How to Make Christmas Tree Photo Ornaments
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When it comes to decorating my Christmas tree I like to change it a little bit each year by adding something new. Last year I made Christmas tree memory ornaments. This year I will add more family, especially photos of my daughters.
Ornaments that show our interests and each family member in photos taken all through the years. I call it wrapping the tree with love.
Whenever I make decorations for my home for the holidays it always has to include a bit of glitter or something sparkly. To me glitter makes anything look so much more festive and in the holiday spirit.
You may remember my ornament bowl from last year which involved a bit of the stuff, too. So it should be of no surprise that glitter is involved in these photo ornaments that I am making by re-purposing.
How to Make Christmas Tree Photo Ornaments
I love to find new decorative uses for things – like these slide mounts that you can find at your local camera store very inexpensively.
supplies needed:
- Slide Mount
- Photo or computer generated name, initial, monogram, or greeting
- Glitter
- Spray paint
- Tacky glue
- Awl
- Ornament hangers
- Beads
- Jewelry making end-pins and jump-rings
- Needle-nose pliers
- Carefully open the slide mount.
2. Coat it with spray paint
3. While the paint is wet – pile on the glitter -then shake it off
4. Add a favorite photo cut to 1 1/2″ x 1 3/8″, glue, and close the slide.
5. Add glue and glitter to the back
6. Use an awl to make 2 holes
Add a pretty dangle from the bottom hole and an ornament wire with a bead strung from the top hole
You have a sparkly personalized ornament to catch the light on your tree.
Instructions for making a dangle are at the end of this post.
Be imaginative and add your style to each ornament you make.
- Try jingle bells and pinecones.
- Or use the two existing holes to tie ribbon or twine to hang.
- I used textured spray paint on the brown one below instead of glitter for a more rustic look.
Shank style buttons work well also – on the top and bottom.
This one is my favorite. I didn’t add glitter to the back, I used two photos. On the front is my hubby as a baby – turn it around and there he is all grown up. Makes me smile.
How to Make a Beaded Dangle For Photo Ornament
Add a bead or two to a jewelry making end-pin that you can buy at the craft store.
Using needle nose pliers bend the wire as shown. I like to use the wrapped loop. Once you have that done, put it on a jump ring and attach to the bottom of the slide.
On some of my slides the glitter didn’t completely cover the two existing holes on the top of the slide. I had to go back with a dab of glue and more glitter to make sure they were covered.
Do you like to see your families photos on your tree smiling back at you?
What kind of Christmas ornaments do you use or make?
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Diane, your picture frame ornaments are so pretty and glitzy! I love the little dangles too. Thanks for sharing this great tutorial :)
this story kind of reminds me of that new coffee commercial (folgers?) where the oldest son comes home from Africa in time for Christmas and the little sister pops a bow on him and says he is her present. The only commercial to leave me misty. Now, it will even more so, having a real life example to think of. Congrats on raising such a courageous and motivated daughter!
BTW, love the ornaments! Hand made and glitter are the best!
Hi Christine-
I have seen that commercial and it left me misty too.
I love these ornaments. Great tutorial, too. Thanks so much for linking this up this week!
These are much cuter than any photo ornaments I have seen for sale in stores. Why am I not surprised? Thanks for posting it!
Hi Lil-
I have had the idea to make these for a long time. I am home sick with a cold today and deceided to finally make them. Now I just have to buy a tree and put it up.
I am very thankful to share such a Very god post.
kid Cudi Merch
This is so clever!
Hope your daughter’s time in Africa is a safe one. What an incredible thing to do.
Hi Rita-
My daughter has been in Africa since March 1. She is havng an incredible experience so far, but has told us she is getting a bit teary thinking about not being home for the hoildays. I just am so thankful for Skype, as we can talk and see her in real time whenever she can get an internet connection. As a mom it is so good to see her even if it is just on the compiuter screen.
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