Dare to....be thankful!

The first challenge for Kim's party was Dare to be thankful.  With Thanksgiving right around the corner (and Christmas trailing) this was the perfect challenge for me to reflect over the past year and think of some things I'm thankful for.  My craft project is a Thankful Thoughts Tree.  I picked up some branches from the neighborhood, spray painted them white, and made "leaves" to represent thankful thoughts.  Ryan and I have been writing one thing we are thankful for each night and then we hang the "leaves" on the tree together.  The "leaves" are actually loops of colored/textured paper that I used for my paper wreath.  Its a great way to reflect on the past year and it makes me smile every time I walk by.  I think its a tradition that we will carry forward for next Thanksgiving.

I also made a paper wreath.  This really doesn't have anything to do with Thanksgiving, but its fall related and matched my Thankful Tree, so I wanted to include it as well.  I picked up a set of fall themed papers from the craft store (on sale too!), used 9 sheets of paper and (1) cut them into 1x4 inch strips (thank goodness for paper cutters at work), and (2) stapled each strip to form a loop.  (3) I wrapped my wreath frame with ribbon to give it a little something extra and then (4) went to town hot gluing the strips to the ribbon, taking care to overlap as needed.  I love it.  It was simple to make but really makes a statement, don't you think!

Here's the step by step picture tutorial that corresponds with the numbers above.

And the final look:

Total cost for both projects: $18 - not too shabby!

$6 for 2 cans of spray paint to cover branches

$5 for ribbon

$7 for fall themed papers

$0 wreath foam (leftover from making cake pops)

What are you thankful for?  Head on over to Kim at Newlywoodwards to see what the rest of the party people are making!