Decide on Who to Follow

• In a classic family tree layout, a pair of names (a married couple) have a line (branch) beneath, connecting them to the names of all their children. Next to each child is another space for his/her spouse. In a full family tree, exploring aunts and uncles and cousins, the children of each of these couples may be explored and so on, making for a very full and large endeavor. In a more focused family tree, only the direct ancestors are thoroughly followed. Any siblings of ancestors are usually still listed along a sibling branch, and even perhaps with spouses, but their lines of descendants would not follow. This, in effect, keeps the tree pruned and more manageable.
  
  

Choose a Tree Design

• Family trees can be arranged in numerous designs. Besides the classic pairing with the line (branch) of children's names beneath, trees can be arranged to go up or down, placing ancestors on the top or the bottom. Trees can also be arranged sideways, as in the way a pedigree chart is done. From www.misbach.org you can find numerous free genealogy charts, many of which can be used in Acrobat and then printed. They have charts which lay out the family in a bow tie or fan or even on an actual tree with trunk and leaves. Another design is laid out for photographs to accompany each name. Family trees can also be made up professionally, for a fee, and done in calligraphy on parchment.
  
  

Creating Your Own Design

• There's no reason you cannot create your own design. Perhaps your family is involved in the auto industry. Perhaps an ancestor invented something to do with cars, or your family has three generations of race car drivers. If so, you might place your family tree lines within the shape of a car. Or maybe, your design will incorporate something individual about each person on the tree. Instead of a simple blank or tree leaf for each person on the tree, place their names inside an appropriate shape. One person might have a car shape for his name, while another might have a flower, in the event she was a florist or raised prize-winning flowers. Perhaps make the family tree more like a shadow box. In each compartment put a photograph of the person on the back and set before it some miniature token to represent something about that person. Be creative. Let the family tree be more than a memory of names. If your family comes from lines with crests, you might include images of each new crest that married into your family.