Creative Family Portrait Ideas: Hand Tracing

Who said that family portraits should only be taken using a camera and printed on a photo paper?

As we take the next step towards another year, it would be a fantastic idea to document a moment and preserve it to last a lifetime. One way of doing this would be to do a hand print family portrait.

It is fairly easy to make and does not cost a dime (that is, if you have the materials lying somewhere in your home).

Materials you need:

• Photo frame
• Linen/Felt/Paper of any color (optional)
• Threads of any color (optional)

These materials are not compulsory. Since this is necessarily not science, creativity is the keyword. You may have the option of:

• Taking the "easier" path by choosing to do it on paper.
• Or if you are up to the task of stitching a bit, you may want to do it on felt/linen cloth.

OPTION 1. Do it all on paper

Taking this path is fairly simple and hassle-free (almost)!

• Use colored construction paper. Any color will do.
• Trace the hand prints starting with the largest hand in the family (which is usually the dad).
• Trace the next hand on a different angle (either to the right or left-- it does not matter) as long as you can still see the first hand print.
• Do the same thing on the third, fourth, fifth... hand.

OPTION 2. Do it all on cloth

This path may take a little more time to finish but it will all be worth it!

• Trace individual hand on paper first (1 hand : 1 paper)
• Cut it out
• Trace the cut-out hand on to your desired cloth very lightly using pencil
• Overlap the tracings by varying the angles such that you can still see all the hand traces
• Start the stitching process
• Frame it

So the next steps after the photo above would be stitching and framing and you are done!

I have compiled what some amazing people has done in order to spice up their own family portrait using the hand tracing method. Here are just some that I loved: