Thursday, October 7, 2010

gratitude mobile!


If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.
 ~Gerald Good

This upcoming weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada.  To me, Thanksgiving is a time when we stop and literally "give thanks".  The garden has been abundant...the pantry is full...the children are healthy...we are surrounded by nature, clean air and water...the list goes on and on!  There is SO much to be thankful for!
I'm sure you can relate as mothers, to wanting to pass on the notion of gratitude to your children.  Here's a beautiful craft that will allow the whole family to express their thankfulness.

You will need:
watercolour paper
paints in autumn colours
string
glue stick
embroidery hoop



First we painted our paper, on one side with bright autumny colours...reds, yellows, oranges! 


Then using a leaf template we cut out many many leaf shapes.  Maples, Oaks, Birch!
Put two pieces of paper back to back and cut out your shapes.


Give each family member a number of leaves...Now...get each family member to write something on the leaf that they're grateful for.



Now get some lengths of string...use a variety of lengths.  Sandwich the thread in between the leaves by glueing the leaves together, (you can faintly see the string sticking out of the top of that leaf)



Tie them around your embroidery hoop.
And finally tie some string at the top so you can hang the whole thing!



Now you have no excuse for not feeling gratitude!  The thing I love most about this mobile is that it just seems to always be moving...it reminds me of the leaves dancing from the trees!  

Happy Thanksgiving Canadian friends! 
And to all of our readers we are truly THANKFUL for YOU!!!!

Since it's a holiday weekend, we're taking a break here at Twig and Toadstool...we'll be back early next week with more crafty goodness and every day life musings!
until then...
xo maureen

20 comments:

  1. I really enjoy your beautiful blog. Thanks for sharing so many inspiring ideas.

    I live in Canada too! Happy thanksgiving to you too.

    Tricia

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  2. Brilliant! We're for sure going to do this before our Thanksgiving meal on Sunday. Thanks so much and Happy Thanksgiving from BC.
    I'm thankful for all the wonderful mamas out their that share their inspirational ideas!

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  3. I left an award for you on my blog :)

    Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  4. LOVE this.
    I linked to your mandalas..
    http://twolittleseeds.blogspot.com/2010/10/rainbow-rice-2-mandalas-sensory.html
    Blessings x

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  5. I KNEW I needed a thankfulness craft today. THIS is it! We can always count on you Maureen. Blessings on your weekend!

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  6. This is awesome! Thanks for the idea. We're going to do this this weekend for sure. I hadn't even thought of doing a thankfulness-based craft, for some reason (probably pregnancy brain, I blame a lot on that these days)--I needed this reminder!

    Happy Thanksgiving! :)

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  7. lovely and meaningful.....I might do this and use a medium sized tree branch instead of the hoop! I've made all my mobiles in this style- they look really cool and natural.... <3 have a great weekend!

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
    Your blog is an endless source of inspiration. Thanks for that.

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  9. Maureen,
    I love this! Thank you for sharing on Creative Friday:)

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  10. hi there,

    LOVE the idea of a gratitude mobile. will bookmark this.

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  11. Beautiful... happy Thanksgiving Weekend ladies, many blessings of light to you and your families...
    light and Blessings

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  12. I love this idea. I have been thinking a lot about new ways of making thankfulness inspiring and natural. I can't wait to make these little leaf reminders.

    Happy Thanksgiving.
    Nicole

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  13. Leaves-on-the-brain...a seasonal hazard for the crafting-inspired ;-) So much inspiration out there, literally and e-speaking, from this gorgeous season. Your mobile is delightful!

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  14. What a beautiful idea! Not only is this craft pretty, but it's so meaningful. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. It's beautiful Maureen. I made a couple of leaf sprouts they are sweet and when I return to the farm I hope to do this to. Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing all you do with us.xxx

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  16. Thank you for the wonderful idea.
    Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.
    Even though we are in the USA, we still celebrate Canadian thanksgiving.
    cheers!

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  17. Thank you so much for this post. I immediately sent to my daughter's kindergarten teacher and for the Us thanksgiving, the class made a gratitude mobile that hangs in the entry way to the class room. They loved the project!

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