Thumbprint Keepsake Keychain Gift for Mothers, Grandmothers, and Teachers

My 18-month-old granddaughter and I created a Mother’s Day gift for my daughter-in-law yesterday afternoon. (Shhh, don’t tell!) This thumbprint keepsake keychain is easy to make and a perfect gift for mothers, grandmothers, and teachers.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links (at no cost to you)

I was inspired by the finger print key chains by My Life of Travels and Adventures. Krystal made a version for under $10. I used a special heart-shaped metal and glass locket because we were creating a gift for Zoey’s mom only. I wanted to add lockets for photos of Zoey, but any type of charm could be added to the keychain.

Be sure to check out the key chains at My Life of Travels and Adventures to see an inexpensive version that would be great as teacher appreciation gifts. An inexpensive version would also work well if you want to make the project by students in a classroom.

Materials Used:

Here are links to Amazon products, although I found all the materials at Michaels craft store.

• Sculpey Clay
• Wilton Double Cut-Outs (Set of Heart Shaped Cookie Cutters)
• Blue Moon Beads Metal and Glass Locket
• Charmalong small heart-shaped locket charm (found at Michaels craft store)
• 11 mm jump rings to attach lockets and thumbprint heart (found at Michaels craft store)
• 32 mm Split Ring (for keyring)
• DecoArt Metallic Acrylic Paint (Berry – the color I used)
• Mod Podge to preserve finish

Steps to Create the Thumbprint Keepsake Keychain 

1. First, I kneaded the Sculpey clay and then rolled it out to 1/4″ thick on waxed paper.

Using a Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutter

2. Then Zoey used a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the clay heart. Obviously, you could do this step if you wanted to make this with a baby.

Making the Thumbprints

3. I helped Zoey use her thumbprints to make a heart on the clay heart.

Thumbprint Keepsake Keychain Ready to Bake

4. I used a straw to make a hole in the clay heart. You could make a smaller hole if you wish.

5. I baked the clay at 275 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Thumbprint Keepsake Keychain

6. After the clay was cooled, I painted two coats of metallic acrylic paint on the top, bottom, and sides of the clay heart.

7. When the paint was dry, Mod Podge needed to be added to keep the paint from chipping.

8. Later, I attached the lockets and clay heart to the keyring using the jump rings. Zoey and I love how it turned out!

Older children could do more or all of the steps independently.

See my handprint keepsake tutorial (with free editable, printable poem) for instructions on how to make Zoey’s first Mother’s Day gift.

What are your favorite Mother’s Day or teacher appreciation gifts?

Learn more about Montessori at Home or School: How to Teach Grace and Courtesy!

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