Father's Day Gift Idea - Handprint Tree {Free Printable}

Here is a quick and easy Father's Day craft that can be done two ways, on paper or on a different surface such as canvas or wood. Read below for the complete tutorial.

In general, I find it is hard to shop for men. They are not very good at telling you what they want, but they sure are specific about what they don't want! They also tend to be more sentimental than we sometimes give them credit. This hand-print tree made up of your little one's hands is an easy craft that is sure to make any dad smile!


There are two options for this craft:
Print the free printable on paper and frame the finished product or transfer method on to a porous surface such as canvas or an unfinished wood panel.

Either option is designed for a completed 8"x10" design. Keep this in mind if framing the tree, you don't want those cute little hands to be cropped! Below is the complete tutorial on how to apply this tree to a wood panel.

Supplies Needed for Wood Panel Version:

• (1) 8" x 10" x 1/2" thick wood panel (I found mine at Joann's)
• white paint for the wood
• green paint in two shades for hands
• paint brushes
• matte mod podge
• standard printer paper
• white tissue paper
• masking tape

Instructions:

1.  Paint the front and sides of wood panel with one coat of white paint. Let dry.
2.  Prep the paper with tissue paper for printing. This works well on a regular home ink-jet printer. Cut tissue paper to the size of your paper and secure corners and edges to paper with masking tape. Use the mirrored image provided in the printable and print on the side with the tissue paper. The printed side will be applied face down on the wood. Remove the printed tissue paper away from the printer paper by carefully peeling off the masking tape.
3. Cover the entire wood surface with a thin layer of Mod Podge.

4.  Immediately place the printed side of the image down on top of the Mod Podge slowly. Gently smooth out wrinkles with the tip of your fingers. Be careful as the tissue paper can tear. Let dry for about 20 minutes. Smooth out any last wrinkles with the palm of your hand.
5.  Paint on top of tissue image layer with a think layer of Mod Podge to seal. Let dry completely, about an hour.

 6.  Now, it's time to get messy! Grab one of your kid's hands and paint the entire palm of their hand with green paint. Be sure not to paint it on too think, you don't want the paint to bleed.
7. Have your child spread their hand wide open and help them press gently down on the surface, over the tree branches.

8. Repeat steps 6-7 changing hands and using different shades of green.

You're finished! Wrap this beauty up and wait to see dad beam with pride when he opens his special handmade gift!

*UPDATE*
To download the FREE printable of the tree image for 2016, click here. I have also included a version without the year too!