I'm sure many of you are doing some variation of this Thanksgiving activity with your children this month ~ it's a fun and thoughtful tradition. :) Last year, you might recall, my boys made acorn blessings for the windowpanes, and the year before that it was a handprint tree.
This year, I decided to change things up a bit - same theme, new materials.
I took a small amount of clean aquarium pebbles (you can also find river pebbles at the craft store) and filled a small glass to the top. One afternoon while the boys played outside, I gathered some branches from a tree that grows just behind our fence. Snipping them to size, I "planted" the branches snugly in the cup of pebbles.
I happened to have a small pad of scrapbook paper in autumn shades and a ball of similiarly hued yarn. Using an oakleaf shaped cookie cutter I stenciled a shape on several pieces of paper. Cut them out, hole punched the top and threaded each shape through with a short length of yarn. I placed the "leaves" in a basket an placed it next to the "tree." Each night at suppertime we ask ourselves what made us feel grateful that day - I write each of our blessings on a leaf, date the leaf and hang it on the tree ...
Before long it will be filled with an abundance of blessings!
Speakng of gratitude, I'd like to say thanks once again for all your kind comments and support. Thank you, too, to the folks who nominated me for a Homeschool Blog Award. I am honored you feel my blog is worthy of an award. :)
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
What a great idea! I'm going to plan to use this next year (we're Canadian and Thanksgiving is already over for us).
Posted by: Susan | November 17, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I always love the fact that you post pictures explaining what you're doing. This will be our first year putting together a blessings tree. I had wanted to do one for the past couple years but didn't quite get to it. We're excited to finally have one going.
Enjoy all of your many blessings! :)
Posted by: Jenny_Wren | November 17, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I love this idea! It's very pretty in addition to all the other wonderful things it is. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Sarah | November 17, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Dawn, I love coming here and seeing a new post in the mornings. :)
Yes, we are doing a thankful tree this year and will actually do one very similar to yours. I have seen others done as a wall hanging, which is really pretty also, but I just don't have the wall space. Thank you for the visual. We are starting ours this week.
Have a great week!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | November 17, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Oh Dawn...this turned out so cute! What a great idea! My Thanksgiving Tree is a little lame this year....but the kids are enjoying it!
You are such and inspiration to me! Your blog always makes me smile!
Posted by: Nancy | November 17, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Lovely, Dawn - just lovely. As always, love this idea; we'll be using this now too. Thanks!
Posted by: Christi | November 17, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Brilliant idea, I'll remember this for when our kids are old enough. Thank you for sharing it.
Ooo, I have to ask, what yarn is that?
Posted by: Annie C | November 17, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Wow, I love it! I am going to steal your idea and begin the tree tomorrow. My girls will just love this. Don't stop putting your great ideas out there. Take care. We have so much to be thankful for!
Jeanette
Posted by: Jeanette | November 17, 2008 at 08:02 PM
This is a great idea! I have two wall sconces with glass jars that I never know how to fill. I know what I'll be doing next fall!
Wendy
Posted by: Wendy | November 17, 2008 at 08:38 PM
The table just got a new centerpiece! I love how simple and affordable this idea is.
marianna
Posted by: Marianna | November 17, 2008 at 08:50 PM
How beautiful! This will be our first tree, now I know what to do with that giant Fall stack I bought a few years ago:)
Posted by: sasha | November 17, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Hi, I happened upon your blog and I just love this idea.
Posted by: Carol | November 17, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Great idea! My kids are about the same age as yours, I bet they would love this. Thanks so much!
Posted by: Rose | November 17, 2008 at 11:52 PM
This is what we did this year. http://idylwild.blogspot.com/2008/11/talking-about-what-were-thankful-for.html
I love the tree. I think I'll file it away for next year.
Posted by: Shannon M | November 18, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Yay! After a pretty fruitless google search, I *knew* I could count on you for a simple *and* tasteful Thanksgiving craft!
Posted by: residentmuse | November 18, 2008 at 06:19 PM
How beautiful! I always love your take on things, Dawn.
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | November 18, 2008 at 11:29 PM