Photo Block Ornaments!

Every year around this time, I'm usually looking for ornament ideas. This year I wanted to do something with pictures that would capture some of the fun or special moments that have taken place over the last 12 months and came up with these photo block ornaments! They are incredibly simple to make and look great!

First, gather up your supplies:

- wooden blocks

- paint (whatever color you like--I used black)

- Mod Podge

- 4 photos per block

- eye screws

I used building blocks I found at WalMart (a set of 50 for $12--about $.25 per block) because they were cheap and easy, but I'm sure you could find some great blocks of wood at any Lowe's or Home Depot.

To cut my photos the right size to fit the blocks, I used a square hole punch I found at Michael's. It was originally $13, but I used my 40% off coupon so it ended up costing about $8.

My blocks are about 1 3/4 inches square, so obviously most photos would not fit. I got around that by going to WalMart and using their Photo Kiosk to print out a 4x6 collage. If you turn all your pictures landscape and have only 4 to a print, they are the perfect size!

Next, I used the punch to crop the pictures. See how perfect the size is? When I went to Michael's to get the punch, I brought along a block so I could ensure my punch was the right size.

I painted the top and bottom of the block I wanted to use and let it dry.

Then using Mod Podge I carefully glued one photo to each side of the block. Make sure to get the Mod Podge all the way to the corners to ensure a tight seal and secured corners!

The photos fit perfectly next to each other and formed an almost seamless square of joy!

Allow the block to dry. At this point, I would recommend spraying your ornament with a photo-safe spray to protect against moisture and inevitable fingerprints from curious kids. You can also paint over the pictures with another layer of Mod Podge and allow it to dry completely. I have yet to do this, but it's at the top of my to-do list! 

Finally, mark the center of the top of your block and screw in an eye screw. I didn't have any trouble getting the screw in and was able to use nothing but my hands. You can run a ribbon through the top of the loop or simply put an ornament hook directly on the loop.

Viola! Preserved memories in a cute little package! It would make a great gift for grandparents or family that might be far away.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I'm linking to a few Linky Parties below. Don't forget to check out the other neat crafts posted!