How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Using Picture Frames

Decorating a Christmas tree with picture frames adds a unique and nostalgic touch to your holiday. An older person living in a nursing home might enjoy having a tree in her room covered in photos of loved ones, and it's a nice way to make extended family feel close at Christmas. The pictures in the frames needn't be limited to photographs of people; you can include small drawings the kids make or photos of pets or vacations. Any memory you capture can be included on your picture-frame tree.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small picture frames, no larger than 3 by 5 inches
• Photographs or drawings
• Ornament hangers
• Christmas tree
• Miniature clothespins
• Regular clothespins
• Craft glue or hot glue gun and glue sticks

Using Ornament Hangers

1. Size the pictures to fit the frames. Use your computer's photo editing program to resize and print out pictures. Insert the pictures into the frames.

2. If the frames have an opening at the top (such as some sort of scroll work) or a hanger on the back, insert an ornament hook.

3. Hang the frames on the tree like you would any other ornament. For frames that can't be used with ornament hooks, you can either nestle them among the branches of the tree or attach them to the branches with clothespins.

Using Clothespins

4. Glue one clothespin to the center of the back of each frame. Use miniature clothespins for smaller frames.
   
   Place some clothespins horizontally and some vertically to allow you to attach the frames to a variety of branches. Spread the glue along the entire length of the clothespin, and press it firmly to the frame.

5. Allow the glue to fully dry before attaching the frames to the tree.

6. Use the clothespins to clip each frame to a branch on your tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Hot glue may work better than craft glue when using full-size clothespins and frames. Mini clothespins are available at craft stores. Using wallet-sized school photos of your children each year will allow you to look back each Christmas and see how they've grown. Using photos of far-away relatives or those who have passed on can help children remember the importance of family at the holidays. Snap photos of everyone at Thanksgiving dinner each year and add them to your tree.
• Do not allow young children to use a hot glue gun. Older children should be closely supervised by an adult if using one.

References

• Professors House

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[urbanchristmas]

on 11/4/2009 Great idea! You could make these and put on a regular Christmas tree with the other decorations. Just place them at eye level and in prominent places. 5*