Christmas Tree Baubles

Wondering what to put on your Christmas tree this year? Try some nice little change or add something that will make it look different this year.   An idea from www.allaboutyou.com can make your decorations more personal by putting your family photo baubles.  You can make baubles in different shapes and sizes. These baubles can be used as individual hanging decorations or a number of them can be tied to make a garland for the tree.

To start, choose some nice little photos of family members or you can print out some photos in smaller sizes.  For best effect, use a circle cutter to cut all the circles accurately and efficiently. For smaller baubles circular craft punches can be used. The baubles are made up from six circles, two of which are photographs. The two photographs are placed opposite each other on the front and back of the decoration. For fun, the large baubles illustrated show the subjects face on the front and the back of their head on the reverse, but you can incorporate any photographs that you like.

Other materials:

• Two coordinating patterned papers of your choice
• Round doily, 10cm diameter
• Circle cutter
• 70cm x 3mm ribbon
• Buttons with holes large enough to thread ribbon through
• Craft adhesive & adhesive tape

How to make:

1. Select or print photos.
2. Use a circle cutter to cut the photos into four 9cm diameter circles. Cut out four 9cm diameter circles from patterned paper, two from each design. Fold each photo in half lengthways, image towards the inside, and burnish the crease firmly. Repeat with the patterned circles.
3. Fold a doily in half then glue it to the reverse of one of the photos. Repeat with the other photo.
4. Apply glue to one of the semi-circular sections that is the rear of a patterned circle and position it to a matching semi-circle that is the back of the photo/doily, making sure that the folds are carefully aligned and the edges match where they are glued together. Take a different patterned circle and repeat the process, gluing it to the other semi-circle at the back of the photo. Repeat the process to prepare the other half of the bauble, ensuring that you position the different printed papers so that they will appear alternately when the two halves of the bauble are stuck together.
5. Fold the length of ribbon in half. Flatten one half of the bauble and use a piece of adhesive tape to secure the ribbon, loop at the top, to the back of the bauble, aligning it with the central crease.
6. Glue the remaining half of the bauble to the back of the first half, sandwiching the ribbon in-between. Let it dry thoroughly.
7. Thread a button onto the hanging loop, and one or two onto the tails of ribbon hanging below the decoration. Hang the finished bauble on your tree!