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Family Tree Ornaments

This tutorial takes old or new photos and turns them into heirloom ornaments. A perfect addition to any tree, gift, or add them to their own special tree like I did below.
Keyword christmas ornament, holiday ornament, homemade gift
Active Time 1 hour
Drying time 12 hours
Total Time 13 hours
Author Angie Holden

Equipment

  • Mod Podge (gloss or matte would be acceptable)
  • Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
  • Red Ribbon
  • Jute Twine

What You Will Need

  • Black and white picture
  • 24 inch Pine Tree
  • Assorted metal decor items.
  • Rusted Tin Stars for tree top
  • Rusted Star Garland
  • Rusted Jingle Bells

Instructions

  • I started with my pile of pictures and determined which photo would look best in each metal object. I trimmed my pictures to where they would fit inside and removed any ribbon that came on the metal objects.
  • Next, coat the pictures with two coats of Mod Podge (matte or gloss). Allow them to dry in between coats. Note that I also used the Mod Podge to hold the picture inside of the metal object, so I used excess Mod Podge where ever the picture touches the metal. This is shown in the picture below. I allowed the Mod Podge coats to cure overnight before going onto the next step.
  • After both coats of Mod Podge have dried completely, it is time to use Mod Podge Dimensional Magic. This product will add a dimension and luster to your project not found with regular Mod Podge.
  • Apply an even coat on all of your ornaments and allow to dry. I find that leaving it to dry overnight is preferred.
  • I added a ribbon to each ornament. Either threading it through the already present hole, or using hot glue to adhere to the back.