Thankful Ornament

Back in October we tried writing daily "thankful" notes, an idea we tried from YHL.  I really liked doing this all month, it really made me more aware of things to be grateful for and I think we might try it again next year! I pondered what I'd do with the papers once Thanksgiving was done and then it dawned on me - not long after Thanksgiving is Christmas. I decided to fill an ornament ball with all of our notes!

I didn't want us to have spent a month recording things we were thankful for and then to just throw our hard work and memories away after Thanksgiving passed!  This way I figure if it's something we'd like to do each year, I can label the ornaments with the year and we can have them to look back on. 

So I headed over to Michael's with a 40% off coupon, only to see that the balls were already 50% off - even better!

When I got home I rolled each of the papers up (to fit them better, and for some visual interest) and stuffed them in the ornament. 

Then I wrote "Thanks 2011" on the ball, tied a ribbon to it and hung it on our tree!  I love that it's an ornament that we've both had a hand in, normally all the handmade ornaments are all me, so this is a nice change of pace!





 And here she sits all pretty-like in the tree!



I'm linking up with the holiday craft party at Centsational Girl - there's so many great ideas to check out!

Happy Thanksgiving!

For all the Canadians out there, Thanksgiving weekend is here and I came across this wonderful idea from YHL.  I'm sure you all know them, but if not, check them out, you don't know what you're missing!  They're so thoughtful and creative with so many great ideas! 

So although we're starting a bit late, I thought it would be a really nice thing to try this year.  Each day we write something we're thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a jar, not knowing what the other person writes.  When the month is done we'll read them together.  Afterwards I think I'll put all the papers aside for Christmas time.  Then I plan to put them in a clear glass ornament for the Christmas tree (yes my mind is there already), label the year on it, and that way each year we can reminisce about all the years we have collected!

I went to Michaels and picked up 3 fall coloured papers in green, orange and brown for a dollar each. 

When I got home I decided that I didn't want the papers to be very big so I decided on 1.5 x 3 inch rectangles. I measured out a grid and got to cutting with my super fancy scissors! Cutting is always more fun with patterned scissors. 

I grabbed a glass jar I had on hand (left over from my sister's wedding centre pieces, thanks K!), gave it a quick wash and a couple coats of Rustoleum's Frosted Glass spray paint.  I put some letter stickers on it saying "thanks".  Easy peasy!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend if and however you celebrate it!

PS.  I hope to have a new header to share with you on Monday  :)

Do you have any special Thanksgiving traditions?  Any fun crafts?