Image: sxc.hu

In response to my post, Sentimental Journeys with Your Crafts, Anitra shared, in the comments, her family art and crafts project, making photo CD coasters.

Image: sxc.hu

We made coasters from old family photos and Cds. I still smile when I see mine-happy memories!

At her Coffee Pot People blog, Anitra describes the process she and family members used, for making these coasters.  The materials are inexpensive and may be some you already have around the house.  It’s a great way to use those old CD’s you no longer want that seem to accumulate. 

This is a great project for family members of all ages, would make wonderful gifts, and could be wall hangings, as well as coasters.

What family memory projects have you undertaken…by yourself and as a family project?

Post from: Blisstree

Sentimental Journeys – Photo CD Coasters

Image: sxc.hu

Some ideas:

• Make shadowboxes with memorabilia from past and present family members
• Create a CD or slide show of family pictures and documents.  Several family members said they’d like the photos I have in the family history album on a CD.
• Make a quilt hanging using some family photos and scenes.
• Create postcards and notepaper from photos of family homes.
• Make a collage representing the different family lines.
• Start a journal of family stories, with various family members contributing.
• Write biographies of ancestors
• Collect family recipes and food stories for a recipe book

What have you done with family and family reunion art and crafts?

Post from: Blisstree

Creating Family Reunion Crafts

Today, I’ve got my daughter, Sarah, eating a cupcake at my sister-in-law’s 30th birthday this past weekend.  She’s got pink sparkles on her face and her hair is wet from the pool.  She obviously had a blast.

Sarah is 11 and she is going into the 6th grade in about a month. She’s my youngest - she’s quite a bit younger than her next oldest sibling, Bay, who is turning 17 in a couple of weeks.

The girls are at very different stages in their lives and they have a sort of love/hate thing going on. I have a hard time with that, because I’ve only ever been love/love with either of my siblings. I can’t fix this for them. I can guide them and lead by example, but I cannot make them love each other all the time.

Lately, they’ve been meeting in the middle more. Sarah has been handing out a lot of hugs and Bay has been in serious need of them. They are helping each other through a tough time and I am proud of my girls. It’s hard, but sometimes Mom has to step back and let the sisters work it out.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday – Sarah the Youngest

Reproducing family photos on fabric, generally with the computer and printer nowadays, although some people still like to make sun prints and similar applications.

Gathering fabrics used in clothing worn by family members, either from many or just one person.  Among these are t-shirts that appeal to a particular family member.

Using designs that connect with a person’s interest, hobby or occupation.  My daughter made a quilt for her young son with blocks of different trucks during his truck stage.

Tracing each family member’s hand and appliquing it to a quilt.  Each person might sign his/her hand.  My daughter did this for her family and added birth dates to the hands.

For a wall quilt, attach three dimensional objects associated with the person or family’s life.

What do you do for family memory quilts?

(Personal History image at Amazon)

Post from: Blisstree

Various Types of Family History Quilts

The dresses carry memories of her and the occasions when she wore them.  I even have photos of Mother in several of them.

What should I do with them? I don’t have a place to display them, so have them stored away.

• Have some preserved?  I did have this done with her wedding dress, but it’s quite costly.
• Cut them and include in quilts, and hangings for family members?
• Remake them to wear myself?  Or for other family members?
• Save for dressing up at family gatherings when we share family stories?
• Take photos or them and display in an album with photos of Mother wearing them?  Include a swatch of the dress with the photos.
• Write about Mother and the occasions when she wore the dresses.  If there are photos, include them in the book or album.
• Research the dress fabric and styles and write about these?
• Take a photo of the dress fabric, print it from my computer onto fabric and make something with it?

What would you do? Preserve the dresses in some manner?  Or incorporate them into  fabric art projects?

Post from: Blisstree

What to do with Mother’s Dresses?

Here are some more artsy links to keep you creating this week:

Christmas shopping for fiber-aholics with Tangled Thread from Tangled Thread.

Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper fom Tottie Talks Crafts.

Artist Profile: Theda Sandiford from Layers Upon Layers.

Spice Up Plain Pens with Wrapping Paper or Magazines from Junk Creation.

We Want More Ornament Ideas! from The Artful Crafter.

Write a Thankful Poem from Quilting & Patchwork.

And I’ve shared yesterday’s Freaky Friday idea. Perhaps you could ask for permission to copy family photos and put together a visual display of your history as a different Christmas decoration idea.

Heather
Photo used wtih permission from Pixelperfectdigital

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy Bloggers Round-up #40

Take some time to read Elizabeth’s, entry, though. There are some excellent links to help you identify old photos where no one has left any clues to who is who.

Heather

Post from: Blisstree

Help With Family Photos