Leaves of Thanks

Simple enough for kids to create on their own, these beautiful, textured leaves make a wonderful holiday tradition. Invite each guest to write something he or she is grateful for on a leaf, and watch the garland grow each year.

CRAFT MATERIALS:

Colored construction paper

Spray bottle (filled with water)

Scissors

Colored pencils

Twine or natural-colored string

Double-sided tape

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. Draw leaf shapes on colored construction paper, or download leaf templates and then trace on to colored construction paper. 
(To view the .pdf files, you'll need Adobe Reader which is available for free from the Adobe site.) Make at least 1 leaf per guest plus others for decoration. 

2. Lay the paper on a covered work surface, then spray water over both sides so the whole surface is damp. Crumple the paper into a loose ball, flatten it out, and let it dry completely (which takes a few hours). 

3. Next, cut out the leaves and hand them to your guests to write on. 

4. Finally, make a garland by folding the stems over a length of string and taping them in place. Drape them from a sideboard, along a mantel, or from the top of a doorway.