If you are looking for a special keepsake that will add to your Christmas decor and take you back to a special moment – this one is it. **This post may contain affiliate links. A small commission may be earned.**
I imagine you’re a mom reading this, but if you’re not this would make the sweetest gift for a new mom! Personally, doing these crafts and keepsakes was out of the picture for me in my first year of postpartum, but if someone would have done this for me… I can’t even imagine the emotions I’d feel!
I’ve seen the Mistletoes Keepsakes done several times with just paint and they are adorable, but I wanted to add to my decor and create something I would hang in my home for years to come. I did a similar keepsake for Mother’s Day with pressed flowers and loved it so much so when this idea came to my head I had to try and execute it!
The painted feet are cute, but I feel like having the pressed florals and greenery for the footprints really elevates these keepsakes to something you’d be able to hang every year for Christmas. I wish I would have done this for my “Baby’s First Christmas” for each baby – but that isn’t stopping me from doing it anyway! My kiddos are 3, 1, and another on the way this holiday season. I think these are still so precious, even though my kiddos are a little older.
Clever idea: If you have your footprints from the hospital still you could definitely do this with those tiny newborn feet!
For the floating frame, I made sure to measure my toddler’s feet before hand to ensure the frame I used would fit her feet. When I did this for Mother’s Day I used a wider frame (8×10), but since I was going to make one of these for each kid, I thought the square frames would look cuter hung up next to each other at Christmas.
There are two big things I changed to make this easier on myself (I learned from my mistakes when I did this at Mother’s Day).
1. I stamped my kiddos feet onto a piece of cardstock (instead of trying to do it on the frame/glass). This allowed me to do the glue and greenery when I had time and not worry about the ink getting smudged on the plastic/glass.
2. I purchased greenery already dried and pressed. When we did this for Mother’s Day my toddler and I collected flowers, pressed, and dried them and then made the keepsake. This was so memorable, but it didn’t really feel possible at this time of year. In order to do this successfully you have to pick the leaves and flowers and press them and let them dry for at least 2 weeks before you can use them. If there is moisture in them when you try to use them, mold will form and your keepsake will be ruined.
What you need: Amazon List of Everything
– Floating Frame
– Ink Pad
– Dried and pressed greenery and optional flowers (Red and White)
– Mod Podge
– Red and Black Vinyl (Cricut – I have the Joy Xtra and Maker 3, here’s a quick comparison of my machines – for this project I just used my Joy Xtra, I think it’s the perfect size)
OR
– 1/2 inch Red Ribbon and Black Sharpie
1. To make my life easier, I stamped my kids’ feet on cardstock vs straight on the frame insert. This just allows for more tries if you need them and less ability of smudging. I also like that you don’t have the black on the glass at all so it doesn’t show through your greenery.
2. Find the center of the frame and where you’ll place the balls of your kid’s feet (I skipped this and mine are slightly off centered.. whoops). You’ll want to about half an inch to an inch above the feet for the bow and about an inch or more at the bottom for Merry Christmas. I also put my kid’s name and the year in the top right.
3. Place the frame insert on top of the foot you are going to start with. You’ll want to have it placed at an angle since we are making mistletoes. The balls of the feet will overlap and your big toes will be in the middle. (For the Mother’s Day keepsake I just have one of each kid’s foot straight up and down.)
4. One footprint at a time, paint Mod Podge glue over the footprint and lay pressed greenery all over the glue. If you want to have some color in there you could add some white and red flowers. I think it looks great either way.
5. Move the frame insert to angle the second foot with the balls overlapping (but no other part of the foot). Repeat Step 4.
6. Let the glue dry, at least for an hour or so. It won’t be fully dry, but you’ll be able to add your words without worry of it moving.
7. Cut out a bow with your Cricut and red vinyl. Be careful with placement – you’d don’t want to have your transfer tape touch the leaves, they will rip off.
If you are using real ribbon, make sure your “bow” is just laid flat (and not tied). I would glue it down for extra protection.
8. With black vinyl or sharpie, write your Christmas saying of choice, the year, and who’s Mistletoes these are!
**When doing the vinyl you’ll have to be very careful to not place your transfer tape on the leaves, it will peel them up. I had to place the bows on free hand (no transfer tape) to make sure it didn’t mess anything up**
9. Let dry for at least 24 hours before placing into the floating frame.
10. Hang or gift to a grandparent!
If you are looking for more keepsakes or Christmas DIYs to make this year – I have the Santa Cookie Board and Footprint/Handprint Mugs! You can also check out the 25+ Activities for Christmas (with printables) that has crafts and activities to do with your kids this holiday season. Thanks so much for checking out my blog, I hope you love it! Oh, and just in case you haven’t heard it today – You’re doing a great job. xx Ciara
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