Father's Day Handmade Gift
A photo keepsake box and simple thumbprint card that a child can build and decorate mostly by themselves.
By WonderCraft Kids Editorial Team, Editorial team · Updated 5 September 2026
This project pairs a small decorated keepsake box with a thumbprint card, giving a child two things to make with different levels of fiddliness. The box takes drying time between steps, so it spreads naturally across a morning rather than needing one long sitting. Nothing here needs specialist craft supplies beyond a cardboard box and paint.
What you need
- A small cardboard box with a lid, or a matchbox
- Washable paint and a brush
- Card for the thumbprint card
- A photo of your child, cut to fit inside the box lid
- PVA glue
- Markers or coloured pencils
Step by step
- 1
Paint the outside of the box in one or two colours and leave it to dry for about an hour.
- 2
While it dries, fold a piece of card and have your child press painted thumbprints along the front to make a simple pattern.
- 3
Add legs, antennae or petals to the thumbprints with a fine marker once the paint is touch-dry.
- 4
Once the box is dry, glue the photo inside the lid as a surprise for when it is opened.
- 5
Decorate the box further with drawn patterns or a name label.
- 6
Write a short message inside the card and place it inside the finished box.
What kids learn
Sequencing a project
Working in stages that need drying time can help children practise patience and returning to unfinished work.
Fine motor precision
Adding small details to a thumbprint with a marker gives practice at controlled, small-scale drawing.
Thinking of someone else
Choosing what goes inside the box as a surprise gives children a chance to plan for another person's reaction.
Make it easier
Skip the box and just decorate a ready-folded card with thumbprints and a message; it is finished within twenty minutes.
Make it more challenging
Ask your child to design a pattern for the box in advance on paper, then transfer it, which adds a planning step before the painting begins.
Safety and supervision
- Adults should cut the photo and any card shapes for children under five.
- Use washable, non-toxic paint and protect the table with a cloth or mat.
- Allow paint to dry fully before handling the box, to avoid smudging and staining clothes.
Adult supervision is required for every activity on this site. Read our full child safety guidelines.
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wondercraftkids.com
Father's Day Handmade Gift
Ages 4-8 · 35 min · some mess
Ages 4+ · Some mess
Suggested pin description
Father's Day Handmade Gift: A photo keepsake box and simple thumbprint card that a child can build and decorate mostly by themselves. Ages 4+, 50 minutes total, some mess. Full step-by-step instructions and a materials list at WonderCraft Kids.
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Frequently asked questions
What if we do not have a spare cardboard box?+
A cereal box cut down, or an empty matchbox, works just as well and is often the right size for small trinkets.
The paint smudged before it dried, what can we do?+
Let it dry fully, then go over the smudge with a second thin coat rather than trying to fix it while wet.
