Thanksgiving Ribbon Topiary

Ribbony Goodness!

It was Courtney over at A Diamond in the Stuff who got me hooked on these ribbon topiaries. I made one for Independence day and now I can't stop... Here's a Thanksgiving version that has to be removed because Christmas is next!   I tried putting the whole thing away but the space where it stood seems so colorless and empty without that blossom of color...

The best part of this project is that it is so simple, yet satisfying. The feel and look of different ribbon types is addictive. I can sit with my boys while they are snacking and not join in because my fingers are busy! I can bring a roll of ribbon to soccer practice in my purse and snip while I'm watching!

For this easy project you need a foam ball (mine was 5", from the floral section of the craft store), a pot (mine was from Goodwill), a half styrofoam block to stick inside the pot (stabilize dowel), decorative moss to cover the styrofoam, a wooden dowel (mine was 3/8"), straight pins, and bunches of ribbon in various sizes and textures cut up in 4" (10cm) pieces (5 or 6 rolls). The different textures really add to the project. Thicker ones stick up better and help support the satiny ones.

All you do is pin loops of ribbon into the ball, one at a time, until the ball is covered. Twist the loops so they overlap in different directions. A colorful burst of fun!

Thanksgiving Fun: An Idea Collection

Ah, Thanksgiving.  A time for reflection. A time to appreciate family and friends.  A great time to be together, so why not stretch the celebration by doing a few crafts together beforehand?  A perfect way to slow things down a bit.  Here are some ideas we tried this year...

We hung a festive lighted strand of maple leaves above the windows, but somehow it looked like something was missing.  Aha!  We crafted a dozen owls from egg carton cups and hung them from the string lights with golden string. Much better!  (separate the egg cups, poke hole and tie hanging string into half of the pieces, glue together tops and bottoms, paint brown, glue on wings and beaks from craft foam, and don't forget the google eyes!)

 The autumn leaves are certainly a highlight in our area, and this year the colors were most spectacular. We collected favorites for a week or so, flattening them between books. When we were ready to craft, we spread a thin layer of watered down glue on the leaves and sprinkled glitter on top.  We flipped them over and did the other side, too. Then I sprayed clear glossy paint to hold the glitter in place and give the leaves strength. We attached some gold organdy ribbon and hung them from the lamp over the table. Festive!

I found the GIVE THANKS banner idea on pinterest.. but didn't trace back how to do it until just now... It came from Parents magazine and theirs is definitely nicer, so go check it out here.  I didn't want to make a permanent decoration that we would need to store, so we just used construction paper.  Sheets were cut in half then folded over and stapled for the background of the letters.  The most fun was gathering the materials for the letters!  I admit to doubting that we'd find enough different items to make all those letters, but it really wasn't a problem.  We used pine needles, cone flower seed heads, sticks, leaves, ferns, bark, etc. of various textures and truly enjoyed crafting each letter!  Tacky glue was perfect for adhering all the stuff.

Can a mom (or grandma) EVER have too many handprint crafts? I just had to try this with the boys after seeing it here at Almost Unschoolers...

We made a moose shaped bird seed ornament for our neighbors. Fun little surprise that kids can make to hide on doorsteps!

Lastly, we put together a couple of sweet treats and a conversation starter (quesiton on paper feather) into a paper tube decorated to look like corn. These corn party favors have become a family tradition!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Corn Treat Holders

Our family Thanksgiving  tradition includes Family Fun's corn treat holder idea. Corn plays such an important role in our early history that I just can't resist the symbolism! Where would civilization be without it? And to think we are still learning the mystery of its domestication...

  

I fill the corn holders with goodies and put them on plates at our Thanksgiving table. The treats are usually something chocolate (kisses), something mint (gum), a lip balm, and a strawberry candy. For the kids, I sometimes substitute a small lego set, the tiny promotional ones you see at Target this time of year.  Lastly, I put a paper feather in each corn that has a conversation starter on it, such as "what are you most grateful for?"

  

 

To make the corn, start with an empty paper tube and coat it with a thin layer of glue. Fringe a length of yellow crepe paper and wrap it around the tube in overlapping layers. I actually keep mine from year to year so I don't have to stress about making them the night before... I always seem to be short on time! Use a half sheet or so of green tissue paper to wrap up the corn after it is dried and filled, tying the ends to secure with ribbon. (I don't worry if the ends are totally covered, you just need them mostly closed!)

  

 

I think the feathers came from Family Fun, too, though I don't see the template when I search for it... I'd be happy to post a PDF for you. Not everyone likes to answer the questions so I don't make a big deal out of it when guests open their corns. I find that the questions are useful later, as people get relaxed and the meal progresses. We've had great conversations from them!

Sample questions:

• What is something you are glad your parents/grandparents/teacher/kids taught you?
• What are you most grateful for?
• What invention are you grateful for?
• What is one of your favorite Thanksgiving memories?
• What was the craziest thing that happened on a Thanksgiving in your past?
• What was your happiest moment this year?
• What is something you forget to be thankful for?

May your celebration be full of wonderful moments you'll treasure forever!  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Powhatan Indian Felt Finger Puppets

Powhatan Indian felt finger puppets made for class studies on Native Americans.  The "corn" is a piece of yellow pipe cleaner wrapped in green felt leaves. The necklace is blue glass beads strung with a copper colored piece of metallic confetti (originally in a fish shape!). The feather is a piece of fringe from a trim (sewing notion).  Fabric paint for eyes, mouth and shoes.

Bird Seed Ornament Gifts

Looking for a fun way to surprise wonderful people this Thanksgiving?  How about whipping up a batch of bird seed ornaments! This idea was originally posted by eighteen25 and Design Dazzle as a summer craft idea but lends itself well to the holiday season, especially given that birds are in more need of nutrition as the weather cools.  

The recipe is easy enough for kids to do, the ingredients are simple, sharing food is a Thanksgiving tradition (even with birds!), and the gift will express thoughtfulness to recipients without being "stuff" they have to figure out what to do with after the holiday!   

What you need:

• birdseed
• cookie cutters or jar lids (to shape the ornaments)
• envelope(s) of plain gelatin (to hold birdseed together)
• wax paper (to set ornaments on while filling and drying)
• ribbon, string or twine (to hang ornament)

How To's:

1) Mix 1/4 of water with one envelope of gelatin in small saucepan.

2) Bring mixture to simmer and keep stirring until all gelatin is dissolved.

3) Remove from heat and let cool for a minute or so while you get a cup of birdseed and prepare a mold (cookie cutter) by placing it on wax paper.  I put ours on a small cookie sheet to make it easy for little hands to transport and maneuver!

4)  Stir in the birdseed.

5)  Spoon the birdseed/gelatin mixture into your mold (cookie cutter) until it is halfway full. 

6)  Lay a knotted loop of ribbon, string, or twine into the mold and bury it with more birdseed mixture until the mold is full.  Use fingers to pack the seed in and spread to edges of the mold.

7)  Let the ornaments dry overnight, then remove the mold (cookie cutter).  We needed to make a big batch in one night, so we quickly tucked the ornament in the freezer for a few minutes (while mixing up the next batch) to get a head start on the hardening.  We removed the cookie cutter carefully so the shape would still hold, but it did take overnight on the counter to completely harden.

8)  Attach a pretty tag (GIVE THANKS found for FREE here) or card and your ornament is ready for giving... or hanging!

Pumpkin Brownies

A day off of school and a day off of work... facing the list of put-off chores. Then I spied it!  A half cup of pumpkin puree left over from delicious pumpkin cookies that didn't use the whole can!  Better use it now before it grows moldy...

Found this recipe for chocolate brownies swirled with pumpkin! Yum! 


The picture is from the recipe page...

http://blogchef.net/pumpkin-brownies-recipe/


They are in the oven right now... I'll be back to let you know how they taste, Yum!


I'm back to report that they are every bit as delicious as they look, even with a couple of changes.  First, I omitted the walnuts and halved the nutmeg and cloves to help make sure I wouldn't be eating the whole batch myself.  Second, I forgot to add the chocolate chips in the making mayhem. (Following new recipes with a couple of quacking duckings in the kitchen is my excuse).  I sprinkled the chips over the warm brownies and spread them like frosting after a few minutes.  Also, they seemed a little salty... maybe I mismeasured, but I may omit that and just use salted butter next time.

The chocolate faces on the happy ducklings about sums it up!  This recipe is moved to the family favorites!

Chestnut & Pistachio Shell Turkey Craft

Letting a toddler take you for a walk in the fall can bless you with pockets full of treasures!

Add a pompom head, some googly eyes, craft foam feet, and a pistachio shell beak with a little hot glue and you never know what kind of treasure creature may emerge...

Hey, who said all turkeys had to be cute, anyway?  :)  These goofy guys make us giggle!

Origami Pumpkin Card

I found directions to make an easy and cute origami pumpkin (click on link), loved it, and decided to turn it into a fun fall greeting card for family. 

First thing needed is orange paper.  Who would have guessed that I wouldn't be able to find orange paper in October?  I had a brainstorm... Wrapping paper!  I found a cute orange print in the clearance bin and set to work cutting it into squares for the folding.  This turned out to be a much more economical way to make a dozen cards!  To decorate,  I made a small slit at the top and glued in a stem, then glued a leave under the top of one of the folds.

The pumpkin stands open in a triangle shape from the side.  I glued a photo of my kids at the pumpkin patch onto the back and used a glittery pen to wish everyone a HAPPY HARVEST!

I've linked at this great party:

Thanksgiving Turkeys

Thanksgiving Turkey Seed Pod Tambourine Craft

I made a bunch of Turkey tambourines to go along with the cute preschool songs about Thanksgiving after watching my preschooler play with these seed pods on an afternoon walk.  We picked up handfuls, sandwiched them between craft foam (hot glue), added googly eyes and had a new instrument!  The seeds in the pods rattle when shaken.  The overall size is about 5 inches or so.

Thanksgiving Hanging Turkey Yard Ornament

These guys always announce the Thanksgiving holiday when hanging from a tree or porch. Alternate them with strings of large leaves (3 together) for a festive combination.  All that is needed for this inexpensive craft is sturdy craft foam and tacky glue.  Find patterns below, if you like!

Turkey Template

Big Leaf Template 0001

I linked at this AWESOME party:

First Americans Finger Puppets

Turkey Felt Finger Puppets

Gobble, gobble!  These guys are too cute to eat!  Make a batch for classroom fun, or for your thanksgiving party. They are fun over silverware at the kids table!  Pass them out to young students after story time to help them retell the story!  Put one on a craft stick and insert into a bouquet or seasonal wreath!

Tips: For feathers, bend a harvest striped ribbon into a U-shape and lightly glue in middle of back piece prior to sewing. Use bits of red felt for the waddle and yellow and black fabric paint for eyes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

A turkey story you won't want to miss is A Plump and Perky Turkey, by Teresa Bateman. This clever tale features a town that needs a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.  At Thanksgiving, however, there are no turkeys around!  Can the townsfolk trick the turkey by luring him into an art contest as a model?  They sure can! But that clever fellow stealthily disappears before dinner...

Fall Leaves, Nuts, and Squirrels Template

I used these templates for name tags over the coat hooks at my son's preschool by writing the student's names on the squirrel's tail, leaf, or acorn top. The shapes could be used as decorations or cards, too. We made extras for the windows. You can download the template below.

Fall Leaves Acorn Squirrel Template

Thanksgiving Turkey Finger Puppets: Gobble, gobble!

Use  shiny trim or ribbon for the neck and seasonal ribbon for the feathers. Fold the "feathers" (ribbon) in a u-shape and glue to back to hold in place while sewing. Fabric paint works great for the eyes.  Happy Turkey Day!

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Free Turkey Finger Puppet Pattern

Native American Thanksgiving Friends

Colonist Thanksgiving Friends