Photo Pillow Ornament

I love to add at least one new ornament to the tree each year; if they are handmade it's even better. Over the weekend I finished up a variation on the handprint ornament I made a couple of years ago. This time, it's not a handprint but a photo that's featured on it. These are very easy to make and simple to customize. I'm sure a lot of my talented friends could whip up much more elaborate versions with cute trims too! It would be fun to make one each year to add to your collection. Mine might just end up showing, hopefully, how my sewing skills improve from year to year.
Directions:

1. Print several photos on to one sheet of photo fabric, four fit nicely with plenty of seam allowance.
2. Cut out photo and a piece of fabric the same size for the backing.
3. Lay backing fabric face up and pin on ribbon loop to make a hanger. The loop part should be over the fabric and the tail part hanging over the edge.
4. Place photo printed on fabric and backing fabric, right side to right side.
5. Sew around edges, leaving a opening for turning.
6. Turn ornament right side out.
7. Stuff with fiber fill and handstitch close or add a decorative top stitch border, which will also close up the ornament.

These look even better in person; I made a couple of versions, some with the names of the family members in the photo and year already added to the photo in PS Elements. I should've done that for all of them, because in a few years from now I might not remember exactly when a picture is from. It was fun picking out a special photo of ER with each of the receipients from the past year, and I hope these ornaments are cherished for a long time.

Shared At:The Christmas Craft Link Party at Centsational Girl, Polly Want a Crafter,