Last Minute Gift Ornaments

Need a last minute gift for someone? Or want a keepsake ornament of your over-sugared precious children?

 (Please, please ignore the horrible picture. I don't take kindly to having my picture taken.)

A little bit ago my Aunt mailed me and asked if I could make some ornaments for our Grandparents. Their memories are starting to fade, and she is getting a live tree to keep year round to place ornaments on to remind them of family. Her request was pictures with name and rank (such as "Megan, Granddaughter").

So I did some thinking and came up with these. Now I present to you a tutorial! Just in case you want to make these for yourself.

What You'll Need:
1/4" Poster Board
Decorative craft paper of your choosing
Scissors
Box cutter/Exacto Knife
Hot Glue gun
Pictures, of course

Step 1: Cut out a piece of poster board that is one half inch larger than your picture on all sides. This will give a frame to the picture that will allow writing, or just to admire the pretty paper.

Step 2.a: Cut out a piece of decorative paper that is one half inch larger than the poster board on all sides. This will allow the paper to fold over the back of the board. (If you are using poster board thicker or thinner than 1/4", just make the paper one quarter inch wider than the thickness of the board. Confused yet?)

Step 2.b: Mark a border for the picture in the middle that is 3/8" from the edge of the poster board. You want it to overlap the picture a bit on every side.

Note: Make all your marks on the back of the paper so as not to show when the ornament is done.

Step 3: Cut out the center piece for the picture.

Step 4: Put a piece of tape on the back of your picture...

And stick it to the board.

Step 5: Using the hot glue gun, run a very small bead along the inside edge of the paper frame and stick it over the picture, to the board.

Step 6: Trim the corners a bit so you get a clean fold.

Step 7: Fold the paper over to the back and secure with hot glue.

See the pretty corner?

Step 8: Fold over a piece of ribbon and glue to the back. (Make sure your glueing it to the top of the picture and not the bottom!)

Step 9: Glue a solid color piece of paper that is slightly smaller than the board to the back to cover up the rough edges.

That's it! Tada! Keepsake picture ornament! Or, leave the ribbon off and you have a nice framed picture to keep year round.

Happy Crafting,
Meg