- The Gratitude Wreath
By: Rondi Hillstrom Davis
and Janell Sewall Oakes
Bring a little bit of autumn
indoors. Family and friends help create this wreath by sharing
what they are thankful for on brightly colored leaves. Every
member of the family can contribute to this beautiful wreath.
This is a great, concrete, visual way to put meaning back in
the holidays for children.
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Materials:
18-inch diameter straw wreath
Fall leaves
1 or 2 metallic paint pens
3 1/2-yards of 1/4-inch elastic
1 straight pin
Directions
1. Fill a large grocery sack with sturdy fall leaves.
2. As a base, use an 18-inch diameter straw wreath. |
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3.
Wrap the wreath with the elastic. Start by securing one end of
the elastic to the top of the wreath with a long straight pin.
Wrap the elastic around the wreath at 3-inch intervals. The elastic
should be snug against the straw, but not too tight. Once you
have gone all the way around the wreath, tie the ends of the
elastic together.
4. Using a paint pen on the leaves, have each member
of the family write down what they are most thankful for.
5. Starting at the top and working clockwise, tuck
the stems of two or three leaves into each band of elastic. Try
to arrange the leaves so that no elastic or straw shows. This
wreath should take about 15 minutes to construct. Hang the finished
wreath on the front door and celebrate all of your family's blessings.
We leave a basket of leaves near
the door, and on Thanksgiving Day, all of our guests add their
blessings to our wreath. |
