Appropriate age group(s):
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Estimated time to make this decoration:
15 to 30 minutes, Dry time 24 to 36 hours

Materials:
Disposable pie tins
Plaster of paris
Paint
"Little hands"
A plastic drinking straw
Cutting instrument

Instructions:
Mix plaster of paris in a plastic diposable container. Pour into pie tin.
Cut straw.
Put a piece of straw into the mixture making sure that it is long enough to extend slightly above the mixture.
Let sit for a few minutes, until slightly firm, but not hard.
Take little hands and gently place flat-handed into mixture, just deep enough to make imprint.
Gently pull hands out of mixture, lifting straight up, not to smear imprints.
Let dry, overnight.
Pop out of tin.
Paint with desired color.
Give as a special holiday gift, made by precious hands!

Other comments or suggestions to consider:
You may want to try this a few times to make sure that you get it right, before trying this with small, impatient children.

This can also be done with leaves or flowers. Anything that will make an interesting impression will work fine.