DIY Ancestor Photo Garland: A Meaningful November Family Tradition

November is the best time to slow down, reflect on what we’re grateful for, and remember the people who came before us. And this simple DIY ancestor photo garland is a sweet way to do all three!

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Inspired by Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the spirit of gratitude that comes with Thanksgiving, this garland brings family history into your home in a way that’s personal, meaningful, and easy enough for the whole family to help create.

Using old family photographs, self-adhesive laminating sheets, and ribbon, you can make a beautiful display of the people who helped shape your family’s story. It’s a fun way to introduce children to their ancestors, share family memories, and create a tradition you can look forward to bringing out every November.

A Simple Way to Celebrate Family History

One of our favorite things about this project is how it turns family history into something we can actually see and talk about.

Rather than keeping old photographs tucked away in albums or stored on our computers, we can bring them into our everyday lives.

Kids can point to a picture and ask who someone is. We can share stories about grandparents and great-grandparents, talk about where our families came from, and remember the people whose lives made ours possible.

And the best part? You don’t need to know every detail about every ancestor to begin. Sometimes just learning a name or recognizing a face is a wonderful starting point.

Supplies You’ll Need

• Printed photographs of family members and ancestors
• Self-adhesive laminating sheets (the sticky, no-machine-needed kind)
• Ribbon, twine, or string for hanging
• Scissors or Paper Cutter
• A hole punch or small clothespins for attaching the photos
• Optional: Decorative ribbon, paper tags, or labels with names and dates

You can keep this garland simple or add little decorative touches to make it your own.

How to Make an Ancestor Photo Garland

Step 1: Gather Your Family Photos

Start by looking through old family photo albums, digital photo collections, or photographs relatives have shared with you.

You can also visit FamilySearch.org to explore your family tree and look for photographs that other family members may have uploaded.

We love the idea of including several generations, from grandparents and great-grandparents to ancestors your children may never have heard of before.

Don’t worry if you can’t find photos of everyone. Start with what you have and add to your collection over time.

Step 2: Print Your Photographs

Once you’ve gathered your favorites, print them in sizes that will work well together on your garland.

You can keep all the photographs the same size for a uniform look or mix different sizes for a more collected, scrapbook-style feel.

Black-and-white photographs, vintage portraits, and newer color photos can all look beautiful together.

Step 3: Laminate the Photos

Use self-adhesive laminating sheets to protect each photograph.

These are especially handy because you don’t need a laminating machine. Just follow the package instructions to seal the pictures, smooth out any air bubbles, and trim around the edges.

Leave a little sealed border around each photo to help protect it.

Laminating makes the garland a little more durable so you can carefully store it and bring it out again next year.

Step 4: Attach Your Photos to Ribbon

Cut a length of ribbon or twine to fit the space where you’d like to hang your garland.

Attach your laminated photographs using small clothespins, or punch a hole near the top of each photo and thread ribbon through it.

Space the photographs however you like. You can arrange them by generation, group family members together, or simply create a collection of favorite faces.

Step 5: Hang Your Garland and Share Their Stories

Once everything is attached, find a special place to display your garland.

Hang it across a mantel, along a shelf, on a wall, or somewhere your family will see it throughout November.

Then comes our favorite part: talking about the people in the pictures!

Tell your kids what you remember about a grandparent, share a funny family story, or look up something new about an ancestor together.

You might be surprised how many wonderful conversations can begin with a single photograph.

A Meaningful November Tradition

This garland can be a lovely addition to your November decorations, whether your family celebrates Día de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, or simply wants to make more room for family history.

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican tradition centered on remembering and honoring loved ones who have died. Family photographs are often displayed on ofrendas, or remembrance altars, alongside other meaningful offerings.

While this garland isn’t a traditional ofrenda, it can be inspired by that beautiful emphasis on remembrance and connection.

For families who celebrate Thanksgiving, it can also be a meaningful way to talk about gratitude, not just for the things we have, but for the people who came before us.

We love the idea of making it an annual tradition. Each November, you could add a few new photographs, learn about another ancestor, or invite your children to choose someone they’d like to know more about.

Over time, your garland could become a little collection of family stories and memories.

Ways to Make This Activity Even More Meaningful

Add names and dates. Write each person’s name on the back of their photograph or attach a small label so children can start recognizing their ancestors.

Share one story a day. Choose a different photograph each evening and share something about that person’s life.

Invite grandparents to help. Ask grandparents or older relatives to identify people in old photographs and tell stories you may not have heard before.

Let kids choose the photos. Give children a chance to explore your family tree and pick an ancestor they’d like to include.

Add to it every year. Make a few new photographs part of your November tradition and watch your family-history garland grow.

Tips for Making Your Garland Last

If you’re hoping to use your garland year after year, a few simple things can help keep it looking nice.

• Use printed copies rather than original family photographs, especially if they’re old or irreplaceable.
• Leave a sealed edge around each photo when trimming the laminating sheets.
• Store the garland flat or loosely coiled to avoid bending the photographs.
• Keep it somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight when it’s not being displayed.

You can also store the individual photographs separately and restring them each November if that’s easier.

Remembering the People Who Came Before Us

Sometimes the simplest projects become the most meaningful traditions.

This ancestor photo garland doesn’t require expensive supplies or complicated crafting skills. Just a few photographs, some ribbon, and a little time spent remembering the people who are part of your family’s story.

And we think there’s something really special about giving those familiar, and sometimes unfamiliar, faces a place in our homes.

Here’s to remembering where we came from, sharing the stories worth keeping, and finding a little more connection in the everyday.

XO The Threads Between