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Several years ago when we were hosting Thanksgiving, my oldest daughter came up with the idea of making these little thanksgiving scrolls. They were a simple, but sweet, adornment for our Thanksgiving table that year.
We all enjoyed filling them in and having my husband read them aloud… many were serious, but a few were also funny. During and after they were read, we were all laughing and discussing the different creative ways we felt thankful.
I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the scrolls once Thanksgiving was over and the Christmas decorations were up. I didn’t want to put them away so quickly. It seemed wrong to express our deepfelt gratitude one day, and the next put the scrolls away in a box or throw them away.
The Christmas tree was up and fully decorated, and it somehow seemed fitting to bring our thankful thoughts and place them in the tree. That first year I placed them on various branches and after Christmas I tucked them away with the other Christmas ornaments.
It’s become a wonderful tradition that we’ve carried on when we host Thanksgiving and each Christmas I get them out and tuck them in the tree again. I love that I can often find the kids, and others, pulling the scrolls out of the tree and unrolling them to read a few of the ways we’ve felt thankful over the years.
This is a perfect craft to make with your kids or grandchildren ahead of Thanksgiving or even on Thanksgiving morning to keep them entertained… maybe skip the paint and just use raw craft sticks. They’ll get a kick out of rolling them up and tying them, and it will mean even more when they can write their own thankful thoughts inside.
To make your own scrolls you will need the following per scroll:
2 craft sticks
strip of paper cut to 3 in x 8 1/2 in
16 inch length of ribbon, raffia, or twine
Other Needed Supplies:
tacky glue
sponge brush
paper plate
acrylic paint – I used Folkart gold
large piece of paper or old tablecloth for a work surface
Step 1:
Begin by painting each craft stick as far as you can while still holding onto the stick. Place the stick on a paper plate and allow to dry for a few minutes.
Step 2:
Finish painting the other tip of your craft stick. Allow the paint to dry.
Step 3:
Using tacky glue and your sponge brush, spread a small amount of glue on each end of your paper strip. Press one painted craft stick to each end, centering each one.
Allow glue to completely dry.
Step 4:
Roll both ends towards each other and hold in place. Tie with a piece of ribbon, raffia, or twine.
I found this beautiful organza at the local dollar store – 6 yards for $1.00! I found a few other colors, (like a pretty burgundy that will be perfect for something Christmas!) too, but I really liked the simplicity of the cream color. I have often bought raffia cheaply at the local JoAnn’s using a coupon, or even at Walmart.
I love that this simple little craft is so cheap to make and requires just a few supplies. You can alter the paint color and paper to match your table, and also substitute 4-inch twigs for the craft sticks to make it more natural looking, if you desire.
For a bit of fun at the table, you could have different people read others’ scrolls and try to guess who the author was. However you use them, it’s a perfect way to adorn your Thanksgiving table and a great way to get everyone at your table talking about what they are thankful for.
Thanksgiving Blessings to You!
Laurie
P.S. – I really love comments and would love to hear from you! It means a lot to me. Leave me a note in the comment box below and I’ll do my best to respond.
For a bit of fun, I’m linking up at a few fun sites: New HouseNHNL, Creations by Kara, Ginger Snap Crafts, Crystal & Co, Saving 4 Six, My Grafico, Nap Time Creations, Diana Rambles, The Grant Life, The Shabby Nest, A Pinch of Joy, Eye Heart, Lines Across, The Girl Creative, DIY Project Parade, Alderberry Hill, C.R.A.F.T., Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Boogieboard Cottage, I Should be Mopping The Floor, The Gunny Sack, Craft-o-Maniac, Skip to My Lou, Between Naps On The Porch, Adventures of a DIY Mom, Sugar Bee Crafts,
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Great idea…trying to figure out how to adapt it with a loud, boisterous family with a wide age range. Maybe it could be part of our pre-dinner activity? I also like the idea of reading each others’ at the table.
Yes, I could see that with a really large group and a lot of little ones it could be a little more difficult! Pre-dinner is a good idea! :)
What a cute idea!
Thanks, Manuela! So glad you could stop by!
Beautiful!!! What a great idea! I came over from ginger snap crafts to invite you to join my month long Thanksgiving link party. It will be open for one more week, with fabulous features on Thanksgiving day! I would love for you to join us!
http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2012/11/some-fall-baking-tasteful-tuesday-party.html
Thanks, Emily! I would love to join your Thanksgiving link party. I will head over there now!
This is a beautiful idea! This is a great way to get families to sit down and really think about what the are thankful for. It really gives a family a chance to connect when everything is usually so crazy busy around us. I would love for you to stop by Whimsically Homemade. I have a linky party every Monday and I would love for you to come and link this project up! Hope to see you there.
Megan@WhmsicallyHomemade
http://whimsicallyhomemade.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Megan! It’s so important to connect with family and remind each other of all we have to be thankful for. Thanks for stopping by and for the invite to your link party!
I
Love
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What a wonderful and sweet idea! Such a great idea to put them in the Christmas tree. When you accumulate enough, you can have a give thanks tree!
Great idea! Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful I saw this post!
Mona
So glad you were able to stop by, Mona! I love your sweet idea of a give thanks tree. Cute! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Laurie,
These Thanksgiving Scrolls are adorable! We will host Thanksgiving On Crooked Creek 2013…I’m bookmarking this for reference! Thanks for sharing this creative idea with us in the Land of Blog!
fondly,
pat
P.S. Visiting from Susan’s MM Monday!!!
That’s wonderful, Pat! We love to make them, and I know other families will enjoy them, too. Thanks so much for visiting from MM Monday!
My daughter would love to make these to have for her writing. Thanks for linking up to my Pin Me Party! I’ve pinned this! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What a fun idea! Thanks so much for hosting the Pin Me party, and for choosing to pin me! :) Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
I love this idea. Thanks so much for sharing it at the All Star Block Party. I am featuring it today.
So excited to be featured on your site! Thanks so much!
How fun! I think these could be used for so many occasions!
They are fun! We had a wonderful time listening and laughing as a family around the table this year. I agree and think they’d be fun at a party, or even at a wedding reception to write blessings in to the new couple. So many ways to use them. I’m thinking they’d be pretty to display in an apothecary jar, too. Thanks for stopping by!
Wonderful idea and I love that you use them as Christmas ornaments! Thanks so much for linking on Busy Monday!
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