The coat of arms begins with a shield bearing color and symbols.
A coat of arms or blazon was displayed by knights in armor for identification purposes. Germanic, Celtic and Nordic peoples have also used this heraldic tradition. Crests are part of the blazon itself and, although the term "family crest" is a misnomer, it is commonly used as a synonym to "coat of arms." Officially, only two elements must be present in a coat of arms: the shield and the crest, however, as identification difficulties arose with the duplication of blazons, designs grew more complicated over time, adding elements as the helm, mantle, motto and support features.
Instructions
The Shield
1. Draw or trace a copy of a shield using tracing paper and pencil. The shield portion is the largest element of a coat of arms design. This shape varies slightly, the tip is either pointed or rounded, and the top is straight across or curved. Shields are occasionally angled, rarely circular, but are most often upright.
2. Draw or trace the lines, patterns and figures contained within the coat of arms shield. Lines and patterns drawn within the shield often feature other symbolic color or lines. Wavy lines show a connection with water, while jagged lines can mean fire. Animals, plants, tools, arms, trees, wheels, wreaths and rings, for example, symbolically represent character traits, occupations and virtues. Symbols also show the historic elements of the region or clan they represent.
Public libraries are a good source for books with color plates depicting various shields and crests. The World Book Encyclopedia has a section under "Heraldry" depicting coat of arms designs. Online heraldry sources are often commercial sites, but an alphabetical index on heraldry.ws allows the view of hundreds of blazons without charge.
3. Cut out each element using scissors to make templates. Use the templates to assemble the parts upon the shield. Move them around and modify them until you are pleased with the overall design of the shield. Tape the parts in place over the shield.
4. Color the shield and any additional elements using colored pencils and set aside. Colors of the shield's field are typically gold or yellow, silver or white, red, blue, black, green and purple. Orange and maroon are listed in some sources, as well. Each color, or tincture, has a meaning. Gold and yellow mean generosity or elevation of the mind, silver and white stand for peace and sincerity and black and sable denote constancy or grief.
A type of shield field uses the stylized representation of fur from the ermine or weasel in gold, silver or black with small points of contrasting color, or vair --the pelt of a gray squirrel-- depicted using a diamond pattern usually in blue and silver or white. All fur patterns represent the dignity of the wearer.
The Crest
5. Design a crest, positioned over the helm or top of the shield. Crests are designed to have a banner with or without a figural representation.
The banner resembles a ribbon printed with words. Writing is in old English script and color is sometimes added. Words or phrases on the banner are mottoes or some other form of identification that differentiates one blazon from another one of similar design.
Figures are below, around or within the banner, and consist of creatures (both real and mythical), human body parts, tools, weapons, wheels, wreaths, plants, trees, feathers and leaves.
6. Cut out the elements for the crest as you did for the shield. Assemble the pieces. Transfer your design to another sheet and tape them in place to create the entire crest.
7. Cut out the completed crest. If desired, add color to the crest design. Place the crest over the top of the shield you made previously. Tape the parts in place.
8. Copy the entire assembled design consisting of both shield and crest onto another piece of paper. Make all outlines in the design as dark as possible. While complete at this stage, more elements -a helmet atop, motto or name underneath, and supporters on either side of the shield- can be added.
9. Transfer the completed coat of arms by tracing it onto parchment or vellum to create a keepsake. Color the transferred design to match your templates.
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