![Thanksgiving Craft with your kids! by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop Give Thanks Decorative Thanksgiving Blocks by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RplXL-wah34/UkTQpE7qbfI/AAAAAAAAFyE/6CcyxsT7D2s/s16000/ThanksgivingKidsCraftMichaels.jpg)
It was such a fun project to do together and I wanted to share it again this year so you could give it a try if you'd like. It was from way back in 2013, so re-posting seemed in order! :)
I was determined to make it a group effort (not a mom project), and I learned a lot about what my kids are capable of! I think normally, I have a tendency to want to just take over and be in control of everything- especially with something like this that I intend to have on display in my home. This time I wanted the kids to do as much of the work as possible because I wanted them to remember making them so that when we pull the blocks out to display each year, they'll feel responsible for them :) I'm planning for these to be a tool in teaching them about Thanksgiving and gratitude.
(A note from me, in 2020: They have become a tradition, and the tradition is that every morning I come downstairs to see the blocks arranged differently, to make different words ;)
Here's what we used:
Supplies
- 10 2" wooden blocks
- sand paper
- foam paint brushes
- paint (we used FolkArt's Pumpkin, School Bus Yellow, Parchment, Patina, and Burnt Umber)
- brown vinyl & a Cricut (we used the Sophisticated cartridge)
[Note: You could also use a stencil and brown paint, or glitter for the letters- or Mod Podge paper letters onto the blocks]
![Supplies for Thanksgiving Blocks by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop #bizdev Painted Blocks for Fall Decoration by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop #bizdev](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uEXpkIQJ7eo/UkTQuOwmHKI/AAAAAAAAFyM/SJFD8qm3YWE/s1600/thanksgivingblockssupplies.jpg)
While the girls were at school, I sanded the edges of the blocks with sandpaper.
When they got home, the project was ready for them! :)
We started by squirting the paint out and letting the kids paint the blocks.
(All I did was decide how many of each colour we would make)
![Paint Wooden Blocks for Thanksgiving Craft by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop Give Thanks Decorative Blocks by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3mGjVDsjq6A/UkTQwK3_TJI/AAAAAAAAFyU/K18_BhWBozo/s1600/PaintThanksgivingBlocks.jpg)
I decided I wanted the colours to be a bit muted, so we added a touch of the brown paint to the orange, teal, and yellow and painted over the first layer of paint. My girls love to paint!
![Thanksgiving Crafts with Kids by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop Give Thanks Decoration Kids can Make by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbsJYzlcN_Q/UkTQzKNg6uI/AAAAAAAAFyc/9CFXupsElz0/s1600/kidsthanksgivingcraft.jpg)
The next day (after the blocks were all dry), we used the brown paint to dry brush the edges of the blocks. You just need a very small amount of paint on the tip of the brush for this, and paint gently along the edges, for that distressed look.
I controlled the amount of paint going onto the brush for this part, and my 4 year old did a very nice job of distressing those edges!
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0MQRCttyrDk/UkTQ1u_sXvI/AAAAAAAAFyk/GrU7cQzZ08Y/s1600/DryBrushThanksgivingBlocks.jpg)
The next step was to create our vinyl letters. I sized them at 1.5" since we used 2" blocks. My daughter got to push the buttons, and was captivated (as usual) by watching the Cricut work ;) When we had our "stickers", I positioned them on the blocks and she pressed them down.
![Vinyl Letters on Thanksgiving Blocks at www.RaisingMemories.com #shop Use Vinyl for Give Thanks Wooden Blocks by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pOQb4RaMxZo/UkTQ5TWz3mI/AAAAAAAAFys/fsZYwOSQM4Y/s1600/VinylLettersThanksgivingBlocks.jpg)
We were so happy with the result! I am impressed with what a 4 year old and a 7 year old can do! :)
I'm excited about talking to the girls more about Thanksgiving and the importance of gratitude. I'm hoping that these blocks will become a representation to them of what Thanksgiving is all about!
What a fun activity to do together, and the beginning of a new tradition :)
![](http://assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png)
![Give Thanks Thanksgiving Kids Craft by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop Wooden Blocks Fall Decor by www.RaisingMemories.com #shop](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwKk6wVswac/UkTQ9VlbihI/AAAAAAAAFy0/7NIWnItmFhk/s1600/ThanksgivingBlocksKidsCraft.jpg)
Those turned out so cute! Well done in being hands-off. It made me a little stressed just reading about it. haha! I have the same tendency. But they turned out better than I could make!
ReplyDeletehaha Betsy, I hear ya. Thank you!
DeleteThis is so cute! I pinned this and I'm also featuring it tomorrow on my Thanksgiving Crafts Round up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration!
Maria @ Krafty Cards etc.
Thank you Maria!
DeleteGreat craft, I'll try it next year whith my daughter :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and straightforward project. Can adapt for all kinds of occasions.
ReplyDeleteYep. Hmmm.. I should make some for Easter...
DeleteOh my goodness, what a fun little project! LOVE THIS!
ReplyDeleteIt was & we're still using them, 7 years later!
DeleteOooh, I love that idea, will save to hopefully try with the kids!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it! :)
DeleteAn attitude of gratitude is so important to me. I missed this at Thanksgiving, but I think i will make them for Christmas with the kids.
ReplyDeleteLove these blocks, I even cutting 2*4 right now for a wall, so I can cut some squares.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea and you can do this with Merry Christmas as well.
ReplyDeleteThese are so well done. I really like the distressed edges as well. Give it that little bit extra.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh I would love to do this for christmas!!! get blocks and write out MERRY CHRISTMAS!! my girls will have a blast helping me
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun project to do with the family.
ReplyDelete