Despite the internet playing a huge role in making family tree research a whole lot easier (and faster), genealogy research still takes time. So, once you’ve collated each ancestor that has led to your family today, you’ll likely want a beautiful way of displaying your family tree. For this, we present these five ideas.
1. Get to Work on a Quilted or Cross-Stitched Creation
Quilting is a long standing American tradition that passes down family memories from one generation to the next. This trend is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with many using the various patches on a quilt to represent each family member.
However, if you’re not at all skilled with a sewing machine, fear not – a further craft that has long since been popular in the UK (and that is also incredibly easy), is cross stitching. This craft is especially well suited to creating family trees. There’s even a website called Stitch Fiddle that will allow you to design the family tree pattern, which you can then download for guidance.
2. Create a Family Tree Scrap Book
Your family tree display needn’t have to be big and bold. You could simply use a scrap book, with the first page displaying the tree, and with the remaining pages detailing elements of your search, family documents, photos and other things that are related to your genealogy.
If you wish to preserve old photos, you may want to consider ordering a printed book (large printers provide this kind of service as standard); they would also be able to include your family tree if you use software, such as Photoshop, to create it.
3. Photo Frames and a Custom Family Tree Wall Vinyl
If you have a relatively large wall space in your home, you could fill it with a custom family tree vinyl (which you would need to order from a wall decal printing company). With this in place, you can then hang small photo frames on the various branches to represent the lineage of your ancestors.
4. Make a Poster (With a Little Help from the Kids)
For something completely unique and personal to you, you could map out your family tree on a simple piece of A1 paper. If you have children, get them involved by asking them to paint over the pencil lines you’ve drawn out for the branches of your tree. You can even get them to collect leaves onto which you paint out the names of each ancestor.
5. A Family Tree Papercut
Family tree papercuts are one of the most striking ways of depicting your family tree (what’s more, as you simply send off the names, dates and hierarchal layout, it saves you having to paint, cut and draw your own). For extra impact, and a visual map of the faces and features of your family tree, choose a paper cut that includes photos throughout.
