January 12, 2012

Family Tree Word Art [Tutorial]


So, Christmas is the most wonderful time to show your family just how "GANGSTA" you are with DIY. I had to come up with gifts for the type of people who have enough "DOUGH" to buy whatever they need/ want! Perfect time to "SHOW 'EM WHAT YA GOT!" I saw this type of family tree and thought it was just perfect for my family, minus the $50 price tag.


via
I love how it looks more modern than traditional family tree art- and how from a distance it looks all abstract tree-ish but then up close and personal you can see the names of several generations of your family! My most favorite part- how each tree is unique, not just because of the individual names, but because the shapes are all different when the trees are done.
I am pretty sure you make these with Photoshop- but of course, I don't have Photoshop- so it's Microsoft Word Publisher for me!! It will take you more time to do it on Word, but I can
share the steps to make your own  if you're interested- It will probably still involve some trial and error on your part.



HERE ARE THE STEPS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR INNER CHRISTMAS THUG;-)


  1. Get your family names and dates- they can be found at places like: Family Search {that's what I used}, Ancestry.com, Roots Web
  2. Open a new document- Select "Word Art." I used a few different shapes to create varied branch shapes.
  3. Once you like the shape of the name- DRAG it onto your desktop-I know it sounds crazy,  but you won't be able to manipulate the placement of the branch unless Word reads it as an image- instead of text. {Major bummer, right?}
  4. Open the word you just dragged onto you desktop, save it, copy it, and paste into your document.
  5. Now you can manipulate the name's placement: change its size, spin the angle, and place it where you would like it on the document. {Now just do that 5 million times}
  6. The leaves and and hearts are images I grabbed from freeshare sources. 
  7.  Print- it would be pretty on scrapbook paper, burlap, linen paper...

Oh- the order of the names! Well, that was a little tricky to figure out- so here's cheat sheet I made for you! This outta save you some serious time! {I know, you're welcome, you're welcome! ;) }


Obviously this project was time consuming with all the copying and dragging, but it was also free. Such is the life of a "HARD BALLER"
So, if you're a compulsive DIYer and can't stand to pay for something you can do- then this project is for you. Otherwise, go ahead and click on the link for the nice gal's Etsy shop- and you'll have you're self a family tree!


I think the fam was pretty happy with the results- in fact I'm getting some requests for more. You know, when I have a spare DAY to work on it! Ha!
P.S. Listening to Christmas carols and Ol' School 90's gangsta rap contributed to this theme.

61 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, this is the cutest! What a very special piece of art! I would love to give this a try, it would make a great gift! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. such a sweet idea
    for making a very personal gift
    for some one you care about

    thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!

    alison

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  3. Wow! That's awesome! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I'm impressed! Blessings from Bama!

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  4. Amazing! Wow. What an amazing idea for so many different types of gift giving. Great job Becca!

    Heather

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  5. Oh what a blessing your trees were to the recipients

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  6. Very cute and a great way to honor your family!

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  7. love this! this would be a cool wedding guestbook....i'm getting married so i think i turn everything i see into wedding possibilities lol...very cool project :)

    http://jaclyndesigns.blogspot.com/

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  8. This is great and knowing it was free even better. I would love to do something like this for our family. Thanks for the idea!

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  9. I love how you made this! It looks like it would take awhile to figure out how to put it together, but the result is really cute.

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  10. I just found your blog. I'm a Becca too! This is such a perfect project for our family, right now. My son came home last night with a project for school about his family tree.

    Also, I'd love it if you'd stop by my blog and link up this project. I host a Home and Family Friday linky party each Friday. I hope you'll come link up to the party! becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com


    Becca

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  11. AH! Thank you for posting! I've put in a few weeks of my life on Ancestry.com but didn't know what to do with it--until now. Thank you! This will be perfect for Christmas 2012 (because it will take that long for me to get around to it!)
    --Ang at www.tallcurlybiscuit.com

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  12. I LOVE this idea! My MIL's Birthday is coming up... this may just be on the "project agenda now :)
    I'd love it if you'd link this up to my brand-spanking-new Pinned it, Made it! Party :)
    http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com

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  13. This is absolutely gorgeous! Great job!!

    Stopping by from Remodelaholic's linky party.

    I'd love for you to stop by and visit me!

    www.adventuresofourfami-ly.blogspot.com

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  14. Amazing. What a great keepsake or gift! Wowiee. I am so glad you shared this at Shine on Fridays. On another note, since I think you and pretty much all your posts are just fabulous, I was wondering if you might be willing to participate in a giveaway event I'm planning for my blogaversary in March...let me know!

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  15. Oh wow Becca I've never seen this before. I LOVE the idea - am going to pin it now to try myself sometime!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  16. How cool! Thanks for sharing your darling tree :)

    Via: More the Merrier Monday, at DIYHSH,
    Smiles, Suzanne in NW Illinois
    Thanks for sharing :D

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  17. I love this idea! I found you through Nifty Thrifty Things. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  18. This is absolutely beautiful!! I would love to give this a try! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Katie @ Little Becky Homecky
    http://littlebeckyhomecky.blogspot.com

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  19. Awesome job and definitely worth the time because it looks fabulous!! Thanks for sharing at Shine on Friday.

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  20. I love this! What a great idea and wonderful keepsake. :)

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  21. Totally hear you on the DIYer. We are planning my daughter's wedding and every aspect we say, "oh, we can do that ourselves." It's not that we don't appreciate and enjoy the talent and creativity of others. It's just fun and satisfying to do it ourselves. We actually did this very thing for a big family reunion. Once the tree was formulated, we had shirts made. I still have mine but it was extra large as I was about six months pregnant for that reunion. Thanks for sharing your great project, and for the step by step tutorial.

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  22. Wow! This is amazing. If I had received this, I wold have been thrilled! I'm going to have to do this for our family too. I love it!

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  23. Love this idea! It's such a unique way to show off a family tree!

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  24. Very cool . . . I feel like I'd lose the patience for this after awhile, but the end result is brilliant!

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  25. What a great craft - you did a marvelous job too. I so want to make one of these! Thank for linking up to tickled pink. I pinned this (http://pinterest.com/holly_lefevre/tickled-pink-features/) and will feature it tomorrow on Tickled Pink too!

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  26. Wow!! You did an awesome job (and what a great piece to inspire you!!) I popped over from Marvelously Messy..,
    Hugs, antonella :-)

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  27. This is stunning! My mom was a genealogist for over 30 years, and this would have been an idea that she would have loved (and I love it, too!). What a treasured heirloom this will become!
    Ann @ Suburban Prairie Homemaker
    (through Bear Rabbit Bear)

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  28. This is amazing! I love personalized family trees, and you've really made it easy for us! Thank you so much for sharing how you did it!

    I'll be featuring this on my blog tomorrow for Feature Friday. I hope you'll stop by and check it out-

    Valerie- www.occasionallycrafty.blogspot.com

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  29. LOVE it! Simple but elegant

    New follower from Rae Gun
    www.simply-lovely-things.com

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  30. I tried to drag the word art onto my desktop, but it would not let me. Is there something I need to do first?

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  31. No Photoshop here either, so thanks for sharing how to do this with Word!! Glad to have you at Things I've Done Thursday!

    www.bearrabbitbear.com

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  32. what a great idea!! I love how it turned out! :)

    I featured this on my blog today:

    http://christinasadventures.com/2012/01/sunday-features-56.html

    And I pinned it too:

    http://pinterest.com/christinasadven/20-below-features/

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  33. this is adorable!
    hopped over from jennifer's and am a new follower! looking forward to it!

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  34. I TOTALLY love this! I'd LOVE to have you link up at Overflowing with Creativity #6 ---it just started!!!

    XO, Aimee

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  35. Hey Becca-

    Just letting you know that I featured you at Creative Juice Thursday this week. Great tutorial, btw.

    Thanks for sharing.

    I'm also sharing this at pinterest and twitter...

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  36. good idea...lovely ...pinning this!

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  37. I've always wanted to make something like this. Thanks for sharing your crafty success!

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  38. Too cute! Thanks for linking up over at Giggles, Glitz & Glam!

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  39. What a great project!!!I'm adding this to my project list for sure!

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  40. This is so great! I think I'll have to make one for my grandparents' anniversary. :-)

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  41. What a great idea, I love it! Thanks for showing how to make it in word!

    http://www.thejohnslife.com/BabycakesBlog/

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  42. Oh my goodness...looks so GREAT! Thanks for sharing at Overflowing with Creativity! I can't wait to see what you link up at my party tomorrow! I LOVE following you...you're so inspiring! Just a little reminder, my giveaway for 1000 free FULL color business cards ends at midnight!! Stop by and enter to wiN! ***I'm so excited to feature your artwork on my blog today!!!***

    XO, Aimee

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  43. This is so amazing that I have subscribed to your blog. If you could do this, no telling what else you will come up with. I loved it. Thank you for sharing.
    Frani

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  44. This is SUCH a cute idea!! I love it, definitely something to save for later! Thanks for sharing! -Jessica@GreenPB&Js

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  45. This is just so lovely. I can totally see it as a touching Mother's day gift for my Grandma, showing all of us that wouldn't be here without her. How darling! If you have a chance, I would love it if you would link up to my debut Sweet Sharing Monday! http://saynotsweetanne.com/2012/sweet-sharing-monday/

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  47. This is adorable. I've seen those family trees around but there was no way I was spending that much money on one. I'm saving this to make for my grandparents. What a great idea, thanks so much for sharing!!

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  48. What a great idea for a family tree. May be time consuming but very worth it.

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  49. thanks you for sharing, I can wait to make this for my grandma, she will love.

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  50. Wow this is so cool! I can't wait to make one for my LO. I am so happy to have found your blog today. You have a lot of wonderful ideas! I love the look of your blog it is so cool. What a great idea. LOVE IT ALL

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  51. Oh I really want to do this! I may have to have my hubby do it because he is much more creative than I am. I love how yours turned out! This would even make great mother's day gifts!

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  52. This is absolutely darling! What a great gift idea. I'm impressed that you know that much about your family tree. Since my mom died, I've found that I have lots of gaps in my knowledge of the generations, but it would be fun to try this!

    Thank you so very much for joining Grace at Home! I really appreciate it.

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  53. This is great and going to try and put it together for my grandparents 65'th wedding anniversary next month! My question is, how would you do a divorced family with children from multiple marriages?? I'm kind of stumped! :-)

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  54. What a great tutorial! Thank you!!!

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  55. Awesome! Thanks for the tutorial. I tried using MS Publisher yesterday we will see how it goes.

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  56. I would buy your one from you and then 'alter' it... Are you happening to be selling this????

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  57. This is amazing! What program did you use to make it? I couldn't find it in the post (or maybe I'm just missing it, lol!)

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  58. This is beautiful. I am looking to have a tree done, it's just not a family tree. As much as I have attempted to do this I am flustered and frustrated. Can you tell me do you make these for purchase or do you know of a site that does? Thank you in advance

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Thoughts? Questions? Opinions? Let's talk about it!