Elves Made from Green Painted Footprints

There’s something extra magical about turning little feet into festive elves! This Elves Made from Green Painted Footprints craft is not only adorable but also a fun sensory experience for kids. The finished footprints can even be framed or laminated for years of holiday joy.

The cool squish of paint, the giggles while stamping, and the excitement of transforming their footprints into smiling Christmas elves make this project one to remember.

It’s perfect for creating handmade holiday cards, family keepsakes, or classroom decorations that capture the whimsy of the season.

How to Make Elves Made from Green Painted Footprints

Each footprint becomes a jolly elf with just a bit of paint, paper, and imagination. Parents will love how simple it is to set up, while kids will love that they get to paint, glue, and decorate their creations.

Materials

• White cardstock or thick paper
• Washable green paint
• Red construction paper (for hats)
• Mini pom-poms, sequins, or stickers (for hat decorations)
• Paintbrushes
• Googly eyes or black marker
• Glue stick and liquid glue
• Black marker (for smiles)
• Baby wipes or damp cloth for cleanup

Shop the materials

The steps

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Lay out a large piece of paper or a craft mat to protect your surface. Set out all your materials within reach—kids will love diving straight into this fun activity.

Make sure the green paint is washable and poured into shallow trays or plates for easy footprint stamping. Keep wipes or a wet towel nearby for quick cleanups between prints.

Step 2: Paint and Stamp the Footprints

Using a paintbrush, coat the bottom of your child’s foot evenly with green paint. The paint should be thick enough to cover but not so much that it drips.

Gently press their foot onto the cardstock, heel at the top and toes pointing downward—this upside-down shape forms the elf’s head and body.

Carefully lift their foot straight up to keep the print crisp. Repeat to make a few prints per page and allow them to dry completely.

Tip: If working with several kids, label each print lightly in pencil while the paint is wet so you’ll know whose elf is whose later.

Step 3: Create the Elf Hats

While the footprints dry, cut triangles from red construction paper to form elf hats. Trim smaller strips to serve as hat brims and glue them across the base of each triangle.

For extra charm, add pom-poms or shiny stickers to the tip of the hat. You can even mix colors like green and red for variety!

Parent tip: Pre-cut the hat shapes for younger children so they can focus on decorating.

Step 4: Add Faces and Details

Once the paint has dried, flip the page so that the heel (at the top of the print) becomes the elf’s head. Glue on googly eyes just below the heel and draw a smile with a black marker.

You can also dot on small pink cheeks using your fingertip and light pink paint. Glue a hat above the eyes so it sits neatly on the “head.”

Creative idea: Add tiny paper collars, buttons, or even glittery belts along the body part of the footprint for more personality.

Step 5: Decorate and Personalize

Sprinkle on some holiday magic by adding sequins, stars, or glitter to the hats and around the elves. Write each child’s name or the year beneath their elf print to turn it into a keepsake. Let everything dry completely before displaying.

Step 6: Display Your Footprint Elves

Hang the finished elves on your wall, fridge, or bulletin board—or string them together for a festive footprint garland. These happy green elves also make sweet handmade cards or gift tags that will make any loved one smile.

This craft is full of laughter, color, and charm—proof that sometimes the best holiday memories start with a little paint on your feet!