How to Make Picture Christmas Ornaments for Kids

Kids love to make Christmas ornaments for the family tree. Photo ornaments are great gifts for aunts, uncles and grandparents because they are a photo history of what each child looks like during the years. Digital photography has made it very easy and inexpensive to make photo ornaments, as you can even print the pictures at home, rather than take them to be developed. Resize the photo smaller or larger to fit into the handmade ornament.

Things You'll Need

• Brown paper grocery bags
• Pencil
• Gingerbread people cookie cutters
• Crayons, markers or paint
• Scissors
• Card stock
• Glue
• Yarn or ribbon
• Large star-shaped cookie cutter
• Smaller star-shaped cookie cutter
• Hole puncher
• Old CDs
• Sequins, beads, buttons
• Construction paper

Instructions

Gingerbread Photo Ornaments

1. Disassemble a brown grocery bag and flatten it out. Fold it in half with any printing on the outside.

2. Place a gingerbread person cookie cutter on the bag so the fold is against the top of the head. Trace the gingerbread cookie cutter with a pencil onto the bag.

3. Cut the figure out leaving the fold at the top of the head so you end up with two figures joined at the head.

4. Refold so any print on the bag is now on the inside and will not be seen.

5. Print a photo of the child's face to fit in the head area of the ornament and cut it out. Use glue to affix the photo to the cut out.

6. Decorate the clothing with crayons, markers or paint.

7. Insert a length of yarn or ribbon that will fit in the fold at the top of the head. Glue the gingerbread person layers together, front and back, and tie a loop in the yarn or ribbon to hang it on the tree.

Star Photo Ornament

1. Trace a star on card stock using the large star cookie cutter and cut two.

2. Place the smaller star cookie cutter on top of one of the large cut out stars, centering it in the middle. Trace around the small cookie cutter and cut it out to make a hollow star.

3. Place the large star cookie cutter on a photo and trace all around, centering it around the main focus of the picture. Cut the photo out and glue it to the solid large star piece.

4. Place a small amount of glue all around the edge of the photo enhanced star piece. Lay the hollow star frame over top so it fits perfectly and let the glue dry.

5. Punch a hole in the top arm of the star, string a ribbon through and tie it in a loop.

CD Photo Ornament

1. Tie a long piece of yarn or ribbon through the hole of the CD. Bring it up above the CD and tie it in a large loop.

2. Glue a small photo cut in a circular shape to the center of the CD, covering the yarn or ribbon, and let the glue dry.

3. Decorate the ornament by gluing sequins, jewels and beads around the photo.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a whole family of gingerbread people with photos of Mom, Dad, siblings and grandparents. Make them into a garland for the tree by using one long piece of ribbon and yarn glued at the folds.

• Use glue sparingly on the star ornament so none runs onto the visible portion of the photo.

Resources

• Apples 4 the Teacher: Christmas Photo Ornament