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.
This takes my THANKFUL list to a new level. I love the visual affect with all that we have to be thankful for. Great idea! Thanks.
i want to do the same thing but am dreading cutting out all those leaves. PLEASE tell me you found some great, cheap alternative..!!
Wow, I was so happy to see a member post this.
What a wonderful idea.
Wonderful idea and great that you eat meals together. I hear so many say they have abandoned that way of life. Thanks for a inspirational web site.
I love your site and have used several ideas from it. I also read Cocoa’s post about the thanks and giving trees. We are starting them this weekend at our place. It’s been a rocky few months and we need the positive energy around us. Have fun with yours. I need to get me some little bitty clothespins….
Thanks for another beautiful project that reminds us what this season is REALLY all about. I’m thankful for your great ideas each day!
Fabulous! I can’t wait to do this with my kids!
THANKS!
We have had this as a family tradition in our home for about the last 3 years. The kids have such fun going outside to find just the right branch to represent our tree and I gather up all the leaves after our feast and place them in our scrapbook to put with the pictures I will scrap of the holiday. This is one of my favorite ideas!
beautiful idea! You manage your blog with such style and grace…& I hope the year hasn’t been too bumpy for your sweet family?? Be well… ~S
Great idea — THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
As the glue to our extended family, we are thankful for you, Cindy!! You have given so much to all of us and we especially thank you for those three spectacular kiddos! xox
Great idea, and it is very eye-pleasing.
We’ve been doing this tree thing for 5 years and our family loves it! We keep all our leaves from year to year and put the old and new on the tree. The leaves bring back great memories.
Our leaves have a ribbon tie, but I like your clip idea much better. Sometimes we have trouble sliding the leaves down, and the tips of the branches get quite full!!
I about fell on the floor to see that Skip to My Lou mentioned my Thanks and Giving trees! Thank you!
With seven children we are actually doing things differently this year (shhhh…don’t tell anyone). Instead of having a tree for each person (that would be 16 trees counting mom’s and dad’s) we are just doing two giant trees similar to your branches. The kids are busy using the Cricut machine right now cutting out all the leaves.
Thanks again for spreading the news about the trees. I’ve had such a HUGE response. It made my day!
I do love that idea! Now where to find a leaf die cut?