Make a Thanksgiving Tree! It is the perfect way to focus on gratitude and recognize blessings. We really wanted a way to help our family to take the time to appreciate all of our blessings. It also makes the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece.
RELATED: This holiday is all about showing gratitude. I love this thanksgiving coloring page because it encourages everyone to give thanks!
Thanksgiving Tree
This year has been a bit bumpy for us and when you are in the midst of a difficult period often it is hard to realize (and appreciate) the blessings you do have—-well it is for us. So while things aren’t always how we planned and turning out the way we wanted we still have been blessed and have much to be thankful for.
We took a huge branch from our yard and I die-cut tons of paper leaves in different colors on construction paper. Our original plan was every night at dinner for each of us to write something we are thankful for on our leaf and clip it (with those mini- clothespins I love) to a branch.
The thanksgiving decoration makes the perfect tree centerpiece on our Thanksgiving table.
I noticed Chocolate on my Cranium is doing a similar activity with her family, except she does one more thing that I think is fabulous. She also focuses on what we do for others. She has made darling printable Thanks and Giving Trees if you want to forgo the tree branch. On one tree you write what you are thankful for and on the other tree, you write something you have done for somebody.
So on one side of our leaf, we will write what we are thankful for, and on the other side something nice we have done for someone.
Oops, I notice the photo didn’t show that my son is thankful for his friends.
By the way–I am thankful for all of you that stop by here each day! You have brightened many days with your sweet comments and even if you don’t leave a comment my stat counter says you have been here and that also makes me happy!
Ideas for Thanksgiving
You might also be interested in these Thanksgiving ideas.
I’m a new reader and I love this idea. My daughter is too young to participate but this will make a great family tradition in years to come.
I love ideas that combine craftiness and heart. My favorite thing about your projects is that children can be participants not just observers. Just seeing your tree makes me a little more thankful today!
Love your ideas. I stubled across your blog a while back and love to find creative people like you. Thanks for sharing!
This is so what we need to do at our house. Thanks for the inspiration. Today and every day. xoxo
we have done this for quite a long time in my family. then at thanksgiving dinner, we all can sit around, and see a hugely inspired tree.
it’s lovely.
I love your idea and think I will do something similar too.
I love your blog! I just went through all the archives (yeay downtime at work!) 🙂 You have the greatest ideas and I am so into the handmade christmas ideas. I will now have unique pillow boxes for everything 😉
I love this idea and think I will try it for our Thanksgiving gathering at our house!
nice idea! i’m teacher and i’ll do it with my pupils. i love your blog! thank you!
I really like your idea! It’s great you can bring a piece of nature inside too! And those mini clothespins are adorable!
That would be a great wordless wednesday picture! Even with words lol!
I love it! What a great way to remind your kids how blessed we are and to inspire them to find ways each day to make someone else’s day better. We will definitely be doing this! Thanks for sharing this great idea:)
Oh my goodness, this is almost exactly what my hubby & I did for our fall wedding. It is so simple and the leaf words are something really touching.
That IS a cool idea. Thank you.
Great idea! Thanks for the inspiration.