Thanksgiving Advent Calendar
I love November. I love fall weather; I love scarves; I love cozy evenings inside as the sun begins to go down earlier; I love turkey and gravy and mashed potatoes…
But most of all, I love an entire month dedicated to being thankful.
Our children are happier when we instill thankfulness in them. We are happier when we instill thankfulness in us.
To better cultivate our hearts for this season, I created a super simple Thanksgiving advent calendar. Now I realize that today is November 5… but before you simply pin this for next year and move on, let me encourage you: this project takes less than 30 minutes (and your kids can help if you have children), and you will be blessed by the process. You can easily catch up on Nov 1-5 in no time. 🙂
All you need to create your own Thanksgiving advent calendar:
- non-corrugated cardboard (as stiff as you can find)
- chalkboard spray paint
- a leaf stencil or punch (I used this one)
To create your calendar:
- punch or cut out 30 cardboard leaves
- spray paint both sides of every leaf with chalkboard spray paint
- prime your leaves (which is a fancy way of saying rub chalk all over them, let sit, wipe off)
- use a chalk pen (it will NOT erase… fyi) to write a number (1-30) on the back of each leaf
To use your calendar:
- place your leaves in something pretty (a bowl, a platter, a vase) or hang them like bunting
- each day, find the number corresponding to the date
- with your family, come up with one thing you are thankful for and write it on the back
- use chalk (not a chalk pen) if you want to be able to erase and reuse the calendar next year
My three-year-old is so excited about this. He not only loves the daily search for the right number, but he is enjoying the creativity of choosing something to write on the back. So far, he’s suggested McQueen (from the movie Cars, of course), bananas, and his little brother.
Don’t you just love the beautiful simplicity of gratitude?
Gratitude doesn’t have to be fancy or sophisticated; it doesn’t need expensive reasons or elaborate expressions… it just needs a thoughtful and thankful heart.
May you and yours enjoy a beautiful and thankful November.
What a wonderful craft & way to give thanks. So happy you are on our tour Rachel!
Thank you, Kelly! I’m honored to be a part of it!
Rachel, such a cute idea. Love the chalkboard leaves.
Thank you, Kim! So glad you stopped by. I hope your Thanksgiving is full and blessed. 🙂
LOVE this idea! The little chalkboard leaves are so cute and I know my kids would love this project. Thank you so much for sharing and being a part of the tour!
I’m so glad you like it, Julie! Thank you so much again for asking me to be a part of Thankful at Home. 🙂
Rachel what a beautiful and simple idea. Thank you for sharing. Gratitude does come in all sizes. ~Jeanette
Thank you, Jeanette! I’m so glad you like it. 🙂
What a fantastic idea…just love it…thanks for the wonderful inspiration..and have a great Thanksgiving with all of your loved ones!!!
No, thank you, Shirley! I’m so glad you like it, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with yours, too!
Those are really neat…LOVE them! SO nice to meet you and see your lovely blog too. Great being a part of this Thankful at home series.
Thank you so much, Debbie! I’m so glad to have met you, too, and all the wonderful blogs on the tour. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Rachel, I love your gratitude leaves! Never would have thought to use chalkboard paint on cardboard! They’re so sweet; thanks for sharing and being on the tour. Wishing you many blessing this Month of Plenty and Thanksgiving.
Cheers!
No, thank you for stopping by and for your kind words!! I’m excited to see your post on Thursday. 🙂 Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
What a sweet idea! I love this. So perfect for any age. Including me 🙂
Thanks for being a part of the tour. It has been an honor to see your talent.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Thank you, Meegan! Secretly (or not so secretly), I think I need it as much or more than my kids! 🙂 Honored to be on the tour with you, too; have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
What a fabulous and creative idea- love the idea you can reuse it!
I’m new to your blog through the tour and can’t wait to see more!
Cheers
Christina
Thank you, Christina! I’m so glad to have you here!
You darling Mama!!!! What a precious and important way to teach your little one about the true meaning of Thanksgiving! I adore this idea! Your name, I’m sure, is written on one of those leaves!
Oh, thank you, Yvonne! My boys’ names are certainly on my leaves. 🙂
LOVE these! So cute!
Thank you so much, Beth!
Since I love all things chalkboard – I’m adding this to one of my favorite ideas ever!
Kelly
Yay! So glad you like it, Kelly. 🙂 Hope you get to do one for yourself soon!
Rachel I am in LOVE with this idea – how creative and such a beautiful idea. So much talent on this tour and I am very “thankful” to have been a part of it with you and the other fab ladies. Pinning this! xo
Thank you SO much, Claire! I was so honored and thankful to be a part of the tour, too. Have a wonderful week and an amazing Thanksgiving!!
I love advent calendars, and I love reasons to write down what we’re thankful for. This is perfect! I have it pinned for next year. Thanks so much for sharing! Enjoy your day!
I’m so glad you like it, Brooke! I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long
comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Regardless, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
This is absolutely wonderful and beautiful, Rachel!! Not only am I a total sucker for anything chalkboard, but I love how simple and thoughtful your advent idea is. Thanks for sharing!
You and me both! I have to restrain myself from painting everything with chalkboard.