Collect interesting family history from as many family members as you can. Compile a simple list of some of the activities of the family, such as hunting, fishing, swimming, knitting, traveling, dentistry, burgers, shoe making, theater, etc. Anything that is a hobby or that a member is gifted with as a talent is a good choice for the list.
Order a heraldic clip-art book or disc for your computer. If you buy the book you may need to photocopy the pages of the art you like the most. Look through images that depict heraldic coats of arms for ideas on what type of design you want.
Tape down 1/4-inch graph paper on the table. Cut out a shield from your clip-art book and glue it to the center of the paper. The shield is usually divided in half or quarters to represent both sides of the family. Each section should be colored in one of the two colors selected to represent the family. If your shield is blank, draw one or two lines to divide it into the sections you want.
Cut out small outlines of the two or four symbols that you want to use to represent the two sides of the family. Each may be different and should represent the most important triumphs of the family. Glue the back of each symbol and adhere them to the shield.
Glue a banner below the shield and a mantle below the banner. A mantle is ornamental scroll work. On each side of the shield is a shield supporter. These are usually large animals facing each other, often the same animal on both sides. Your clip-art book should have many different animal choices.
Cut out a helmet if you want your coat of arms to have a militia feeling and overlap the bottom of the helmet with the top edge of the shield. Look for an upper mantle that is similar in design to your lower mantle and glue it above the helmet. If your family is connected to a royal line, insert the crown associated with that line above the mantle and below a small scroll. At the very top you can add a crest such as a dove or starburst. The top crest is often left off.
Make a photocopy of the artwork. Correct any size problems. In the upper scroll add the name of the family. In the lower scroll add the family motto. You may need to cut each letter apart and glue them individually to follow the curve of the scroll. Use a sharp artist knife to help you position the letters. The motto should be in Latin. Make copies and adjustments until you like the scale and appearance of the customized crest.
Make several photocopies of the black and white crest. Use markers to color in the crest. Make a color copy of the finished product. For the best possible version, have a graphic artist scan your illustration and replicate your design using a graphic arts software program. Save it as a high-resolution file. You can use saved versions of this file for printing on documents or to make a poster.