There's something so beautiful about giving Mum or Dad a gift that's been made with their children's own little hands. 🤍
Something the children feel so proud to give, and Mum or Dad will treasure for a lifetime. A little piece of their childhood, captured forever.
Whether it's a special Christmas surprise, a birthday present or a little something just because, personalised handprint and footprint keepsakes are such a wonderful way to capture this special time while they're still little.
Having just welcomed our third baby, I'm reminded all over again of just how magical these early days are. Those tiny hands and feet, all the little details, and the overwhelming feeling of wanting to hold on to every precious moment. I wish I could bottle it all up and keep it forever!
And really, that's at the heart of why James and I created MiMi Adores, over 10,000 little handprints and footprints ago.
We wanted to create truly beautiful, timeless pieces of art that capture the wonder of these moments with our children. Something that helps us appreciate just how special they are now, but that becomes even more precious as the years go by.
Creating something beautiful to treasure now, with a beauty that doesn't fade with time, but only grows.
A Personalised Handprint Gift for Dad
One of the loveliest parts of running MiMi Adores is occasionally getting to see our artwork being given as a gift.
We were sent this beautiful video of a dad opening his personalised handprint artwork from his two children, Gabriel and Psalm.
Gabriel and Psalm surprising Daddy with his personalised handprint keepsake 🤍
It was originally a Father's Day surprise, but we think it's a lovely example of a gift that would be just as special to open on Christmas morning.
The artwork features both children's real handprints, finished in foil and personalised with their names and the message:
"Have hands down the best Daddy!"
We love how their two little handprints sit side by side, each with their own unique lines, creases and details.
It's such a simple idea, but one that captures something really special about this stage of family life.
And while the message on this particular print was chosen for Father's Day, you could just as easily personalise your artwork with a Christmas message, your children's names or simply the year their prints were taken.
Handprint Gifts for Mum: A Little Piece of Their Childhood
Whether it's her first Christmas as a mummy or she's now got two or three little ones running around, there's something so lovely about bringing all her children's handprints together in one piece of artwork.
One of our favourite designs incorporates photographs of the children into their actual handprints, creating something completely unique to them.
Here are Mila and Lyla proudly holding their finished artwork! We love creating these designs because they capture two things at once: the size and shape of each child's little hand, and a favourite photograph of them at that age.
It's a particularly lovely gift from a new baby and their older brother or sister, and something that can be displayed at home long after Christmas has passed.
A beautiful way to celebrate the children who made her a mummy, whether it's a Christmas surprise, a Mother's Day gift or simply something she'd love to have on the wall at home.
Baby's First Christmas: A Gift from the Littlest Member of the Family
There's something so magical about your baby's first Christmas. The excitement of hanging their very first stocking, choosing a special decoration for the tree and beginning all those lovely family traditions.
With our own little girl celebrating her first Christmas this year, we're especially excited about all those tiny firsts!
And while your little one might be too young to choose a present themselves, their tiny handprints or footprints can make the most beautiful Christmas gift for Mum, Dad or even the grandparents!
You might choose a pair of tiny newborn footprints with their name and the year, or a little handprint alongside a special message from baby.
And if you've already captured those precious newborn prints, perhaps at the hospital or in their baby book, we can use those too. There's no need to take them again.
Whether it's a gift for a first-time parent or a little surprise from the newest member of a growing family, it's such a lovely way to remember just how tiny they were for their very first Christmas.
Handprint Gifts from Two or More Children
There's something wonderful about seeing siblings' little handprints together, especially when there's a big difference in their ages. A tiny newborn hand next to their older brother's or sister's tells its own little story.
For families with two or more children, we can bring their handprints and footprints together in one beautiful piece of artwork, personalised with their names, dates or a special message for Mum or Dad.
Can You Combine Handprints Taken Years Apart?
Yes, absolutely! And we think this is one of the loveliest ways to create sibling artwork.
Perhaps you still have your eldest child's tiny newborn footprints tucked away in their baby book, and you've recently welcomed a new baby into the family.
We can bring those original newborn prints together with your new baby's, even if they were taken years apart, creating a keepsake that captures both children at the same precious stage of their lives.
And there's no need to take new prints if you'd rather use the ones you've already saved. We can work from photographs or scans of your existing handprints and footprints, including those taken in hospital.
Choosing Your Sibling Handprint Artwork
You can choose a style that suits the person you're giving it to. Our real foil handprints are lovely for a simple, timeless design, while our watercolour artwork adds a little colour.
Or, for something especially personal, we can incorporate your favourite photographs into the handprints and footprints themselves.
Our real foil artwork is available up to A4, while our watercolour and photographic designs can be created in larger A3 and A2 sizes.
Whether it's a Christmas surprise from two little ones or a keepsake featuring the whole family, it's such a lovely way to capture their childhood together.
What If Your Baby's Handprints Aren't Perfect?
Please don't worry if your little one's handprints or footprints aren't quite as clear as you'd hoped!
Having personally taken more than 1,000 little handprints and footprints over the years, we know that every print is unique, and those little smudges and wriggly fingers are all part of the experience.
And after working with more than 10,000 prints, we've never received one that wasn't good enough to create beautiful artwork from.
James can carefully restore faint or missing details, neaten smudges and bring out those gorgeous little lines and creases, while keeping the original shape and size of your child's prints.
Or, if you'd prefer to keep every little detail exactly as it is, that's absolutely lovely too!
If you'd like to see what we can do with less-than-perfect prints, have a read of our guide to smudged, faded and old baby footprints
And if you're planning to take new prints at home, we've also shared our 10 favourite tips for taking a baby handprint at home, including some of the little tricks we've learnt along the way.
Ordering a Personalised Handprint Gift for Christmas
If you're planning a special handprint or footprint gift for Christmas, we'd love to help you create something beautiful!
Every piece of MiMi Adores artwork is made using your children's actual handprints or footprints, and ordering is lovely and straightforward.
You can take your little one's prints at home using one of our inkless printing kits, included when you choose the kit option, or simply send us a photograph or scan of prints you've already taken.
Once we've received your prints and personalisation details, James will carefully prepare your artwork, and we'll email you a digital proof within 8 working days so you can see how everything looks.
You're welcome to request as many changes as you need until you're completely happy. We want you to absolutely love your finished keepsake!
Once you've approved your design, we'll create your artwork and carefully package it ready to make its way to you.
As Christmas gets closer, we'd always recommend ordering a little earlier where possible, particularly if you need an inkless kit posting out first.
A Gift They'll Treasure for always
Some presents are treasured from the moment they're opened. Others somehow become even more precious as the years go by.
One day, those tiny hands that fit so perfectly inside yours will be much bigger. The little fingers, the creases, even the size difference between siblings will be a beautiful reminder of a time that somehow passed far too quickly.
And that's what makes these keepsakes so special to us. They're not just a lovely gift to unwrap on Christmas morning, but a little piece of your children's childhood to hold on to forever.
Whether you're creating a surprise for Mum, Dad or someone else who adores your little ones, we'd be honoured to help you make something truly special.
Explore our personalised handprint and footprint keepsakes
With love,
Mimi & James xx