How to Make a Handprint Cherry Tree

Learn how to make a picture of a cherry tree by tracing your forearm and fingers. You can make small cherries using your fingertips, or make cherry blossoms by using tiny pieces of tissue paper that are wadded up. This is a great project for kids of any age. Make a cherry tree in honor of George Washington and President’s Day, or make one with blossoms to help celebrate spring.

You just need a few basic craft supplies to get started.

Supplies Needed to Make a Cherry Tree:

Large Piece of Paper
Crayons
Acrylic or Tempera Paint

Tools Needed:

Paint Brush (optional)

The first thing you need to do is make a tree trunk. There are two ways you can accomplish this.

First lay your hand and forearm, almost to your elbow, on the paper and spread your fingers apart. Have someone use a brown crayon to trace around your forearm and fingers. You then need to color in the trunk.
If you prefer to use paint, have someone help you paint your fingers, forearm, and the palm of your hand brown. Carefully press your arm and hand down on the paper to make a print. Make sure your fingers are spread as far apart as you can get them. Lift your hand and arm straight up. Let the paint dry.

Once your trunk in made, it is time to add the leaves, Once again, you can do this using paint or crayon, which ever you like. I suggest using paint to fingerpaint the top of the tree green! If you do use paint for the leaves, let it dry a bit.

Finally, you are ready for the cherries. Pour some red paint into a shallow dish and dip one of your finger tips in it. Press the paint unto the tree. That is all there is to it. Add as many or as few cherries as you like.

To make cherry blossoms, cut small squares out of white or light pink tissue paper. You will want them about an inch across. Grab the four corners together and squeeze. Put a dab of glue on the tree and place the center of the tissue paper square in the glue, making sure the corners are standing straight up so they almost look like little flowers. If you prefer, you can cut little pieces of the tissue paper and just ball them up loosely and glue them in place.

You can use this same technique to make a variety of trees. Use orange paint to make an orange tree, yellow paint to make a lemon tree, or green paint to make a lime tree. If you want to make an apple tree, you can use red, green, or yellow paint!