I figured with Thanksgiving coming soon, now would be a great time to make a little garland with paper leaves to write down things that we are thankful for.

I always hear how helpful it can be mentally to focus on the good in life, so I figured this would be a great season to put that into practice!

Supplies:
–Leaf Template
–cardstock in different colors
–scissors
–small clothespins
–jewelry bead punch
–large gold jump rings
-woven garland to hang leaves from

I used a braided rope garland I already had, but you can make it yourself by braiding some soft ropes together and adding some wooden beads.

First, you’ll want to print out your leaf template. You can either cut out each leaf to trace onto paper, or you can hold your template behind your paper and put it up to a window during the day to trace them onto your paper (this works best for lighter colored paper).

Cut out as many leaves in whatever colors you like!

Use your bead punch to punch a hole near the top of your clothespin. Repeat for each clothespin.

Use your fingers to open large jump rings and add the ring through the hole.

Put the jump ring through part of the bottom side of your garland so it will hang down to hold the leaf. I would lay out your garland and space the clothespins where you want them first so you know they are more evenly spaced.
Use a pen to write down all the things you are grateful for on each leaf! You can ask little kiddos for theirs and write them down for them or have older kids write their own.

Hang your leaves on the clothespins and stand back and see all you have to be thankful for!

The garland looks so pretty with some amber jars with candles inside and my pink pumpkins at the bottom!

Some of my leaves are more serious things to be thankful for, but others are also a bit silly. Like having just painted a pink door at our new house or finally living really close to a good coffee shop. But either way, it feels good to see a bunch of things that make us happy all in one place.

I also left a few clothespins open and some blank leaves on the table to write down new things as we think of them, so feel free to fill up the garland or do one every day for a few weeks.

This would also be a fun activity to do around the table on Thanksgiving Day, so keep that in mind as well! Hope this helps your gratitude meter go up a few notches as well! xo. Laura

P.S. Looking for more ideas? Check out 15 Easy Fall Decor DIYs (Budget-Friendly!).

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Instructions

So first you’ll want to print out your leaf template. You can either cut out each leaf to trace onto paper, or you can hold your template behind your paper and put it up to a window during the day to trace them onto your paper (this works best for lighter colored paper). Cut out as many leaves in whatever colors you like!
Use your bead punch to punch a hole near the top of your clothespin. Repeat for each clothespin.
Use your fingers to open large jump rings and add the ring through the hole.
Put the jump ring through part of the bottom side of your garland so it will hang down to hold the leaf. I would lay out your garland and space the clothespins where you want them first so you know they are more evenly spaced.
Use a pen to write down all the things you are grateful for on each leaf! You can ask little kiddos for theirs and write them down for them or have older kids write their own.
Hang your leaves on the clothespins and stand back and see all you have to be thankful for!

Gratefulness Leaf Garland DIY

Supplies

Instructions