Painted Jar Handprint Keepsakes: The Sweetest Dollar Store Mother's Day Craft

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Looking for an easy, heartfelt, and super cute Mother’s Day craft for your toddlers and preschoolers? One that doesn’t involve glitter explosions and can be used beyond just hanging up in May?

This painted jar handprint keepsake is the one. We used dollar store jars, contact paper, and a few cheerful blobs of acrylic paint to create personalized gifts that moms, grandmas, and even your daycare snack stash will love.

Honestly, mine’s now the official candy jar on the counter. Sucker tax is real, friends.

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What You’ll Need

use jars and paint to create a fun mother's day craft

(P.S. You probably already have most of this stuff.)

Clear glass jars with lids (Dollar Tree for the win!)
- Make sure they are large enough for handprints!
Acrylic paint in your favorite colors (or mom’s favorite)
Rubbing alcohol to wipe down your glass jar before painting
Foam brushes or sponge dabbers
Clear contact paper
Scissors and a pen or marker
Tape (painters or masking tape)
Tissue paper (optional, for gifting flair)
Spray paint (optional, great for baby versions)
Sealer (optional—we skipped it and ours are still going strong)
- I’d keep these out of water after decorating

How We Made Our Mother’s Day Craft Handprint Jars

Step 1: Wash those jars.
Really give them a good scrub—sticky label gunk and toddler fingerprints don’t help paint stick. We also used a little rubbing alcohol after the soap and water scrub.

Step 2: Trace those adorable little fingers.
Cut a piece of contact paper, trace your little one’s hand (or foot if your crew is extra spicy that day), and cut it out. Place the contact paper handprint right on the clean jar.

tracing a childs hand for a mothers day craft

Step 3: Tape it like you mean it.
Use tape to cover the rim/lid area so no paint sneaks where it shouldn’t. We also popped the lids off during painting to keep that crisp silver looking fresh.

Remind your kiddos not to paint the inside. In fact, we flipped ours over so the urge was removed.

Step 4: Paint party time!
Let the kids go wild with acrylic paint. Be sure they dab and brush really well around the contact paper so the hand shape really pops when peeled. Use one color or five—it’s your chaos, own it.

Step 5: Peel and reveal.
Once dry (or mostly dry), gently peel off the contact paper to reveal the sweetest little handprint. Instant awwww moment.

peel off sticky piece for handpring jar craft

Step 6: Optional extras.

Spray paint works beautifully for babies who aren’t quite in the painting mood.
Add tissue paper inside for a finished look for gifting (unless you’re filling with treats or something else).
Pop in candy, flowers, or a note from the child.
- we added a bag of cookies that the kids helped mix
Grab some paper lunch bags and let the kids decorate them while the jars dry. Add a piece of tissue paper inside and boom—custom gift wrap that’s just as cute as the craft.
Use it as your own secret candy jar later. No judgment.

use contact paper on a glass jar for a fun project

spray paint a jar with glass spray paint for a fun look

Real Talk: What Happens After the Craft?

After we finished our keepsake jars, the kids were still riding that paint high. So we pulled out construction paper and let them go wild using up the leftover paint. One bold little rebel even painted his toes. (I was ready. Are you even a toddler teacher if you haven’t predicted toe paint at least once?)

dabbers used to paint circles with blue and purple paint

Why This Craft Is a Winner

It’s genuinely cute—not just “mom will pretend to love it” cute.
Great fine motor practice with dabbing and brushing.
Quick setup, easy cleanup, and totally affordable.

Whether you’re a parent looking for a thoughtful gift or a provider managing a table full of enthusiastic mini artists, this Mother’s Day craft for toddlers checks every box.

Bonus Tip:
Want to save this idea for next year or use it for other holidays? Swap out the tissue paper and paint colors—boom, it’s a Christmas jar. Or a Grandparents Day gift. Or just Tuesday.

Pin it, share it, or try it today—just don’t forget to hide a few suckers for yourself.