St. Patrick’s Day Handprint Craft – Cute Pots of Gold
Handprint Pot of Gold Craft – A Sweet St. Patrick’s Day Keepsake for Kids
If you’re looking for a simple way to make a memory with your kids (or students) this St. Patrick’s Day, these little handprint pots of gold are one of my favorites… they are the cutest St. Patrick’s Day handprint craft!
Little hands grow faster than we realize. One year they fit perfectly on a tiny canvas… and before you know it, those same hands are bigger than yours.
This craft is an easy afternoon project, but it becomes something you’ll pull out every March and smile at. Teachers can send these home as a keepsake for families, and parents can display them as a sweet reminder of when their kids were small.
We made ours years ago, and I still love seeing them each St. Patrick’s Day. Their hands are so much bigger now, but these little canvases bring me right back to that day.
What You’ll Need
You probably already have most of this on hand.
Supplies
- Rainbow colored paints (red, yellow, green, blue, purple)
- Black paint
- Metallic gold paint
- Paint brushes
- Canvas or heavy paper
- Paint tray or plate
- Paper towels
- Small bowl of water for cleanup
👉 I’ve linked the simple craft supplies we used in my St. Patrick’s Day Craft Supply List here if you want everything in one place.
Notes Before You Start
- We used basic acrylic craft paint, which is inexpensive and easy to find. Many starter sets even include metallic gold paint so you don’t have to buy it separately.
- You can do this project on paper or canvas depending on your situation.
- Paper works great for:
- Classrooms
- Homeschool groups
- Large groups of kids
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- ⭐Parents can always laminate or frame the finished piece later.
- Canvas works great for:
- Family keepsakes
- Grandparent gifts
- Holiday decorations
We used canvas and put all three of my kids’ handprints on one piece, but you can do it however you’d like.
How to Make this St. Patrick’s Day Handprint Craft
- Set up water and paper towels before starting. If you’re indoors, newspaper or a table covering is helpful too.
- Lay out your canvas or paper.
- Place paint on your tray or plate ahead of time so you’re not juggling paint bottles with a child who already has painted hands.
- Paint the hand.
- This is the part kids usually love the most. It tickles a little and can almost feel like sensory play. That said, some kids don’t love the feeling of paint on their hands, so if you think that might be the case, you can practice brushing their hand first.
- Paint the palm black and the base gold to create the “pot of gold,” then paint each finger a different rainbow color. I usually paint the fingers last because they dry quickly.
- Gently press the painted hand onto the canvas or paper.
- Let it dry, clean up, and admire your tiny rainbow!
Fun Variations
You can keep this simple or make it more creative depending on the age of the kids.
Some fun ideas:
- Add fingerprint shamrocks around the handprint
- Put multiple children’s handprints on one canvas
- Let kids wipe extra paint on a second canvas to create abstract art
- For older kids, use fingers to extend the rainbow after lifting their hand
- Create a rainbow arch between two handprints
- Turn it into a card for grandparents
There’s no wrong way to do it. Just enjoy the process.
Simple Supplies That Make This Craft Easier
If you plan to do handprint crafts more than once (and trust me… you probably will), a few simple supplies make things much easier:
- Basic acrylic craft paint set
- Small canvases for kids’ art
- Washable craft brushes
- Reusable paint trays
👉 You can see the full St. Patrick’s Day Craft Supply List here.
👉 Check out more handprint craft ideas!
Make a Memory That Will Last
It’s funny, I still remember the day we made these. My youngest, whose hand is pictured above, was three years old. That was almost a decade ago now.
I remember the kitchen being messy and feeling a little overwhelmed that day… but I also remember how excited he was to dip his hands in the paint. He didn’t care about the mess. He was just enjoying the moment… and that’s what I remember most now.
These little projects may feel small at the time, but they turn into memories faster than we expect.
More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas
If you’re planning a fun St. Patrick’s Day at home or in the classroom, you might also enjoy:
🍀 My St. Patrick’s Day Activity Pack
🍀 A fun Leprechaun Trap craft
🍀 9 interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day
🍀 Printable St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages
Final Thoughts
St. Patrick’s Day means something different to everyone. Some see it as a religious day, others a day of fun, and some don’t see much at all… however, appreciating history and making memories is always a good idea!
If you make this St Patrick’s Day handprint craft, I would love to hear about them! Comment below or head over to Instagram or Facebook, share your pics, and tag me @bemandfam… I’d love to see them!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
BEM and Fam 🙂
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