Last year our family tried out a new way to preserve Thanksgiving memories, and the result was truly a treasured keepsake.
A day or two before Thanksgiving, my daughter and I used a turkey rubber stamp to make place cards for all of our family members. We colored the place cards with colored pencils and wrote people's names on them with a metallic gold pen.
We then cut up strips of paper to put into a small basket to distribute before Thanksgiving dinner. The day of Thanksgiving, after all of the guests had arrived, we handed out the slips of paper and asked everyone to write down something they were thankful for.
Now you should have seen the looks I got! Keep in mind that there were family members of all ages, from young teenagers to adults. Most of them looked at me like I was crazy (because this memory-making stuff is all new to them), but I told them they had to do it before they could eat.
So they all sat to write down what they were thankful for. Some came up with something very quickly, and others sat there perplexed and worried they were going to spell something wrong. Several didn't write anything down at all.
The end result was a wide variety of very thoughtful answers. I put away the slips of paper, made sure to take some good family pictures (carving the turkey, eating dinner, visiting with each other, napping after dinner), and made sure to keep some of the place cards.
I don't always get to my scrapbook pages immediately after an event like this. I do, however, make sure everything is in one place so that I can assemble my pages when I'm ready.
I later went to the store to buy some pre-cut Thanksgiving and fall images for my scrapbook pages, and then framed my pictures with some coordinating cardstock pieces. I then laid out two scrapbook pages with the photos, a couple of the turkey place cards, and most of the slips of paper people had written on. I tried to arrange a person's slip of paper near their photo.
My finished project was by no means fancy or a work of art, but it will always be an irreplaceable treasured family keepsake.
Photos of finished project: http://www.crafty-moms.com/scr apbooking/sample_layouts_4.shtml
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com
Ever given your family or friends a beautiful gift basket?... Read More
Color coordination and contrast will highlight and accent your scrapbook.... Read More
Butterfly candle holders are easy to make and a great... Read More
I recently visited Langnau, Bern, Switzerland and spent two days... Read More
From age 25 onwards, our grand adventure has just unfolded... Read More
The potential for enjoyment of Bonsai trees is enormous. These... Read More
Racks and racks of bookmarks ranging from funny to inspirational... Read More
According legend, first nested doll prototype appeared in Russia in... Read More
As a southern girl, sewing was a rite of passage.... Read More
The best place to start collecting would be with pennies,... Read More
Have you ever thought about giving a personalized Gift Basket?Is... Read More
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing EquipmentA... Read More
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 3 - Tools For... Read More
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 1 - A Place... Read More
It is unbelievable when one says, yeah, I collect comic... Read More
Supplies Needed:Most items can be found around the house or... Read More
Ah, the sweet smell of fresh flowers, herbs and fruit.... Read More
Floral design is an art and for some it comes... Read More
Why waste everyone's time? Let's skip the appetizers and get... Read More
For more dramatic results from your photographs, trying weaving two... Read More
Many new home embroidery machine owners have to learn on... Read More
There is nothing like a cup of coffee that has... Read More
Treasure hunting begins at home. People regularly find famous old... Read More
One of the best ways to display photographs, memorabilia and... Read More
Are you tired of driving your cars only on the... Read More
For collectors of any kind, there are always those items... Read More
By stepping backwards in time one can discover an important... Read More
Reverse painting on glass has been a form of art... Read More
Soap is a craft that is fun and easy to... Read More
By the time your teen is in high school, you... Read More
I just got back from the vet with my cat... Read More
If you've always wanted to know how to make your... Read More
You know the feeling. The kids have tons of demands,... Read More
The title reflects Woodworking as a hobby, not as a... Read More
Sometimes it's hard to imagine that the stars who shine... Read More
Maybe you have a bunch of collectibles sitting in your... Read More
I just got back from the vet with my cat... Read More
Ribbon and lace are by far the most common, and... Read More
If you've been to gem shows, you know how overwhelming... Read More
Kids grow up so fast and if you don't try... Read More
One of the biggest challenges faced by airbrush artists are... Read More
I'm new to scrapbooking, and I still can't believe all... Read More
Given the progress in inkjet and media technology, demand for... Read More
Why waste everyone's time? Let's skip the appetizers and get... Read More
The first thing you will need to do is check... Read More
Over the years, collecting coins has grown from being just... Read More
Denim is a twill weave and runs diagonally and any... Read More
How many of you are always looking for new ways... Read More
Amish quilting has been a tradition for more than a... Read More
Back then it was simple - you take the picture,... Read More
Reverse painting on glass has been a form of art... Read More
Looking at all the various swords for sale online can... Read More
Most Comic Book Storage Boxes are super strong and come... Read More
Your cousin's friend in Saskatchewan has asked you to design... Read More
Crocheting is not only a craft but an... Read More
It's important to understand where antiques originate. Many antique buyers... Read More
Everyone has that box of pictures either in a close... Read More
I have some tips for you to get better results... Read More
In order to mould leather armor, soak it in water... Read More
Origami is a fantastic art form that guarantees hours of... Read More
Comic Book Backing Boards come in different thicknesses and acid-free... Read More
You put a great deal of time, thought, and effort... Read More
Feathers make exotic and interesting embellishments and borders. Feathers add... Read More
Woodworking: Where To Start - Tips From Experienced WoodworkersWoodworking encompasses... Read More
Want to make soap as a gift for your party... Read More
Did your heart ever palpitate for fast driving? Did you... Read More
Crafts & Hobbies |