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This Independence Day, check out our 4th of July Handprint Crafts based on classic American icons – Uncle Sam and the Bald Eagle!

I’ve always marveled at how different Independence Day celebrations are in India and in the U.S. For starters, the Americans refer to it as ‘Fourth of July’, rather than calling it Independence Day!

And if you’re wondering what’s in a name, there are many other things that are different. Fourth of July celebrations are characterized by fireworks, barbeques, picnics and even baseball games!! Being a summer holiday, the people of America make the most of the warm weather and have all their fun outdoors! Not something we can do here in India, since it’s usually raining in August!

But one common thing you’ll find in the Independence Day celebrations of both countries is the love for their flag colors. India is clothed in saffron, white and green all through August, while America’s red, blue and white are celebrated with enthusiasm this time of the year. So let’s join in the celebrations with a handprint craft based on classic American icons – Uncle Sam and the Bald Eagle – it doesn’t get more American than this!

4th of July Handprint Crafts for Kids

Supplies Required:

• White Canvas
• Paints – red, blue, white, brown, flesh-color
• Paint Brush
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black and Yellow Markers
• Black & White Cardstock

How to Make the 4th of July Uncle Sam Handprint Craft:

1. Paint your child’s hand with red, blue, white and flesh-toned paint. (refer to the photo) Make sure they keep their hand open to avoid smearing the paint.

2. Press your child’s hand down firmly onto the canvas towards the bottom.

3. Help your child gently lift their hand off the canvas to avoid smearing the paint.

4. Allow the handprint to dry completely.

5. Repeat the steps above but this time, paint your child’s palm flesh toned. Paint your child’s middle finger blue and the index and ring finger red.

6. Turn the canvas around and press your child’s hand down firmly, slightly overlapping the first handprint just a little bit.

7. Help your child gently lift their hand off the canvas to avoid smearing the paint.

8. Allow the handprint to dry completely.

9. Paint your child’s index finger red and press down onto the hat. Repeat again with white paint. (refer to the photo)

10. Dip your child’s fingertip into flesh toned paint and give Uncle Sam ears.

11. Dip your child’s fingertip in white paint and give Uncle Sam some hair and a beard.

12. Dip your child’s fingertips into pink paint and give Uncle Sam rosy cheeks.

13. Paint tiny stars onto the hat. Allow the paint to dry completely.

14. Use a black marker to add eyes, a nose, mouth and chin. At the same time, outline the stars and white areas of the hat and hair, and add stripes to the white portion of the shirt.

Your Uncle Sam handprint craft is complete!

How to make the 4th of July Eagle Craft:

1. For this craft, make sure to use your canvas in landscape position.

2. Paint your child’s 3 middle fingers with white paint. (refer to the photo) Make sure they keep their hand open to avoid smearing the paint.

3. Press your child’s hand down firmly onto the canvas towards the bottom.

4. Help your child gently lift their hand off the canvas to avoid smearing the paint.

5. Allow the handprint to dry completely.

6. Repeat the steps above but this time, paint your child’s hand and fingers brown and their thumb white.

7. Press your child’s hand down firmly onto the canvas, off to one side. Repeat this step with the other hand and press their hand down off to the other side.

8. Help your child gently lift their hand off the canvas to avoid smearing the paint.

9. Allow the handprint to dry completely.

10. Dip your child’s fingertip into yellow paint and give the eagle a beak.

11. Allow the paint to dry completely.

12. Use a black marker to add eyes and to trace around any white area to make the paint stand out.

Your eagle handprint craft is complete!

Now that looks like a lot of fun, doesn’t it? These 4th of July Handprint Crafts are simple, but do require some care to ensure the results turn out neat, with the different parts of the image being distinct. Too much paint will result in a large colorful blob, while too little will give you an incomplete picture. Set aside a relaxed evening for this project, and the whole family can have fun with it!