Family Tree Wall

So I have wanted to create a family tree wall for four years since I moved 1400 miles from my family. I have gathered my favorite photos, some old, some new I hung them clustered together and that was my family wall. I loved it. Well that is what sparked the idea for a family tree wall.

This was Dec 2010 my first apt here in Tuscon!

So I just moved to a beautiful townhome and have this beautiful huge wall with vaulted ceilings when you enter my home. 

So I decided I am doing this. Kristi (my daughter) was going to paint a tree on the wall for me but they said I can not paint on the walls here I am renting, so I decided to be creative. I went to Michaels and looked around. I found a large roll of Anti-fade Black Bulletin board paper, and a roll of black vinyl (for a cricut machine) I bought scrapebook removeable tape (ended up not using that, only got the refills and not the despenser, :-(  ) I did buy double stick tape.

I found an inspirational picture of a tree I liked from the internet.

I used my circler round cutter to freely cut out the tree trunk and start of branches. 

This was one piece of paper. Held it up with a few nails.

Then I started adding pictures.

As the tree grew, I started adding my free hand cut out swirls out of the already sticky backed black vinyl roll. I just looked at my inspiration tree and created different sized swirls as I went. I also used some of the black bulletin board paper for branches in between photos.I used the double sticky tape for that. Also fyi I stood on a tall kitchen chair cause I didn't have a ladder. LOL

By free hand cutting them, it was fun not having to be perfect. Different sizes and shapes emerged. Also the rough cut edges makes it look like a real tree...I say it adds texture!

 I also used scrap pieces and added some small branches and spicky looking things.

I just love the way it turned out and it was a fun project I did by myself and all for less than $25 in supplies. Also notice the frames are all different, some black, some brown, gold, white, different sizes and I had all those. So this was a simple, cheap way to make a big statement on a grand wall!