Karli Fenton is the owner of Nanny Yo Business and she shares four easy crafting projects to invite gratitude and fun into this holiday season as a family. Gratitude is a year-round gem in Karli's life. "I've always encouraged a year-round thankfulness," Karli says. She believes gratitude is a great foundation to have in life. One of her goals is to cultivate a grateful heart in her daily life and for the kids she nannies as well. Each of these activities is easy to do from the comfort of your own home.
Thanksgiving Close-Pin Turkey
Supplies
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Brown, red and yellow colored construction paper
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Small clothespins
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Colored pipe cleaners, feathers and/or leaves
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Googly eyes
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Brown crayon and/or marker
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Glue
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Scissors
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Toilet paper roll or a paper towel roll that is cut into smaller sections
Directions
Measure and cut a piece of brown paper the size of your cardboard roll. Wrap and glue onto the roll to make the body.
Draw a beak and turkey gobble neck on yellow and red paper. Cut them out. Then glue on the googly eyes and below them the beak and neck.
Color the clothespin brown.
Create the feathers by using feathers, pipe cleaners or leaves. If you choose pipe cleaners twist and wrap them into feather shapes making sure they’re looped around one another. Make sure the feathers, pipe cleaners or leaves meet at a central spot to attach the clothespin to.
Attach your feathers with the clothespin to the top of the body.
Make the feet by bending a pipe cleaner in the middle. Then bend each end into toes by pressing half-inch pieces together. Glue the pipe cleaner to the inside of the cardboard.
Year-Round Gratitude Jar
Supplies
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Extra large mason jar or a clear vase
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Black chalk paint stickers
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Chalk pen and/or marker
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Sticky notes or fun-shaped pieces of paper
Directions
Title and label your jar. For example, “Gratitude Jar” or “What We’re Thankful For.”
On the pieces of paper, everyone can participate in writing what they’re thankful
This can be a project for the holidays or something to do all year round. In the month of November or all year round, add notes to the jar.
Each Thanksgiving or on a special day take all the notes out and share them with one another.
Thankful Tree
Supplies
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Construction paper or cardboard
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Pencil
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Scissors
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Double-sided tape
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Leaf-shaped paper with an “I am thankful for…” prompt. The ones in the example can be found at Hobby Lobby. You can also make your own.
Directions
This can be as simple or extravagant as you choose.
Design the tree by outlining it on cardboard or construction paper. Then cut it out. (The example is made of cardboard covered in construction paper.)
Use tape to stick the tree onto the wall. Add designs or extra paper as needed for branches and bark.
Write on the leaves what each person is thankful for throughout the month of November. Then attach the leaves to the tree.
Salt Water Paint Drawings
Supplies
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Dark-colored card stock
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Crayons or colored pencils
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Warm water
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Table salt
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Paintbrush
Directions
Using a crayon or colored pencil outline the leaf or any other design you want to make on the card stock.
Mix salt with warm water. Be generous with the salt and use small amounts of water at a time. Water should be cloudy when mixed.
Use a paintbrush to apply salt water and trace the lines of your design.
Let it dry and apply more coats as needed.
Once dry the painted areas will be shimmery and white.
About Karli Fenton
Owner of Nanny Yo Business
nannyyobusiness.com
Karli is intentional in meeting kids at their level. Her experience ranges from traveling with families, overnight care, potty training, encouraging developmental milestones, house management and organization projects. She finds that when gratitude is part of your daily practice, it can help later when life gets hard. Her focus is to be goofy and free-spirited while cultivating traits of gratitude, empathy, kindness and emotional regulation.
"I've always encouraged a year-round thankfulness," Karli says.
