Hang Scanned Photos Of Milestones & Other Happy Memories From The Past

Display Them In Small Frames, Lockets Or Homemade Crafts

Glittery round ornaments and twinkling lights aren’t the only objects that can dress up a tree.

This Christmas, make your tree a memorable one by transforming it into a photographic tribute to the family. Reach far back into the past to find pictures of great-grandparents and other ancestors. Tell yourself: I need to scan my photos early enough to turn them into ornaments for this year’s tree.

Involve your relatives early and get them excited about the project. Ask them to search through boxes of old photos for ones worth displaying. Scan these images into digital format so you can resize, crop and retouch the images to work on the tree. (Avoid manipulating the original photos.)

Think, too, about how you want to show off these treasured pictures. Small vintage frames and lockets might be a nice way to honor your ancestors, especially since those images are probably in black and white. For more recent color photos, such as children’s school portraits, consider an afternoon of crafting. You can have the kids construct frames out of Popsicle sticks or teach them how to decoupage their images onto a flat, lightweight surface that can be hung from the tree branches. Miniature stockings can make a fun photo holder as well.

Crank up the holiday tunes and invite your relatives over for a tree-trimming party. First, decorate your tree with a few lights and colorful ornaments, such as the one in this picture. Next, rather than string popcorn, string together baby photos to hang. Make paper cubes plastered with funny pictures. Create small flip books filled with beaming faces. Decorate with photos that reflect milestones, from sports championships to graduations to weddings. Be as inclusive as possible.

And remind yourself: By taking the time to scan my photos, I’ll be able to turn an everyday Christmas tree into a truly one-of-a-kind family tree for everyone to enjoy.