Credit: Allison Czarnecki
Twine or string
Patterned/colored paper
Hole punch
Small branch with a few offshoots
Pens
Small clay plant pot
Small pebbles or rocks to fill pot
1. First you're going to need to locate a small branch with a few twiggy offshoots. This is going to be your gratitude tree. Sure it's small, but it can hold as much gratitude as you're willing to give it. We're talking about a 14" branch, not much.
Credit: Allison Czarnecki
3. Grab an actual leaf from outside to trace onto some of the colored paper or draw one freehand if you're fancy. I'm not, so I traced. Once you have one leaf as a template, trace as many leaves as you want to hang on the tree. Now cut out the leaves.
4. Punch holes in the leaves, towards the top of the leaf.
5. Run a length of string through the punched out hole in the leaf. The length you cut is completely up to you. I didn't want my leaves dragging on the table so I cut the string about 4" long.
6. Now use a pen to write what you're grateful for on each leaf. Have your kids do it too. While you're at it, ask your neighbors, your friends, and the mailman. There's not enough gratitude in the world.
7. Once you have all the gratitude in the world captured on paper leaves, it's time to put the branch in the clay pot. This is where the rocks come in. They're going to hold the branch upright in the pot. Put the branch into the pot and fill in the rest with pebbles.
Credit: Allison Czarnecki
9. Now display your Gratitude Tree in the middle of your Thanksgiving Table, or give it a prominent place on the mantel.
Credit: Allison Czarnecki
