This week we’ve been reading The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and the story got us talking about being thankful. Often family members are taken for granted as you can come to expect them to be there, so we thought we could make something to remind us of the people we love and are thankful for. We decided to make a family tree from the handprints of family members. Burt is lucky that all his grandparents are still with us but they don’t live nearby so we had the added excitement of calling them up and asking them to send their handprints through the post. Burt doesn’t get much post so it was also very exciting waiting for the handprints to drop through the letterbox!
To make The Giving Tree Family Tree you will need:
- green paint (or yellow and blue paint)
- paintbrush
- sheets of paper
- handprints of family members
- red card
- brown card
- glue
- paper to mount your picture
We mixed up three different shades of green and I gave Burt several sheets of white paper and a paintbrush and he got painting! He was very happy mixing up the colours.
He also tried some stippling, patting the paintbrush up and down.
We talked about how we were going to use the green paper to make handprints and this then inspired Burt to get his fingers in the paint and swirling, smudging and smearing it across the paper.
We ended up with 5 sheets of paper covered in green paint. Once the paint was dry we drew around our hands and cut our handprints out. As we had asked the grandparents to send their handprints in the post we could also cut out their hand shapes, even if they couldn’t be there to make our family tree with us. Because Burt painted using different techniques and three different shades of green the finished handprints look vibrant and full of texture.
Once we had all the handprints ready I cut a tree trunk shape out of brown card. We compared our tree to the tree on the front cover of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and realised that we didn’t have any apples so we added our own twist with red hearts on our family tree.
We are really happy with our family tree and I am going to mount it in a frame to hang in Burt’s room. Before I frame it I am hoping to find somewhere that I can get it scanned and printed so that we can give prints of the original to Burt’s grandparents. If you have any suggestions where I could do this then please let me know in the comments!
You can read more about the story that inspired us The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein or discover some more crafts and activities linked to the book.
Have you been inspired by a book to craft, go on an outing or do an activity this week?
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Love this what a sweet family project
Becky recently posted…Simple Ideas for a Rich Life – February
Thank you Becky x
Love the hands on, tactile experience and how it brings the book alive for kids. Great project.
Ahh this is lovely! Such a beautiful idea. In going to try it with my 3yo. She would love getting her hands all messy while we draw around them!
Alison Perry recently posted…Life Lessons We Can Learn From Disney Movies
That is so lovely, and I am really enjoying seeing how you use books as inspiration….it is inspiring me to do the same!
Sonya Cisco recently posted…Two and a Half.
That is such a great idea! Love how you’ve linked it to the book too. It might work well for us with half the family being in New Zealand – I know the kids would be really excited to get some post from them!
This is awesome and a great idea I may have to pinch 🙂
Donna recently posted…Love Is ….. just is
What a gorgeous family project, might try that this summer with the kiddos
Em recently posted…Haba Sushi Play Food Review
What a fun thing to do with all my kids and grandkids…. Very fun project. Can’t wait to have a craft day now.
Terry recently posted…Jord Wood Watches ~ A Unique Wood Watch For Your Hard To Buy Valentine
Oh what a great idea! Definitely something to try with my children.
Mummy of Two recently posted…Parents Evening – The Good and the Bad!
This is such a lovely project and would be great to teach my 3 year old about family trees! I love it x
Alice recently posted…MTT: Paleo Pancakes
What a lovely family tree – great thing to look back on as well in the future 🙂 x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Candle Rings – Burning Love: Review
I saw this the other day and thought it was a really great family project
Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…Something for the weekend – The pompom edition
A really good idea and a lovely keepsake
Super idea! It looks lovely when finished x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Theme Game #4
I love this! Its such a beautiful idea. I think we might have to make something like this for the landing x
Chelsea Williams recently posted…I Am My Own Worst Enemy
Oooh I ordered a copy of the book yesterday off the back of your post, now I have a craft to do with it too! You’re spoiling me.
Love this idea. x
Liz Burton recently posted…Quick Reads – fall back in love with reading
It looks lovely.
I can see it as a center piece behind glass frame.
Agata Pokutycka recently posted…Comment on You are what you drink… by sonyacisco
I love crafts inspired by reading. My son would love to do this as likes nothing more than covering his hands in paint. In fact they look like The Hulks hands so he’d love it even more. Good luck finding somewhere that you can get prints from.
Pinkoddy recently posted…Longer School Hours Shorter Holidays What a Relief
Thanks Joy. I think Jessops or one of the big photocopy shops should be able to do it. We will be investigating over half term!
What a beautiful idea! It’s my Grandma’s 90th birthday this summer, and I might make a tree of handprints of all the people who come to her celebration…..
Nell recently posted…Half-term culture for children in London
That would be such a lovely idea. Make sure you get your Grandma’s handprint too x
I love your book linked crafts @Kirsty. This is another super idea.
Emma (My Little 3 and Me) recently posted…Easy Sensory Play Lights
Such a lovely idea, grandparents are so special – I try and ring my nan every other day for a natter. I’m going to look out for that book.
Sam recently posted…Storm Damage
What a great family project – love it! Our toddler would enjoy making this too, she loves smothering her hands in paint 🙂
Charly Dove recently posted…Butterflies in the Glasshouse (part two)
Oh my goodness, that is so amazing! What a lovely idea, I am going to have to do one of those, such a lovely thing to keep.
Nikki Thomas recently posted…The Socklympics
Great post! I love the hearts on the tree x
Charlotte recently posted…Dear Joshua: You are three!
such a lovely idea – added it to my pinterest board for a HT activity
Kara recently posted…Million Hearts A Million Wishes Campaign
What an excellent idea! Definitely going to do this!
Laura recently posted…Lentil spaghetti
this is such a lovely idea! we need to make ours as well.
What a lovely idea! I am thinking something like this would also make a fab gift for grandparents too…. *orders green paint*
What a fabulous idea. Beautifully photographed too! I Love this idea of exploring a family tree, definitely something that has given me food for thought.
Amanda recently posted…Mind Your Body At Work
What a lovely craft idea. I’ve through about that book a few times since I read your review. Definitely one to buy.
Emily recently posted…Inspired fakeaways + #recipeoftheweek 15-21 Feb
What a lovely fantastic idea ,looks so good .x