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How to DIY Custom Family Photo Ornaments this Holiday

Dec 3, 2019 ·

Print

How to DIY Custom Family Photo Ornaments this Holiday

These Custom Family Photo Ornaments are the perfect personalized gift for the holidays! A fun and easy DIY project that creates gorgeous and meaningful gifts for loved ones.
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes minutes
Total Time 50 minutes minutes
Author Jen Pinkston

Equipment

  • Cricut Explore Air 2 with Grip Mat
  • Cricut White Vinyl Printable Paper
  • Cricut Cutting Tools and Mat
  • Cricut Scraper
  • Home Printer
  • White Ceramic Ornaments and Ribbon

Instructions

  • Download the Cricut App and set up your Explore Air 2 machine. Once setup is complete, upload your photos.
  • Once photos are uploaded, size images to the size of the ornaments (use the grid provided in the canvas part of the app as a guideline).
  • You can customize your photo in this section depending on the shape and style of your ornament.
  • Next, head to the print and cut section. If you have a wireless inkjet printer, stock the printer with Cricut Vinyl Paper and send image directly to your printer from the Cricut app.
  • Once your photo is printed on the vinyl paper, stick your printed Vinyl paper onto the grip mat (use your scraper to take out any bubbles created).
  • Next use the load button to load your printed vinyl paper into the Cricut Air 2.
  • Once the paper is loaded with the image, click the flashing Cricut button on the machine to cut out your image. (You can use your scissors or Cricut True Control Knife to make any special adjustments.)
  • Finally, peel off back of vinyl paper to stick image onto ornaments. Use scraper tool to remove any bubbles.

These Custom Family Photo Ornaments are the perfect personalized gift for the holidays! A fun and easy DIY project that creates gorgeous and meaningful gifts for loved ones.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all my own.


hands holding photo ornament

What to give your mom who has everything? That’s always the question if you’re me.  She effortlessly hosts holidays and Sunday dinners. She is always available to help with her grandchildren and is the first person I call if I need a second opinion.

The girls recently had a slumber party at Nana’s house and when we arrived to pick them up I snuck a few photos out of the family albums to create these custom ornaments that I boxed together and gave my mom as a hostess gift on Thanksgiving.

I chose images from some of my favorite childhood vacations, a picture of my parents when they were dating, and a picture of my mom in a swimsuit circa her early twenties—something every woman in her mid-fifties should have hanging from her tree if you ask me!

box of photos ornaments

Photo Ornaments - Fun and Easy Holiday DIY

We used the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine to create these ornaments and if you’re looking for a meaningful gift that’s also an easy DIY, this one is for you! The Cricut Explore Air 2 is  2X faster than previous Cricut Explore models and cuts over 100 materials — everything from cardstock, vinyl and iron-on to specialty materials like glitter paper, cork, and bonded fabric. The holiday DIY gifting possibilities are endless with this machine! Keep reading for our full photo ornament tutorial:

printer and photo

What You'll Need

  • Cricut Explore Air 2 with Grip Mat
  • Cricut White Vinyl Printable Paper
  • Cricut Cutting Tools and Mat
  • Cricut Scraper
  • Home Printer
  • White Ceramic Ornaments and Ribbon

photo and printer

How To Make Photo Ornaments - Step By Step

  1. Download the Cricut App and set up your Explore Air 2 machine. Once setup is complete, upload your photos.
  2. Once photos are uploaded, size images to the size of the ornaments (use the grid provided in the canvas part of the app as a guideline).
  3. You can customize your photo in this section depending on the shape and style of your ornament.
  4. Next, head to the print and cut section. If you have a wireless inkjet printer, stock the printer with Cricut Vinyl Paper and send image directly to your printer from the Cricut app.

cutting a photo

5. Once your photo is printed on the vinyl paper, stick your printed Vinyl paper onto the grip mat (use your scraper to take out any bubbles created).

6. Next use the load button to load your printed vinyl paper into the Cricut Air 2.

7. Once the paper is loaded with the image, click the flashing Cricut button on the machine to cut out your image. (You can use your scissors or Cricut True Control Knife to make any special adjustments.)

making photo ornament

8. Finally, peel off back of vinyl paper to stick image onto ornaments. Use scraper tool to remove any bubbles.

holding ornament

Go Classic With Black And White Photos

Color photos are great, but if you or a loved one are going for a more classic look to your holiday decor, then a good option could be black and white photos. They would look especially pretty on a tree decked out in all white lights.

Go Rustic With Wood Slice Ornaments

You don't have to chop down a tree in the name of Christmas crafting—you can buy wood slices online. It requires a little extra handiwork—you have to drill holes in the slices for the ribbon—but these rustic ornaments are worth the effort, and the photos add a lovely personal touch.

Top Tips For Custom Family Photo Ornaments

  • Consider the subject of your photo. It may sound obvious but choosing photos with a clear subject in or subjects in frame will be more impactful, remember the photos will likely be relatively small to pick pictures that aren't too 'busy'.
  • If you can, use Cricut Vinyl Paper for a great finish to the photo.
  • You can get creative with your ornaments, from galss to ceramics. Download the Cricut app to make sure you size your photos perfectly before printing
  • Use a scraper tool to remove any bubbles from the vinyl.

photo ornament on string

Check Out These Other Great Holiday Ideas

Three Easy Holiday Menus For Entertaining This Winter

21 Christmas Traditions For Kids

3 Holiday Gift Guides For Teachers, Dads and Kiddos

10 Of The Best New Years Cocktails

 

If you have made these ornaments or have any other great holiday DIY ideas, I'd love to hear from you below!

 

Photography by Katie Jameson

Print

How to DIY Custom Family Photo Ornaments this Holiday

These Custom Family Photo Ornaments are the perfect personalized gift for the holidays! A fun and easy DIY project that creates gorgeous and meaningful gifts for loved ones.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Active Time40 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Author: Jen Pinkston

Equipment

  • Cricut Explore Air 2 with Grip Mat
  • Cricut White Vinyl Printable Paper
  • Cricut Cutting Tools and Mat
  • Cricut Scraper
  • Home Printer
  • White Ceramic Ornaments and Ribbon

Instructions

  • Download the Cricut App and set up your Explore Air 2 machine. Once setup is complete, upload your photos.
  • Once photos are uploaded, size images to the size of the ornaments (use the grid provided in the canvas part of the app as a guideline).
  • You can customize your photo in this section depending on the shape and style of your ornament.
  • Next, head to the print and cut section. If you have a wireless inkjet printer, stock the printer with Cricut Vinyl Paper and send image directly to your printer from the Cricut app.
  • Once your photo is printed on the vinyl paper, stick your printed Vinyl paper onto the grip mat (use your scraper to take out any bubbles created).
  • Next use the load button to load your printed vinyl paper into the Cricut Air 2.
  • Once the paper is loaded with the image, click the flashing Cricut button on the machine to cut out your image. (You can use your scissors or Cricut True Control Knife to make any special adjustments.)
  • Finally, peel off back of vinyl paper to stick image onto ornaments. Use scraper tool to remove any bubbles.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    December 03, 2019 at 6:08 am

    These are such cute ideas!

    Jennifer
    Effortlessly Sophisticated

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