Aunt Sally is our family’s Martha Stewart. She makes magazine-worthy seven-course meals using artisanal ingredients from her decorative garden of edibles just for fun, and her house is filled with beautiful, handcrafted items that she whips up in her free time. (This is only slightly hyperbolic; she gets her organics from local farmers.)
Last week I was admiring her Christmas decor on Facebook, and one particular piece caught my attention. It was decorated with photos of her ancestors — an actual family tree! I thought it was such a lovely, thoughtful addition to the holiday home, so I asked Aunt Sally to share with us how she made it. And in typical Aunt Sally fashion, she agreed to do just that!
Aunt Sally presents:
How to make an Angel Tree
I decided to make “my angels” in two different styles. One, inspired by Jeanne D’Arc Living, would include letters and documents on both sides and feature a free-form look with torn photo edges and a simple wire for hanging. The other would be a formal portrait utilizing existing photo frames, scans of Victorian scrapbook frames or photo “carte postale” folios from the craft store. Both styles would be embellished with glitter, ribbon, pearls or crosses as well as a label on the reverse with the grandmother’s name and birth and death dates. A “Family Tree” Angel Christmas tree.
The finished ornaments all range between 3.5 x 4.5 inches or 3 x 4 inches, depending on the photo, document or photo frame.
Suggested Supplies
How to make the Jeanne d’Arc-inspired ornaments
Print the selected background documents, trim to the desired finished size and glue wrong sides together. Print the photo (I used only sepia or black & white images) large enough to yield an image approximately 3-by-2.5 inches when torn. Tear the photo’s edges, and glue the photo to front side of the document square.
Hole punch both top corners for wire and the center of the lower edge if adding a pearl or a cross. Glue glitter or microbeads on all 4 edges, front and back. Set on a cup or glass to dry.
Attach a wire handle by tying each end at the top hole punch. My finished wires are about 4 inches, not including the wire loop knots.
If adding a lower bead embellishment, insert bead pin in bead/pearl and form a small loop at the top of the bead with the pliers; thread wire through hole punch at lower edge of ornament and attach bead. For crosses, just wire directly through hole punch.
How to make the Formal Portrait ornaments
For purchased Carte Postale folder
Print your photo and trim to fit into folio opening. Punch one hole in the center of the top for decorative hook.
For printed Victorian scrapbook frame
Print a Victorian scrapbook frame in color or sepia. Print photo and trim so there is adequate room to glue around portrait image and adhere to back of frame. Print a selected background document or select a decorative paper to trim to the desired finished size, and glue to the back of the scrapbook frame. Punch one hole in the center of the top for decorative hook.
For photo with included frame
Print your photo with frame and trim to appropriate size. Print a selected background document or select a decorative paper to trim to the desired finished size, and glue to the back of the photo. Punch one hole in the center of the top for decorative hook.
Finishing your portrait ornament
Glue glitter, microbeads or cording to Carte Postale or scrapbook frame opening or around the edges of your photocopied picture frame. Glue ribbons and bows on the front as desired, and attach other small items (small photos, pressed flowers, etc) and a label to the back side of your ornament. Attach decorative ornament hook.
Thanks for sharing your crafting wisdom, Aunt Sally! Do you have a favorite DIY holiday decoration? I’d love to feature it here!