After all the shopping, cooking, eating, and cleaning up that goes with Thanksgiving Day here in America, the next thing on our minds is usually decorating for the holidays.  Well, that and more shopping!  Why not give yourself a break and stay home and make some fun ornaments instead of battling those Black Friday crowds!  It’s really simple, let me show you how.

1. Launch ACDSee Photo Editor 2008 and load your photos and elements into the Image Basket.
2. Click File | New and select Print - 8×10 in the drop down menu and portrait orientation.  Make sure the resolution is set to 300 pixels/inch the click OK.
3. Start with the tree shape.  Click on the shape tool in the create area of the menu bar and choose Shape Tool.  Find the drop down menu in the context sensitive tool bar and choose the Celebrations shape set.  Set the dimensions in the toolbar to 4″ wide and 6″ tall.  Click Create.
4. Drag a background paper onto your work area and place it under the shape.  Select both objects in the object palette then click on Trim to Shape.
5. Drag your photo on top of your tree and resize so that the portion of the photo you want on the ornament fits on the tree.  Click on the Vignette tool in the create area of the tool bar.
6. Click and drag the vignette tool over the photo and size it until you are happy with the blending then group it with your tree shape.
7. Go back to the shape tool and choose the Stars set of shapes, then choose a star for the top of your tree.  Set the star dimensions to 2 inches square, select a color, then click on Create.
8. Create the banner shape using the rectangle tool and setting the size to 1 inch tall by 3 inches wide.  Add your text then select the text object and the banner in the object palette and use the align button to center the text, then the group button to create a group.
9. Select the tree group and use CTRL-D to duplicate it twice, then duplicate the banner group twice and the star twice.  Arrange the objects for printing rotating as needed to fit everything on a single sheet of photo paper.
10. Print on photo paper and then cut out each shape.  Gently bend each shape down the center and glue together to create the six-sided ornament.  Place the knotted end of a loop of fiber or twine in the top before gluing the stars on top of each tree and add the banners to the tree trunks.

Fun extra embellishments could include brightly colored gems or brads applied to the trees before gluing them together or adding glitter to the trees or stars.  Have fun and decorate your home this holiday season with personalized photo crafts made in ACDSee Photo Editor.

(credits: Paper from Color Revolution: Emerald by Connie Prince)