This is Me ~ Artist & Genealogist

My hand drawn family tree charts are designed to celebrate and honor your ancestors by displaying them as beautiful art in your home.
Hi, I’m Ilka! Having lived all over the world, I’ve spent a lot of time far from family, and it’s made me realize just how much our roots matter. I started creating family trees as a way to bring my ancestors’ stories to life, and now I love helping others do the same. My goal is simple: turn your family history from a list of names on a screen into a beautiful keepsake you’ll actually want to hang on your wall.
More Than A Branch
What truly sets my work apart is that every design begins as an original hand-drawn illustration. I sketch and illustrate my family tree designs in Procreate on the iPad, carefully drawing each tree, branch, and decorative element by hand. This process allows me to create artwork that feels organic and unique, rather than relying on stock graphics or pre-made templates. The result is a collection of designs that feel more like illustrated art prints than simple charts.

I hold a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University’s CPE program, along with Certificates in Graphic Design and Web Design from Sessions College for Professional Design. With this foundation in both genealogy and design, I create heirloom-quality family trees that capture history with artistry.

Career Highlights

I created the logo and website of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, helping them secure the prestigious Golden Chapter award. As a social media creator for History for Ukraine, a remarkable 24-hour live-stream history marathon in April 2022, I played a key role in its success. Featuring renowned speakers like Blaine Bettinger, Judy Russell, Charles Spencer, and Prof. Kate Williams, I actively contributed to raising over $65,000 for this incredible cause.

Visit Artspark Web Design for professional, thoughtfully crafted web design for small businesses, and Artspark Genealogy Web Design for web design tailored to genealogists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Canva Pro account to edit the template?

No, all of my family tree templates are designed to work with Canva’s free version. You just need to create a free Canva account to edit and customize your template.

How large can I print my tree?

You can print your tree as large as 30 x 20 in (76 x 51 cm) with free Canva, and 60 x 40 in (152 x 102 cm) with Canva Pro.

Why Canva?

You can edit the templates with a free Canva account. I have chosen Canva for its ease of use and versatility. I also offer several templates that are in PDF form, those you print first and then fill out by hand.

What can I customize in the template?

You can edit names, dates, fonts and colors. You can also add photos, resize elements, and personalize it to match your style.

Can I add more generations or rearrange the layout?

Yes! Canva allows you to move text boxes, add new shapes, and adjust the design to fit more generations or customize the layout to your preference.

Do I need any design experience to edit the template?

Not at all! Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone to edit, even if you have no prior design experience. Additionally you will receive a pdf with links to instructions as well as tutorials.

How do I print my family tree?

I recommend printing through Prints of Love, as they offer high-quality prints and great customer service. When you use my link you’ll receive free shipping. Additionally, use the code “MORETHANABRANCH10” for 10% off your order of $49 or more. You can also use your local printer such as Staples. Read Printing Your Poster for more information.

Why do you donate to OneTreePlanted?

Climate change, human activity, and wildfires are impacting our planet, but OneTreePlanted has helped restore ecosystems by planting millions of trees in over 80 countries. Together, we can protect and preserve our world’s natural beauty.

Do you design websites?

I offer website design and website templates for small businesses, genealogists and etsy shop owners on Artspark Genealogy Web Design.

One Tree Planted

Five Star Testimonials

From Verified Customers

Carol

Oklahoma

“Download was a breeze. I was new to Canva and the project was slowing me down, the owner sent me a fillable pdf to have printed, then complete it by hand. I think it will be a more personal gift, and I appreciate the owner’s willingness to work with me. The artwork is beautiful.”

Helen

Australia

“Seller was very helpful to accommodate my huge family tree.”

Leslie

North Carolina

“Every thing was Simply Awesome”

Jeanie

Oregon

“Lots of editing options – worked great for me!”

Eunissa

Pennsylvania

“Easy to follow instructions for getting started with customizations. Easy to edit.”

Christine

Iowa

“The template is SO easy to customize and my Family Tree was looking great in no time! It’s amazing to me that I could imagine that there was something out there like this and it did exist! Thank you so much!!”

Jill

Washington

“I spent way too much time trying to find a way to make a family tree quickly without having to sign up for a genealogy site. I was able to use this in Canva and get a full 4 generation tree done in just a couple hrs. Love how I can customize how the names flow. The only suggestion would be to figure out how to show up in search results better, I spent too much time searching for this perfect solution!”

Eileen

Connecticut

“Perfect for an 8th grade family assignment!”

Caroline

United Kingdom

“Beautiful! Perfect for my daughter’s school project.”

Cathryn

Utah

“This is perfect to finish off a family history class, and display the generations on the wall.”

Maelle

Australia

“Easy to use and very happy with the quality after printing! thanks :).”

Samantha

Tennessee

“I love the background on this. I am actually going to be using some of this for pedigree tracking on my chicken breeds.”

Carolyn

Kansas

“This template is so helpful for my son’s school project! Thank you. Canva is my favorite platform for editing!”

Karima

New York

“Great customer support. Pleased with this purchase.”

Sadie

Colorado

“I love this calendar, it’s such a great way to showcase my family history! These templates are specifically for CANVA, the provided instructions on how to open and use the file are very clear.”

Marisa

Texas

“I really like this family tree because you can do the present instead of the past.”

Raye

California

“Very cool way to have a family tree look beautiful. Seller provided detailed instructions on how to use Canva (free software that’s super simple even if you’re not techy). Printed it out and will frame it for my family, will probably buy again for my other family lines.”

Hollie

Canada

“The Family tree design is exactly what I’ve been looking for. More than a branch was very helpful and promptly answered any questions I had.”

Tal

California

“exactly what i needed! great quality image.”

Raphael

Virginia

“We used this insert in a funeral program so the family would know their lineage. This was a great touch. Thanks.”

Porsche

California

“Loved this!! It was so easy to navigate and came out beautiful!”

Sylvie

France

“Very satisfied with my purchase. I had been looking for such an article for a long time.”

Eriidina

Georgia

“It was exactly what I needed and very beautiful!”

Deborah

North Carolina

“I love the look of this family tree pedigree template. Can’t wait to use it for a family member.”

Katherine

Massachusetts

“Exactly what I was looking for! Easy to use and super cute.”

Nicole

New Jersey

“perfect for my great grandmas 100th birthday!!”

Alexandria

California

“I loved how easy it was to navigate and use.”

Amber

Wisconsin

“Very happy. She made one up special for me.”

Mia

Nevada

“Quick download and just what I needed.”

Zoe

United Kingdom

“Perfect for what I needed and really easy to edit, end result looks amazing!”

Jan

Texas

“Memorial Family Tree fit our needs perfectly for our Family Reunion. Definitely appreciated finding a tree to fit our family.”

Gloria

Missouri

“The tree turned out beautifully! I’m so happy with it!”

Janet

Utah

“Fabulous – made a chart for my grandson for his b-day, it looks great!”

Regina

Massachusetts

“It was perfect for my genealogy book!”

Rivki

New Jersey

“The instructions were clear and the finished product came out beautiful. We printed it on a large canvas and the photo was not blurry at all.”

Esther

Texas

“Love the design! It was perfect for my purpose and I easily made the needed modifications in Canva. I didn’t understand how to download from my computer and Ilke very kindly explained. Thank you! I looked for hours and definitely liked this design the best”

Cindy

Iowa

“It is so beautiful I can’t wait to show my family.”

Sdil

Connecticut

“This template is great and the seller is outstanding! I was trying to use it to make a card, the seller was extremely responsive and helpful in resizing the template to meet my needs. The Canva software is easy to use; if you are thinking about buying this template don’t hesitate to do so!”

Gayle

Florida

“Awesomely easy to use! Highly recommend!”

Jennifer

Wisconsin

“The perfect 50th Wedding Anniversary present for my parents! Easy to use thanks so much!!”

Amy

Ohio

“Beautiful design and easy to use!”

Larry

California

“very nice setup, easy download, Printout was just as advertised. Thank you”

Nancy

South Carolina

“This worked perfect for me!”

Jennifer

Colorado

“Beautiful!”

Find more testimonials in More Than A Branch on Etsy.