The holidays are upon us and vacation time is in full swing. To keep the kids occupied or to take your mind off the pressures of entertaining a full house, following is a step-by-step family friendly crafting project that will add spirit and joy to your home during the holidays.

Canon USA, Inc. and Erin Manning, professional photographer and television personality on the DIY Network, worked together to provide a fun, holiday “how-to” for creating a Holiday Photo Cube crafting project at home.

This unique photo memento combines cubism and crafting and gives a new perspective (and 3-D variation) to a holiday ornament, whether it’s an addition to the Christmas tree or a decorative item to display on a coffee table.

Materials Required:

• Size: approximately 2"x 2"
  
• All-in-one Printer, e.g. Canon's MP600 All-in-One Printer
  
• CLI-8 and PGI-5 Black Inks
  
• Photographs - 6
  
• Canon Matte Photo Paper 8.5" x 11"
  
• Photo box template
  
• Picture overlay template
  
• Glue dots or tacky glue
  
• Scissors
  
• Hole punch
  
• Ribbon

Step 1. – Take the pictures. Set your digital camera in portrait mode, turn off the flash, face your subject towards an open window and have him/ her stand in front of a festive backdrop, like a solid color blanket or throw. Stand about five feet back and zoom in with your camera’s zoom feature to fill your frame with your subject’s face and torso. Keep in mind that your photos have a different aspect ratio (rectangular) than what you will need for the cube (square). Don’t worry - the picture will be cut to fit later with the picture overlay template. Stay in the same shooting perspective as your subject turns to the front, side and back. For the head and feet you will have to make some adjustments, perhaps stand on a chair to shoot the top of the person’s head, or have him/ her lay down so you can get a cute shot of the feet.

Step 2. – Print out your pictures using Canon Matte Photo Paper. You may need to adjust the size of your photos as you print them out to fit within a 2-inch square space. Use the picture overlay template to outline a perfect square over your image and then cut your images to size.

Step 3. – Print out both templates. Cut out the box template along the lines according to the directions provided on the template. Fold the box template along the lines provided.

Step 4. – Cut out the picture overlay template and use it as a guide to mark and cut out your pictures.

Step 5. – Glue your pictures according to the directions you see on the template.

Step 6. – Be sure to punch two holes in the top of your photo cube, string a ribbon through and tie in a bow. Now you can glue the top on, and you’re finished!
Hang on the tree with an ornament hook or exhibit your holiday handiwork around the home.

Happy Crafting!

Click Here to > View and Print - Photo Cube Template

Glue your pictures according to the directions on the template

Hang on the tree with an ornament hook or exhibit your holiday handiwork around the home