Our children were 2 and 3 when they first saw the ocean, and how I wish I had done this with them back then!  But no matter what age your child is, this simple sandy handprint beach keepsake craft is one that you will treasure forever.

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Heading to the beach for vacation?  Fill a small Ziplock bag with sand from the beach you’re visiting and use it to make your child’s handprint stone.  (It is illegal to take sand from some beaches, like Hawaii.  Be sure to check regulations before you do this!)

To make your stone you can find DIY stepping stone kits, like this one, at most crafts stores.  The one we used came with a 3-D molding tray.  We used aluminum foil to give our stepping stone more of a flat bottom.

You can also buy a bag of  Plaster of Paris  by itself and use a disposable tin pie plate or plastic tray for this beach craft.

Sandy Handprint — Beach Keepsake Craft

Follow the directions to mix your plaster and then pour it into your tray.   Gently sprinkle sand across the top.

Wait a couple minutes to allow the plaster to set up a bit, and then have your child press their hand into it.  Hold their hand there for a minute or two.

If desired, press a few colorful shells into the plaster while your child still has their hand in place.

Test that the handprint is going to hold its shape by gently lifting one of your child’s fingers a bit.  If the plaster stays put let them carefully lift their hand up.

Allow the handprint stone to dry completely.  This should approximately 24 hours.

Once the plaster is dry you can remove it from the mold.

I suggest applying a spray sealant , especially if you you plan on displaying it outside.  This will help keep the sand from washing away in the rain.  

The stones look cute in the flower bed, but you can also use plate stands to display them on a shelf inside.

I plan on getting a couple to display my children’s beach handprints on our bookshelf.  That way I can look at them every day.

However you choose to display them, making sandy handprints in this beach keepsake craft is a great way to remember all those days together playing in the sand and collecting shells.

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