r Can you believe that the holidays are almost here?!! Do you have people in your lives that have everything and you can’t think of a thing to give them? Family history gifts are a thoughtful present and will be treasured for generations.
Tree ornaments featuring a new baby, a newly married couple, a graduation, an anniversary or even a family vacation or reunion are welcome gifts. Several companies offer many types of ornaments that can be customized with names, dates and pictures. You can also make your own using ideas from Pinterest and craft stores. Google “custom Christmas ornaments” and you will get a list of companies; add the words “how to make” in front and numerous sites will give ideas and step-by-step instructions.rMany companies also offer customizable t-shirts, mugs, men’s ties, jewelry, pack packs, water bottles and much more. Google “customizable gifts” and you will be amazed at the variety of items available. I had a family picture printed on the back of my son’s mission ties so he could flip it up and see us whenever he needed to.
Family pictures can be printed directly onto a special kind of fabric and sewn into quilts, table runners, placemats, bibs, aprons or anything else made of fabric.
A favorite gift is a family calendar with birthdays, anniversaries and important days like graduations and weddings marked. Adding family pictures, past and present, help to tie generations together. You can use a company or do it yourself using your computer.rSomething fun for holidays and family reunions are jigsaw puzzles made from family pictures. There are many companies online that will take a digital picture and make a puzzle from it. You can choose the number of pieces and the shape and size.
Nice pedigree charts showing ancestors (some also offer descendants) are a perennial favorite. You can choose how many generations you want to show; you can add pictures of each person on the chart; background choices and formats are numerous so you can get exactly what you want.
Making your own heritage activity books is easy. Look online for “coloring book images” that illustrate family stories and add the story to the picture. Add age-appropriate puzzles using names and places in your genealogy. Google “free puzzle makers”, select the types of puzzles you want and enter your information, then print the finished product.rHave fun preserving your heritage and sharing it with others!
