These cookie-cutter ornaments are the perfect way to remember a family trip, garden harvest, or another wonderful memory at Christmas time.
First, find cookie cutters in holiday shapes to match your tree. This year we did a woodland theme, but you could certainly use classic Christmas shapes such as a star, tree, or bell. I prefer the metal cookie cutters, but plastic or silicone cookie cutters (or play-doh shapes) also work very well.
Gather together your photos from the year. What are you celebrating this year? Baby photos, wedding photos, harvest photos, family photos, childhood photos, vacation photos….there are many reasons to celebrate.
Pick your favorite photo moments (or greeting cards, sheet music, wallpaper, et cetera) and use them to fill the inside of the cookie-cutter ornaments.
Use a pen to trace the shape of the cookie-cutter ornament onto the back of the photo. Remember that the photo will be lined up with the side of the cookie cutter that’s against the photo. Make sure the finished photo is in the orientation you want and is showing the portion of the photo you’d like to feature.
There are two methods for cutting out the photo to line up with the cookie cutter. The easier (and slightly less exact) method is to simply trace the cookie cutter onto the back of the photo and cut out the shape with scissors.
If you’ve got the time, you can take the time to glue the shape onto the photo before cutting it. Once it’s dry, take an Exacto knife and cut carefully around the outside of the cookie cutter. You could even finish the edge with a ribbon or some other festive edging.
Now it’s time to affix the photo to the cookie cutter! First, tie a ribbon through the cookie cutter to use as the hanger for the ornament. Then use glue or just friction-fit the photo into the metal shape. I am still kind of hoping to use these cookie cutters for actual cookies one day – so I just fit them in without any glue. Hide any messes with the ribbon if you like.
Here is the finished cookie cutter ornament on the Christmas tree!
Here are detailed photos of the steps I took:
