This document provides instructions for creating a family tree project using plywood, poster board, paint, and handprints. The project involves sketching and cutting out a tree shape from poster board and plywood, then cutting out handprints to represent family members. Handprints are decorated with names and ages before being glued onto the tree. Finally, a picture hanger is added to display the finished family tree.

1. Family Tree Project
With the leaves starting to fall and the holidays just around the corner, now
is a perfect time to bring the family together and make a memory that you
can enjoy all year long. And just like families, this project can be
customized to match your family’s style. Change the tree to an evergreen;
white handprints with some sparkle glitter will give it a winter/holiday look.
Or instead of handprints, use symbols of your children’s’ favorite activities;
a soccer or baseball, ballet shoes, figure skates or favorite book! However
you build your Family Tree, it will be a happy memento of the time you
spent together.
Materials: Tools:
1/2 sheet of ½” finished plywood (or similar material) Jigsaw
Wood glue Sander
Wood pegs or brass coat hooks, if desired Hammer
Paint, stain, polyurethane, brushes
Picture hanger
Poster board or large craft paper, Pencil, Scissors
Permanent marker – used to personalize handprint
1. Decide how big you’d like your finished tree to be, and mark or cut the poster board to those
approximate dimensions. If you plan on adding pegs or coat hooks, be sure to include this area
in your dimensions (Our finished example is about 23” tall by 18” wide so our poster board
dimensions were 24” x 20”. Our base for the pegs is approx 16” wide x 2-1/2” high).
2. Sketch out the tree truck, branches, and peg hook base in pencil on the poster board. Cut out
using scissors. The leaves will cover most of the tree so the outline doesn’t need to be perfect.
You can also find tree outlines online that you can print and use as a guideline or template.
3. Lay the tree template on the plywood so the grain lines up vertically with the trunk to form the
bark pattern on the finished piece. Trace the outline of the template onto the plywood.
Leaves
Follow the same process of drawing on the poster board, cut out, then trace onto the MDF. You can
either trace both right and left hands or turn the cut pattern over to use as the left hand.
Cut Out
Use a fine wood-cutting blade on the scrolling jigsaw to cut out the tree trunk. Insert a scrolling blade into
the jigsaw to cut out the handprints.

2. Finish
Sand all the pieces for a smooth finish.
Stain or paint the tree and leaves as desired, let dry. Using a permanent marker or small paintbrush,
personalize each handprint with child’s name and age, if desired. Apply a coat of polyurethane over all to
seal.
If you are using wooden pegs or coat hooks, screw those into the tree base. Add the picture hanger onto
the back. Next, lay the tree flat, arrange the leaves in an attractive design and glue them to the branches.
Let dry.