Tree of Thanks

Tree of Thanks

Ages: All ages

Parental supervision suggested when working with scissors and bent paper clips

Difficulty: * * * * *

Time: 10-20 minutes

Celebrate everything you are thankful for!  Below is a list of supplies you will need to create this beautiful Tree of Thanks.  Ask holiday visitors to add their own leaves of thanks to your tree.

Materials Needed (located at your favorite craft store):

• Sticks or twigs from a tree or bush
• Vase
• Construction Paper (orange, brown, yellow, red)
•  Scissors
• Christmas ornament hanger or bent paper clips
•  Permanent markers

How-to Steps:

1. Choose a bare branch from a tree or shrub.  Choose one that has lots of little branches.
2. Place branch in vase.
3. Place each leaf on a hook or bent paper clip.
4. Have family and guests write things they are thankful for on one side of the leaf and their name and date on the other side.
5. Hang the leaves from your tree branch.
6. Save the leaves to use again next year and add more each year!Draw leaf shapes onto the colored paper and cut the leaves out.

Magazine Tree

Magazine Tree

Ages: 3 and up
Parental supervision suggested
Difficulty Level: *****

Time: 45 minutes

Make your own unique tree in celebration of spring’s arrival.  This craft applies mosaic techniques using recyclable materials.

Materials Needed (located at your favorite craft store):

• White paper
• Brown paint (I used tempera)
• Paint brush
• Drinking straw
• Discarded magazines, junk mail, or newspaper inserts
• Glue

How-to Steps:

1. Using the brush, drip a little brown paint near the center of the paper.
2. Immediately, blow through the straw, spreading the paint into random lines.
3. Continue dripping and blowing paint, turning the paper as needed, until you are satisfied with the shape of your tree.
4. Use the brush to thicken the trunk if needed. (The tree trunk could also be drawn and colored or covered with torn brown paper, rather than painted.  One technique is to trace your hand and arm.) 
5. While the paint is drying, find 3 or 4 green pictures in your discarded papers.  Tear the pictures into small pieces. 
6. Apply glue to a small area of your tree and immediately place torn green paper “leaves” on the glue.  Repeat until you are satisfied with your tree’s shape.
7. You could also add a torn-paper sky or a picture of a tree-loving animal (bird, squirrel, frog, snake, bat, etc.).