A little Family Tree

This year for Christmas, we (as in all 8 siblings)  wanted to do something special for the folks. The idea appeared in the form of our version of a family tree.

The idea is that as a tree grows, the leaves and branches come and go. The roots however, grow deep and wide will keep the tree strong and healthy. So, we need to always nourish the roots.

On the back of the tree plaque is an inscription that says:  "A family tree spreads deep and wide, sweeping our legacy in it's stride."

With 8 siblings, we can't help but create a spectacular family tree!

Basically, we took photos of every member of the family at approximately age 2 (or as close to it as possible) and mounted the on wooden tags.  Here is where the tree- or roots- comes in.  At the top, was mom and dad.  From there were each of their children (the siblings) and then the grandkids that belong to each child.

We hung them from a long wood plank and mounted the wood tags to chain, so there is some movement.  As a bonus, we took pictures of just the grandchildren and mounted  them to wooden plaques.  This was a kind of then and now thing.  Black and white was the theme because some of the old photos did not look good in full color, which means oxidized pink.

Tada!  Merry Christmas Mom and Dad.

-Tara

DIY Christmas Advent Chain Idea & Free Printable!

My family loves the DIY Christmas advent chain... but how do you make it look fantastic? My struggle is that it always looks like some scraggly chain that doesn't fit in with my Christmas decor.

So this year, I used cardstock that matches my home for the chain (as opposed to any old left over cardstock), then made a cute little printable to put in a frame (you can get it too... when you scroll to the bottom)! 

It hangs on the door from a ribbon on a wreath hanger. Then the kids can reach the loops, and it doesn't look like I just taped it to the wall... although I did just tape it to my picture frame. :)

Make your advent chain (many of us already know this tradition, but for those who don't: cut paper strips, write down the number of days until Christmas - one number per paper strip - then staple them in loops in order, and tear off each loop as you pass each day).

Now you need a place to hang it!

Get your picture frame and decide what size of the printable you want on the wall. My frame was square, and much bigger than an 8x10 - but my printer doesn't print any bigger than 8.5 x 11. So I chose a small square.

But my large picture frame needed a matte...

... so I framed my lime green Christmas wrapping paper! Then I added a blue border of cardstock and used my printable for the centerpiece of the picture.

However you choose to doll it up, frame your printable.

Next, hang it up! If you have wall space, great. If not, do as I did - find an empty door and grab your wreath hanger. Use a sturdy ribbon to hang the frame from the wreath hanger.

And last, tape the advent chain to the picture frame. The kids love it. I love it. Actually, my husband thought it looked fantastic too. And I can reuse it again and again. Yay!

In the spirit of giving, here is your free printable!

• free Christmas printable (square version) 
• free Christmas printable (8.5 x 11 size)

 And if you ask my daughter how long until Christmas, she'll tell you. Thanks to the advent chain. :)

Merry Christmas!!!
 -Jannie

Keep Calm and Carry Garlic: Halloween/Fall Front Porch, Halloween Wreath

3 different projects are in this picture. The wreath on the door, the aspen or birch branches, the tiny ghosts hanging from the top.

This post only covers the wreath. I will post on the trees and ghosts soon, though you could probably figure it out without any of my help.

 Parts: (All from a craft store):
Glitter Raven,
"Keep Calm and Carry Garlic" sign,
Yellow and black silk "feathers" (in the silk flower section, I think they were meant to be leaves...),
Green floral wire
Wire cutters
Hot glue gun
Hot glue sticks
Burlap ribbon

 I had 4 branches of feathers and I laid them cross-wise.

My pictures are horrible, I'm not a photographer. But the pics help, right?

 Turn the sign upside down and hot glue the branches to the center of the sign, fanning out the feathers to frame the sign. I used TONS of hot glue because my branches were pretty thick.

The back of the sign had hangers, so I wired the raven's legs to one of the hangers. I also strung the green floral wire from one corner to the other, just like a picture frame, leaving some bend in the wire so it would hang over the wreath hook. Then I hot glued the burlap bow to the wreath and hung the wreath up!

Keep Calm and Carry Garlic!
-Summer