Hellobee

This Father’s Day, make dad a cute and useful gift that will touch his heart! Each circle on this keychain is one of a kind because they’re made with fingerprints and happy face doodles.

Thumbprint and fingerprint doodles like this are reminiscent of some of Ed Emberley’s drawing books, so if you need some inspiration, those are a great place to start. But I’m willing to bet that once you show your child an example or two, they’ll have no trouble enhancing their own fingerprint!

Although this project requires a fair amount of adult involvement, the real art can be done by kids of (nearly!) all ages. And whether you’re making a gift from one child or half a dozen, there’s room on this key ring for everyone.

Before you start on the actual pieces for the keychain, it’s a good idea to make some practice fingerprints and doodled faces on paper. It will give you an idea of how the ink will look, as well as some time to try out different face designs.

Now, let’s get making!

You will need:

Wooden discs with a hole near the edge (see note below)
Stamp pads – permanent is best
Ultra fine tip marker – permanent is best
Sealer – Mod Podge works well
Small paintbrush
Large jump rings
Keychain
Fine tip pliers

NOTE: These plain wooden pieces can be found on Etsy (search for wooden disc pendants in their supplies section), or if you have a large craft punch like a Crop-a-Dile, you can punch the holes yourself.

Press a thumb or finger onto the stamp pad. Press it hard enough to get plenty of ink on the finger, but try not to end up with ink on a large area of the fingertip. Smaller prints look nicer.

Help your child press their fingerprint onto a wooden disc. Try not to rock the finger or smudge the print as you press and pull the finger away.

Make as many fingerprint discs as you need.

Now, add details with the ultra-fine tip marker. Kids should feel free to draw their own self-portrait, because that will make each one even more special.

If they’d rather, they can use the fingerprint as a whole body (sort of like a Minion!) instead of just a face. For this, add a tiny face along with stick arms and legs!

If you’re making these with babies or toddlers, add the face yourself, capturing all their cuteness with a few simple strokes.

On the back of each disc, write your child’s name and the year (they could do this part too!).

Make sure that the ink is dry and then brush a thin layer of sealer or Mod Podge over the front of the disc. Let it dry and then flip it over and seal the back as well.

Once the sealer is dry, use a needlenose pliers to open a jump ring and attach the disc to the keyring. Squeeze it closed again and attach any remaining discs.

Now your keychain is finished and ready to give to dad!

Of course, a gift like this doesn’t only have to be for dad. Grandparents would love a keychain like this, or perhaps you’ll want to make one for yourself with your kids!

Enjoy making this Father’s Day gift with a personal touch!