Spider Handprint Craft – Fantastic for the Spooky Season
This spider handprint craft is such a fun keepsake for the insect lover, or a spooky art project for Halloween.
The materials are simple and the multi-step process keeps kids engaged — paint, a hole punch, and yarn threaded into a web. Keep reading for all the details on how you can make this too.
Spider Handprint Art Collides with Fine Motor Skills
If creating a spider handprint was not cool enough, this activity goes the extra mile and lets kids strengthen their fine motor skills in more ways than one.
Creating the spider web gives them the chance to use a hole punch and squeeze it to make a bunch of holes around the perimeter of the plate. This is a tricky task that will be sure to exercise those hands and fingers. Plus, threading the yarn through those holes is amazing for hand-eye coordination. It may look easy, but it will be challenging, yet rewarding hard work.
Watch How to Make This Spider Handprint Craft
In this video you will see the process of creating a handprint spider craft — the various techniques from coloring the paper plate, to hole punching, and finally threading the yarn to make a spider web.
Depending on the type of hole punch you have, you may need to help your kiddo push it down all the way. My daughter, age 3, definitely needed us to do this part together!
Materials
What you need
Paint stick or other color/paint choice. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Color the paper plate
Color the paper plate! We used tempera paint sticks because we love how they have the vibrancy of paint, but roll on like a crayon and dry in seconds. Use one color, or many!
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Make the handprint
Paint your kiddo’s hands (except for the thumb!), we chose the color black, and make a handprint in the center of the paper plate.
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Punch the holes
Use the hole punch to make circles around the circumference of the paper plate.
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Thread the web
Tie a piece of yarn to one of the holes, and have your kiddo thread the rest through all the other holes, spider-web style!
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Add the eyes
Add googly eyes once the paint has dried to bring your handprint spider to life!
Our Halloween Favorites
The games, costumes and sensory bits my kids actually come back to every October.
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When to Make This Spider Handprint Craft
While the most likely time of year you may think to do this is Halloween, the spooky season is not the only time. Perhaps your kiddo loves all things creepy crawlers, or you are doing an insect-themed unit, or want to pair this craft with a book like Charlotte’s Web. There are lots of excuses to paint those hands and make spiders.
For those covering an insect-themed unit, or if you simply have an insect lover, do not miss our printable bundle that includes all things insects along with lots of early childhood education skills. And if you need to stock up on arts and crafts supplies, visit our comprehensive supply list.
Beyond Making Spider Handprint Art
Painting is a great fine motor activity for kids because it teaches them to see with their eyes while painting with their hands. Holding a paint stick or paint brush is a great first step for strengthening grip and hand control before using pencils.
But as mentioned above, there is so much more to this handprint art project in terms of fine motor skills. Squeezing a hole punch and threading yarn through those small holes is fantastic at strengthening hand grip, finger muscles, and hand-eye coordination.
More Ways to Explore Artistic Mediums
Want more projects after doing this spider handprint activity? Here are my top picks for arts and crafts kits that encourage hands-on creations.
Create beautiful marbled art with this easy to use kit. This is water based art and comes with all the tools needed to create 10 masterpieces!
This fun kit allows kiddos to explore both spin art and spiral art. The kit comes with 3 spiro gears, 6 markers, 3 ink bottles, 15 paper discs, and an art station base.
This sand art kit comes with 8 different colors of sand to create sand bottles and pendant bottles. A great way to discover art through a different medium!
This kit is a fun way for kids to create and display amazing shapes and designs artistically made with string. Use a pattern included in the kit or create your own!
All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
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