Crafts for Kids – Thanksgiving Tree Centerpiece

Hello, and welcome to Sonoma Christian Home’s first Craft Blog!  This is a place where you can find inexpensive, unique art and craft projects that can be created together as a family.

To kick off the collection, we have a craft that solves two dilemmas:  What to put as a centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table,  and what to occupy the kids with on the inevitable rainy afternoon this season brings.

The thankfulness tree has elements that can be done by any age, though if you have tiny tots they will need some help with the assembly from an older child or an adult. This can be an excellent conversation starter, as the backbone of this project is brainstorming as many things as possible for which to be thankful.  We hope you enjoy, and without further ado, we give you the Thanksgiving Tree Centerpiece Project!

Materials:
Trunk:
-Cardboard circle between 6-8” diameter
-Paper towel tube
-Sheet of 12” x 12” colored or patterned paper

Branches:
-One package brown pipe cleaners

Leaves:
-Fall leaf template found here:  http://thecreativeplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/tuesday-tutorial-fall-leaves-hanging.html
-Colored cardstock or construction paper
-Pencil
-Black pen

For assembly:
-Heavy duty glue (tacky glue, hot glue gun, etc)
-Scissors
-Measuring device
-Hole punch
-Thin ¼” ribbon

Directions:
Trunk:

Grab your paper towel tube and 12” x 12” fancy paper. Glue one edge of the  paper to the paper towel tube. Hold and let glue set (about ten seconds)

1. Roll Paper towel tube in fancy paper. Glue edge of paper in place. (Don’t forget to hold and set!)
2. Take tube and glue one end to the center of the cardboard circle.

Branches:

1. Take three full-length pipe cleaners, and twist them together into a bendable branch. Repeat until you have at least six twisted branches. Bend the branches to your liking.
2. Cut remaining pipe cleaners in half, so you have at least two small pieces per thick branch.
3. Twist one end of the halved pieces to a crook in the thick branch, creating an offshoot.
4. Once all the branches are assembled, bend the bottom 1” section of the thick branch and glue to the upper part of the trunk, 1”-2” from the top of the trunk. You can vary the placement of the branches to create a more organic feel. Stagger the branches evenly around the top of the trunk.

Leaves:

1. Trace your leaf template with a pencil onto your colored cardstock or construction paper.
2. Cut out leaves.
3. Punch a hole in the stem of each leaf.
4. Write things you are thankful for on each leaf—make this a family event, and do as many leaves as will fit on the tree!
5. Cut the ribbon into 6″ pieces, one piece per leaf.
6. Thread the thin ribbon through the stem and tie onto the pipe cleaner branches of the tree.

By this time, your family has recounted many things for which they can be thankful.  What a great way to keep in the spirit of this holiday season!

Tada! A meaningful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!