Make a Roaringly Cute Handprint Dinosaur with Your Kid’s Palm
This handprint dinosaur craft is perfect for dino-loving kids! A fun, messy art project with washable paint—great for keepsakes, Father’s Day, or classroom fun.
Got a dinosaur-obsessed kiddo at home who stomps through the living room like a T-Rex on a sugar rush? Then you have to try this handprint dinosaur craft. It’s colorful, creative, and just messy enough to feel like an adventure.
A few swipes of paint and boom! Your child’s hand transforms into a prehistoric pal complete with spikes, a tail, and loads of personality.
What makes this craft extra dino-mite? For starters, it’s totally customizable. Kids can design their own dinosaur species (polka-dotted pterodactyl, anyone?), choose outrageous colors, and even add grass, volcanoes, or dino footprints in the background.
It’s the kind of art project that doubles as imaginative play, and leaves you with a keepsake that’s both adorable and totally fridge-worthy.
Paint tips: Go for a washable, non-toxic tempera or finger paint. It’s thick enough to show great detail and easy to spread across those wiggly little palms.
And if a little color lingers afterward (hi, stubborn blue dye), don’t panic. A dab of baby oil or coconut oil on a cotton pad can help gently lift any leftover tint from skin.
Bonus idea: This project makes a perfect RAWR-some keepsake for Father’s Day or birthdays. Just add a little “Dino-Mite Dad!” message under the handprint. Or use it as part of a classroom dinosaur unit or rainy-day boredom buster.
So grab your paint, prep a wipe-down station, and let’s stomp into some handprint dino fun!
Get the printable how to card below:
Handprint Dinosaur
Equipment
Materials
- Construction paper
- Craft paint colors of your choice
- Marker black
Instructions
- Pour some paint onto a palette or paper plate.
- Using a paintbrush, apply a generous amount of paint to the palm and fingers of one hand. Make sure to cover the whole area well.
- Press the painted hand onto the paper, fingers spread out, with the fingers facing down. Press firmly to ensure a clear print.
- Once the handprint is dry, use a paintbrush to add details like spikes and a tail.
- Use the marker to draw the face at the end of the thumbprint. Paint in fun background details, like blades of grass. Let dry completely before displaying.
If you enjoyed this craft, let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other ideas:
