A great summer craft is learning how to make a family tree. It can be interesting for kids to learn more about your family and the generations that came before them. If you’re wondering how to make a family tree, there are many different ways and it can be a very creative process. The most common way to create a family tree is to use paper and pictures, but we have found several other unique ways to make a family tree that you can keep around the house or hang up on the wall.
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What is a family tree?
A family tree is a chart representing the different generations of families and how they are all linked together throughout the years. It can go as far back as possible if you know your family history. Treemily says family trees include names, birthdates, marriage dates, and pictures. Sometimes, people don’t have photos and only use their names and dates to create a family tree.
Why is making a family tree a fun summer craft?
Making a family tree is a fun summer craft because you can do it any way you want. Shopping for craft supplies is always fun. You can make it as colorful as you want and use other supplies besides images to decorate it. A family tree is a piece of art work and history all rolled into one. It’s special to do with your children since it reflects their family history, so they will learn about themselves and be reminded of that every time they see it framed on the wall. You can be as creative as you want during the process because this summer craft is all about you and your family.
Why is creating a family tree important?
Creating a family tree is important because it is a great way to dive deeply into family history while doing the craft and learn things you probably weren’t aware of about your family. Super Simple lets us in on how important it is for children to know more about their family because they often can’t see past the little world, they live in. It will help them see where they fit in the family.
How to create a family tree?
7. Thumbprint family tree
Supplies:
- White Construction paper
- Markers
- Ink Pads of different colors
- Frame
Steps:
- Grab the white color of the construction and title its family tree using one of the markers.
- You will want to use the markers to create a tree with branches. It doesn’t have to be perfect, so do what feels right.
- Use the ink pads you got and press your thumb down on the ink pad. You can start putting them down where you will write each family name and year.
- You will continue to do step three until you have put down your entire family. You can go as far back as you want or do immediate family only.
- Once you have finished, you can frame it and hang it up for everyone to see.
6. Hanging DIY Family Tree
Supplies:
- Acrylic paint light blue and brown
- Paintbrushes different sizes
- Rectangle wood plaques
- Black Sharpie
- Glue gun (Warning: Glue guns should only be used by an adult because it is super-hot.)
- 1/8 brown ribbon
- Scissors
- Copies of photos
Steps:
- Take the wood plaque and paint it with light blue acrylic paint. You might need to do a few coats to ensure there are streaks to see the wood.
- Once the blue has dried, take a smaller brush, and use the brown acrylic paint to paint a tree with branches.
- Take photos and cut circles around the faces of each person. These photos should only be of you, your partner, and your children.
- Once the brown paint has dried, you can use your glue gun to glue down the photos on the tree. You and your partner should be on the tree while the kids are below your pictures.
- You can take the sharpie and title it “Family Tree” or something you choose.
- On the back of the plaque, take the ribbon and use the glue gun to glue each end to the plaque. Add more glue on top of the ribbon once it is glued to the plaque for extra support.
- Leave the ribbon to dry for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- After it has dried, it is ready to be hung up.
5. Vintage family tree
Supplies:
- Copies of photos in black and white
- Masonite board (depending on how big you want it to be)
- Frame to fit the board
- Chalkboard paint
- White chalk pen
- White paper
- Double-sided tape
- Glue Gun
- Scissors
Steps:
- Take your Masonite board and paint it with chalkboard paint. It will take two coats at least to get that chalkboard look. This will take at least a day to complete. Wait between 2 and 4 hours in between before applying a second coat.
- While the board is drying, gather the photos, white paper, tape, and scissors.
- You will want to use white paper to create borders for the photos. It gives it a certain touch to it.
- You can trace how much of a border you want for each photo, cut it out, and tape each photo to the right border size.
- Once the board is completely dry, you can place the photos on it and figure out where you want them to go.
- Once you have figured out where you want them to go, you can start gluing. Leave room to place the title “Family Tree” somewhere on the board.
- Take one photo at a time, and with your glue gun, after you let it heat up for five minutes, place the glue not at the edges and put father so when you press down, the glue won’t come out from under the photo.
- You will do this to every photo till you have glued each one.
- You will take the chalk pen and start writing what is in each photo, using arrows if needed and dates if you know them.
- In the space you saved for the title, you will write “Family Tree” or if you have another title in mine.
- You will grab your frame and gently place it in. Then it is ready for it to be hung up in your home.
4. Handprint Photo family tree
Supplies:
- Frame
- Copies of family photos
- Glue stick
- White and brown construction paper.
- Frame
- Scissors
- Pen or pencil
Steps:
- This is a smaller family tree that is just for you. You will need to get copies of pictures of your kids and a family photo.
- Take your kid’s hands and trace the hand of their photo. When you trace the photo, make sure the photo is in the middle of the kid’s hand. You will want to use the hand that is bigger out of your kids, if not your own, to do the family photo.
- Once the photos have been traced, you will want to cut them out.
- Take the brown paper, and you will want to cut out a tree trunk.
- Take the brown tree trunk you have cut out and glue it to the white construction paper.
- Place the kid’s handprint photos covering a little part of the tree trunk and glue it down.
- The photo at the top should be a family picture of you, your partner, and the kids.
- You can place the photo in a frame to hang it up for everyone to see.
3. Simple DIY Aluminum Family Tree
Supplies:
- Green construction paper
- Markers
- Aluminum foil
- Glue gun (Warning: Glue guns should only be used by an adult because it is super-hot.)
- Scissors
- A round silver tin for the base
Steps:
- You will want to scrunch some aluminum foil until it looks like a stick. One part of it should be flatter than the other side.
- Plug in your super glue gun and wait five minutes for it to heat up. Once it has heated, take the flattened side of the aluminum foil, put super glue on it, and press it down on the tin.
- You will take smaller pieces of aluminum foil and scrunch them up into a stick form, place glue on one end, and then place it halfway up on the bigger part of aluminum foil on one side.
- Copy step three and place another piece of aluminum foil opposite the other part.
- You can add as many pieces to those branches as you want. It will start looking like a tree when you add more.
- After adding the desired amount of aluminum foil branches, grab your construction paper, and cut out medium size leaves. The easy way is drawing an oval and then adding two triangle points to each side.
- Count how many you will need and cut out that amount of leaves
- On each leaf, you will write down your family members. Make sure to keep them organized. It will be easier when you have to glue them.
- Once all the leaves have names, you can start placing glue on the back of the paper and gluing them to the tree branches.
- Once you have placed all the names on the tree, you can put it somewhere in the house you want it to be seen.
2. Potted family tree
Supplies:
- Copies of photos
- Branches
- Pot
- Floral foam
- Fake grass
- 3-inch wood discs (amount depends on how many are in your family.
- Felt
- Decoupage glue
- Foam brush
- Clothespins
- Glue gun (Warning: Glue guns should only be used by an adult because it is super-hot.)
- Scissors
Steps:
- Take the pot and place the block of floral foam inside.
- Grab the branches from the craft store and place them inside the floral foam to hold them steady.
- Take the hot glue gun and glue down the fake grass in the pot to cover the foam so you cannot see it anymore.
- Take the photos and trim them so they can fit on the wooden discs, and glue the pictures to the discs. The images should include you, your partner, your kids, and any family pets.
- Take the felt, place the disc on them, and draw a flower petal outline around them.
- Cut the flower shape and hot glue them to the back of the wood disc.
- On the back of the felt, hot glue some clothespins. This will make it easier to place on the branches.
- Using the clothespins and clip them to the branches
- On the pot, you can title it any way you like.
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1. Photo frame family tree
Supplies:
- Frames 4×6 sizes (amount depends on how many pictures you are adding)
- Copies of photos
- Hanging adhesive
Steps:
- You can gather frames from the dollar store or Walmart that are affordable. First, figure out how many structures you will need if you are trying to do a whole wall of a family tree.
- Place all the photos in the frames and lay them on the table.
- You can place them how you want them on the table or counter till you figure out the arrangement.
- Once you have figured out placement, you can take the hanging adhesive and start hanging the frames up. You can go as big and add extended family like grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Or you do just the nuclear family meaning you and your partner and the children.
Conclusion
We hope the list we have provided helps you on how to make a family tree. Whether you want to create a family tree with your kids or do it on your own, it will be a special memory you can carry with you. Figuring out how to make a family tree can be difficult because there are so many different styles to try. Depending on how much time you want to devote to this craft, you can customize how involved the process will be. When looking at our family tree craft ideas, be sure to pick one with the level of complexity you and your children will be comfortable with.
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