it on the wall with some tape. Nothing fancy, but it worked!
Get the kiddos geared up! For the photos, I wrapped the children in white Christmas lights.
Colorful lights would work well, too, but the white lights are the only ones I had on-hand at school.
Then I placed a Santa cap on each child’s head, and we were ready to go!
Related: Gift Ideas for Kids Who Love Magical Creatures
Plug the lights in and snap away!
I referenced Snap Happy Mom’s guest post about taking photos by the Christmas tree (on Let’s Lasso the Moon) to help with camera settings. I ended up adjusting them as I went along, but the tips from the post helped.
Add a Card to the Christmas Lights Photo Frame
After the frames are all wrapped off, consider adding a child-made card or gift tag to the presents. You can do this a few different ways.
Work with the kids to make their own marbled homemade Christmas cards. This is a fun art project to do with the children if you have enough time. The kids can then write or dictate a message to their families inside the card.
Additionally, I made a set of printable Christmas cards and gift tags to go along with the Christmas lights theme of these photo frames.
The kids can add their fingerprints inside the Christmas lights or simple color the lights on the cards in with crayons or markers.
They can write a little message to their families on the cards, or they can make simple gift tags with their names. Grab the free printable at the end of this post.
Video Tutorial: How to Make Fingerprint Christmas Lights Photo Frame
Related: The Best Gifts for Preschoolers
Do you have any suggestions for Christmas gifts for kids to make for their families? Anything with fingerprints, hand prints, or pictures? If so, I’d love for you to share them in the comments below!!
If you happen to make fingerprint Christmas lights frames, I would love to see some photos shared on Fun-A-Day’s Facebook page!
Make Christmas Planning Easier
Be sure to check out Preschool Teacher 101 for a variety of done-for-you teaching resources that will make your teaching life a bit easier! There are lesson plans, math and STEM activities, and literacy activities already planned out for you. Even better, there are membership options available for even more savings.
Click on the pictures below to read more about Preschool Teacher 101’s Christmas resources:
Grab Your Free Printable
As I mentioned above, I put together a printable card and gift tag set to go along with the fingerprint Christmas lights frames.
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re already a member, click on the button below and enter your information to get the printable sent to your email inbox.
Not a member? No worries! Click on the button below and enter your information to join us. You’ll get the printable sent to your inbox as a welcome gift. If you can’t see the button, click on the highlighted text below instead.
Please note – many school districts have pop-up blockers enabled or very strict firewalls in place. If you’re on a school computer and can’t see the box that pops up asking for your email and name, this might be the case for your district. Using a non-school computer should solve that problem.
Originally published on December 16, 2014.
Oh, those are so cute! Such a nice keepsake for families! I’ll have to take out a search for similar frames.
Love this idea. I will be on the look out for on sale frames for next year.
We’ll be making these for our pastor and his wife before they move. Perfect idea! I just wanted to say you are such a thoughtful teacher, great idea!
Thank you SO much for your kind words! I love hearing when others are trying out ideas from Fun-A-Day!
Thanks for the sweet idea! These are going to be grandparent gifts for my kiddos this year!
Oh I am so excited to hear that, thank you!! Feel free to share the awesome frames on Fun-A-Day’s Facebook page. 🙂
How did you get the holes in the top of the frame?
The frames came that way, with the holes and the twine. I grabbed them for a dollar at a local craft store (A.C. Moore). They’re likely sold in other craft stores near you too!
I made these last year in my class. A huge hit!
That’s wonderful to hear, Tanna!
Just wanted 2 say as a mother of 4. 2 in school 2 preschool i think thats awesome..an ur an awesome teacher!!!!!God bless merry Christmas…and great idea love it thank you
Well you made my day with your sweet words! Thank you! 🙂
I love this idea. Perfect for gifts from my daycare kiddos to their parents.
Thanks so much, Jessica!