Learn how to create a cute monster handprint craft perfect for Halloween decorations or classroom activities in under 30 minutes. This monster handprint craft is an adorable Halloween art project that mixes silly monster drawing with colorful painting and your kids’ very own handprints.
The result? A bright, bold, and unique monster masterpiece that’s just a little scary, but mostly adorable! It’s such a fun and easy Halloween project for little ones that they will want to make many more! I’ll also help you find practical next steps for expanding this craft into a full Halloween art series or adapting it for other seasonal themes.
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How to Make the Monster Handprint Craft
What you need:
- printable template (optional)
- white cardstock (old cardboard works as well if you want to turn this into a recycled Halloween art project)
- pencil
- black marker
- coloring supplies (we used craft paint and a paintbrush, but markers or crayons are fun too)
- colored paper
- scissors
- glue
Step by Step Tutorial
You can sketch the monster with a pencil first or boldly jump in with a black marker off the bat.
Use a black marker to outline a simple monster: a big body, two eyes (or more), and sharp, triangular teeth.
The sillier looking, the better.
Next, have the kids paint in their monster.
If you are looking at incorporating this project into an art lesson, this is a great one to use for color mixing. Instead of kids using orange, have them mix primary colors to get their desired paint.
You can also use this project to work on warm and cool colors, having the body be one, and the hands another.
We used craft paint.
A few quick variation ideas
As the body of this monster is large enough, this allows for different media to be used, so instead of painting the body, you can have the kids fill it up with scraps of paper, fabric, or anything else that comes to mind. This makes the project even more tactile and fun for younger kids. This is a wonderful chance to turn this keepsake-type project into process art. This will make it even more appropriate as a Halloween craft for Kindergarten and Preschool-aged kids.
You can leave the background as is, or color it as well (this is another chance to introduce kids to the concepts of warm and cool or complementary colors).
While the paint dries, take a piece of colored paper and fold it in half so it’s big enough to fit one traced hand.
Have kids trace their hand. It’s best to do it with a pencil first, then outline it with a marker, as this will keep their little hands clean. Not to mention this also sneaks in some tracing practice.
Finish off the edges by connecting the line of the palm at the bottom.
Making a keepsake? Instead of tracing hands, have the kids paint their hands with paint and press it down on white art paper.
Cut out the hand shapes to get two handprints.
Glue the first handprint to one side of the monster so it “peeks” off the page.
Outline the second handprint with a marker as well. Glue this handprint to the other side.
All done!
The monster now has big, bold handprint arms ready for some friendly frights!
Have fun creating Halloween crafts for kids!
This project can easily be expanded! If you need another project on the same level, even easier actually, making ghosts is what you want!
To add a bit more complexity, challenge your kids to make a skeleton (this is where you can also go beyond and use clay to have the kids sculpt their artwork- papier-mache works as well.
Want to make it more directed drawing oriented? I recommend making a vampire, witch or a zombie – any of the more specific characters is great for this.
Self Portraits are Great Too
This type of craft project is great for making self portraits too, you can see our handprint art self portrait to get the idea on how to go about it.
Using handprints as wings makes it easy to make all kinds of birds as well.
Get the Monster Handprint Craft Templates
The printable monster handprint craft templates are available to members of the Easy Peasy and Fun membership.
To access the template, log in to your account or become a member.
Already a member? Log in here.
More Monster Craft Ideas for Kids to Make
- If you plan on having some dramatic play in your home or classroom, making a few paper bag monster puppets is an absolute must.
- The classic craft that wins all hearts – make toilet paper roll monsters!
- Collected rocks during summer? It’s time to make monster stones!
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