Cinco de Mayo Handprint Art – Free Printable Templates

Cinco de Mayo handprint art is a fun and easy way to celebrate the holiday with young kids while encouraging creativity and cultural learning.

I’ve put together six free printable templates that turn little hands into festive crafts like maracas, piñatas, cacti, and even the Mexican flag.

These simple art projects have been a favorite in our home—my son always looked forward to making something colorful and messy each year.

Whether you’re teaching about the holiday or just looking for something hands-on and meaningful, these free Cinco de Mayo worksheets are a great fit for classrooms and families alike.

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Cinco de Mayo Handprint Craft

These six printable handprint templates are a creative way to introduce kids to Mexican culture through art. Each page features a simple design that incorporates a child’s handprint, turning it into something festive—like a cactus, piñata, or the Mexican flag.

The free handprint printables are easy to prep and fun for a wide range of ages. Whether you’re working with a group or just doing a quick activity at home, they make a great seasonal project that blends creativity with a touch of cultural learning.

You’re welcome to print the templates for personal or classroom use. Just scroll to the bottom of the post for the free PDF.

Supplies Needed

• Cardstock – Helps the artwork hold up and prevents paint from bleeding through.
• Washable paints – Any brand works; we stick with our go-to non-toxic set.
• Paintbrush – For applying paint to little hands.
• Paper plates or palettes – Useful for separating colors and keeping things tidy.
• Wipes – Trust me, you’ll want these close by for cleanup!

Each design fills a full page. Print all six, and you’re ready to go.

Want something extra? We also have free Cinco de Mayo color by number worksheets to extend the fun.

How to Use

These templates work well as part of a holiday-themed art lesson or simply as a fun seasonal craft. Try pairing the activity with a short explanation of Cinco de Mayo’s significance—it’s a natural way to build cultural awareness while keeping things age-appropriate and hands-on.

Once finished, kids can display their work as decorations, gift it to family, or save it in a keepsake folder. It’s also a great opportunity to craft together and spark conversation.

Maracas

This one’s simple and fun for all ages. Paint your child’s fingers with a mix of festive colors—we like using green, orange, and red. Press the painted hand down onto the cardstock just above the maracas handle on the template.

Once dry, kids can use crayons or markers to decorate the rest of the design. Shake those maracas and let the celebration begin!

Pinata

For a colorful piñata, dip your child’s hand in bright paints like orange, yellow, and blue. Press the handprint onto the template with the fingers pointing down to create the layered fringe effect.

You can repeat with different colors to add more texture. After it dries, add extra designs with markers to finish it off.

Cactus

Use green paint (or let your child pick their favorite shade) and coat the palm and fingers. Press the hand toward the top of the page, fingers up, to form the cactus shape.

Once dry, decorate with flowers, a sombrero, or even a tiny mustache for fun!

Girl Dancing

Paint your child’s hand in a color of their choice—we used red—and press it onto the lower part of the dancer’s dress outline.

Do a second print if you want a fuller skirt. After it dries, use markers to add details to the dress or face, or even draw music notes in the background.

Mexico Flag

Grab red and green paint for this one. Start with a green handprint on the left and a red one on the right, fingers outward.

Repeat if needed to make the colors pop. Once dry, use markers to add the white center stripe or draw in a simple emblem.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Paint the hand green and press it onto both sides of the large cactus outline. Once dry, decorate with little flowers, googly eyes, or a smiling face to personalize it. A fun and festive way to wrap up your set!

More Cinco de Mayo Activities

Looking to add even more creativity to your celebration? These extra printables are a fun and simple way to keep kids engaged while learning about the holiday:

• Cinco de Mayo bookmarks to color – A quick, low-mess craft that lets kids personalize their own festive bookmark.
• Cinco de Mayo poem printables – These themed templates are a great prompt to get kids writing original poems this May.
• Cinco de Mayo word scramble – We regularly use this in our homeschool routine as a light, educational brain teaser.
• Cinco de Mayo word search – A classic way to boost vocabulary and keep kids entertained during downtime.
• Cinco de Mayo coloring sheets – Simple pages that combine creativity with cultural themes, perfect for younger children.

These activities pair well with the handprint art or can be used on their own for a quick, themed learning break.

Cinco de Mayo Books for Kids

Books are a great way to bring the spirit of Cinco de Mayo to life for children. These kid-friendly titles introduce fun stories, colorful traditions, and the cultural significance of the holiday in an age-appropriate way.

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Cinco de Mayo (Holidays in Rhythm and Rhyme) – A playful, rhyming introduction to the holiday, perfect for early readers.
• Let’s Fiesta! – Follow Rafael on a dance-filled adventure as he celebrates his heritage in this fun and engaging story.
• Cinco De Mouse-O! – A curious little mouse gets caught up in the excitement of a neighborhood celebration in this lively picture book.

Each book adds a little more depth to your celebration and pairs nicely with themed crafts or printables.

Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!

Ready to Print? Grab Your Free Cinco de Mayo Handprint Templates Here!

Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!

Last Updated on 1 April 2025 by Clare Brown