Need some clay handprint ideas? You’ve come to the right spot! The goal of this blog is to remind you of two things:
- There are plenty of ways to make a truly personalized memorial keepsake using ClayLinks® Kits. Use any of our clay handprint ideas below to get started.
- We are here to help! Please call or email us to ask any questions you may have. Visit our website anytime for pictures, ideas, tips, and answers.
Clay Handprint Ideas to Get You Started!
It is easy to lose track of all that we offer to make a ClayLinks print personalized and unique. Did you know we offer larger circle, heart or oval-shaped molds (pictured right) for making hand and footprint keepsakes with ClayLinks Kits?
Working with a larger keepsake can allow you to expand your print-making options. Depending on the size of the mold you choose to use, simply combine two, three or four ClayLinks Clay patties together to create a larger surface area for print making.
A larger circle or heart-shaped ClayLinks print made with two patties, will let you get impressions of the infant’s hand and foot together, both of baby’s hands, or both feet. Working with a larger keepsake can expand your options for creativity and personalization!
Combining three ClayLinks Kits to fill our yellow oval mold should have enough room for Mom or Dad’s adult-sized handprint together with their child’s print! Additionally, we have an even larger blue oval mold (not pictured). The blue oval requires combining four ClayLinks Kits but will accommodate a large adult hand if the yellow oval is not large enough.
We have a ClayLinks® demonstration print of a mom’s hand together with her child’s handprint created using our yellow oval mold and three combined patties of clay. This demo print frequently travels with us to conferences and other meetings where we have it on display for conference attendees to see and get inspiration for creating their own prints. The nickname we have given that print is, “The Showstopper” because we know the reaction it gets from the healthcare professionals who see it. Imagine the meaning a keepsake like this would have for your families. Powerful!
Legacy and Memory-Making Ideas
As we mentioned before, the larger surface area also allows more space for getting creative and for getting family members in on the legacy and memory-making action by adding names, dates, sentiments and other decorations to further personalize their ClayLinks print. We offer a stylus for easily writing in the clay. Additionally, we also have letter and number stamping kits, a heart stamp, decorative clay heart charms, birthstone gems and ribbons. All of these options add a special touch toward a truly one-of-a-kind keepsake.
If you haven’t already visited our website, www.caringwisdom.com, please do so. From the website’s home page, you can easily reach our Resources page where you will find lots of helpful information and printouts. The Resources page also has a link to our Ideas Gallery. Another great source of important information is our How it Works section featuring the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) page. The FAQ’s are full of tips and answers to questions we routinely get asked by our customers about ClayLinks Kits.
Tips and Tricks
Your staff and families are not bound to using our decorative accessories. But, please note and share with staff and families that any decorations added to a ClayLinks print prior to baking will need to be able to withstand the baking process that cures our clay to create the final product. Decorations that will not survive the baking process can be pressed into the raw clay to create a spot. Remove that decoration while the ClayLinks print is baking. Then, glue it back in place once the print has cooled. Decorations can also be glued to the flat surface of a cured print.
Ribbons, of course, should be only added to a cooled, cured print. But, go ahead and create the holes needed for tying the ribbon through before the ClayLinks print is baked. Just be sure the hole is large enough to easily get the ribbon through the hole when the time comes. It took me a time or two to conquer that lesson.
However you decide to use ClayLinks Clay to honor a special life, we know their loved ones will be so grateful to you for your compassion. Thank you for choosing long-lasting, high-quality materials to make this irreplaceable keepsake for the families you serve. By doing so, you are sending them home with a hand to hold on to through their darkest days.
Until next time,