🍂Cozy Up Your November!

As we approach Thanksgiving, there's no better time to focus on what truly matters. We've gathered three easy and meaningful crafts to help you celebrate the season of harvest and gratitude. Our favorite is the Thankful Tree, a beautiful way to see your blessings grow day by day! Keep reading for instructions on this and two other delightful DIYs: Autumn Leaf Luminaries and classic Pinecone Turkeys. Time to infuse your home with November warmth! 

Craft 1: Autumn Leaf Luminaries

These beautiful luminaries capture the warm glow of autumn and are perfect for a cozy November evening.

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Supply List:

• Clean glass jars (various sizes work well)

• Mod Podge (matte or gloss)

• Foam brush or paintbrush

• Pressed autumn leaves (collect and press them for a few days between heavy books, or buy artificial ones)

• Twine or ribbon (optional, for decoration)

• Tea lights or small LED candles

Instructions:

1. Gather Leaves: If using fresh leaves, collect colorful autumn leaves and press them flat between sheets of newspaper inside heavy books for at least 3-5 days.

2. Apply Mod Podge (First Layer): Working in small sections, brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the outside of your clean glass jar.

3. Attach Leaves: Carefully place your pressed leaves onto the wet Mod Podge, arranging them as desired. Overlapping them slightly can create a nice effect.

4. Seal Leaves: Once a section of leaves is in place, gently brush another thin layer of Mod Podge over the leaves to seal them to the jar and smooth out any air bubbles. Continue this process around the entire jar until it's covered to your liking.

5. Dry Completely: Allow the Mod Podge to dry completely. This can take several hours. The Mod Podge will turn clear when dry.

6. Add Finishing Touches: Once dry, you can tie a piece of twine or ribbon around the rim of the jar for an extra decorative touch.

7. Light It Up: Place a tea light or LED candle inside the jar. Light the candle (if using real flame) and enjoy the warm, autumnal glow!

Craft 2: Pinecone Turkeys

These adorable pinecone turkeys are a classic and fun craft for all ages, perfect for Thanksgiving decorations.

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Supply List:

• Pinecones (various sizes)

• Construction paper or craft foam in autumn colors (red, orange, yellow, brown, glitter foam optional)

• Googly eyes

• Craft glue or hot glue gun (adult supervision needed for hot glue)

• Scissors

• Small piece of red felt or paper for the wattle

• Small piece of orange or yellow felt/paper for the beak

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Feathers: Cut feather shapes from your construction paper or craft foam. You'll want about 5-7 feathers per turkey in various sizes and colors. You can use glitter foam for some feathers for extra sparkle!

2. Attach Feathers: Apply a dab of craft glue or hot glue to the bottom (wider) end of the pinecone. Begin attaching the feather shapes in a fan-like arrangement, creating the turkey's tail. Layer them slightly to make them look fuller.

3. Create the Head:

   • Beak: Cut a small triangle shape from orange or yellow paper/felt for the beak.

   • Wattle: Cut a small wavy or teardrop shape from red paper/felt for the wattle (the red fleshy part under a turkey's beak).

   • Eyes: Glue two googly eyes onto the smaller, pointed end of the pinecone.

   • Assemble Face: Glue the beak just below the eyes, and then glue the wattle next to or slightly over the beak.

4. Add Legs (Optional): Cut two small "chicken foot" shapes from orange or yellow paper/foam and glue them to the bottom of the pinecone, ensuring the turkey can stand upright. Alternatively, if your pinecone stands well on its own, you can skip the legs.

5. Dry: Allow all the glue to dry completely before displaying your festive pinecone turkeys.

Craft 3: Thankful Tree/Branches

A "Thankful Tree" is a beautiful and meaningful craft for November, encouraging gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.

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Supply List:

• Small branches or twigs (collect from outside, ensure they are clean and dry)

• A vase, jar, or small pot

• Small pebbles, sand, or floral foam (to secure branches in the vase)

• Construction paper or cardstock in autumn colors (red, orange, yellow, brown)

• Hole punch

• Twine, ribbon, or string

• Markers or pens

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Branches: Gather several small, interesting branches or twigs. Ensure they are clean and dry. Arrange them in your vase, jar, or pot, using pebbles, sand, or floral foam to hold them upright and stable.

2. Cut Leaf Shapes: Cut out several leaf shapes from your autumn-colored construction paper or cardstock. You'll want one leaf for each thing you are thankful for, plus a few extras.

3. Punch Holes: Use a hole punch to make a single hole at the top of each paper leaf.

4. Write What You're Thankful For: On each paper leaf, write something you are thankful for. Encourage family members or friends to contribute their own thankful messages. Examples include "Family," "Friends," "Health," "Pets," "Home," "Food," "Books," etc.

5. Attach String: Cut small lengths of twine, ribbon, or string (about 4-6 inches long). Loop one piece of string through the hole in each leaf and tie the ends together to form a hanger.

6. Hang Leaves: Hang the "thankful leaves" onto the branches. As the month progresses, you can add more leaves to your tree, watching it fill up with gratitude.

7. Display: Place your Thankful Tree in a prominent spot in your home as a beautiful centerpiece and a daily reminder of all you have to be grateful for. You can even add small fairy lights around the branches for an extra touch of warmth!

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