Materials
~Castaway stamp pad (*Jacquared Products)
Grateful Garland
What is a "Grateful Garland"? After you, or the kids have created
Place Cards & Holders
1. Follow steps 1-5 above (but do not punch a hole) to make as many
~Two 12" sq. Falling Leaves Cardstock 10 Pack (**Paper Accents™)
~2-3 packages Brown Bump Chenille Stems (**Accent Design™)
~Fall colored bump chenille stems-one per guest (**Accent Design™)
~Extra Large Brown or Multi Color Chenille stems-one per
guest (Accent Design™)
~Charms Leaves & Acorns Gold-one charm per adult
(**by Boutique Trims Embellish It™)
~18mm gold jingle bells-enough for one per child (**Accent Design™)
~Flat Back wiggle type Eyes, Round 5 mm Black (**Accent Design™)
~Extra large background style-all over pattern-rubber stamp
~1/8" hand held hole punch (or use a pen tip)
~Black or brown large, thick marking pen for names & wrapping
~Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue (for turkey eyes only)
~Pencils with erasers (for tracing pattern & adding toppers to)
~Iron and board
~Old scissors or wire cutters (for chenille stems)
~Toothpick (to apply glue to eyes on turkey)
~Maple Leaves Pattern
(click here)
**Jacquard Products can be purchased at your local art, craft,
scrapbook or rubber stamp store, or visit their website for
ideas and information at:
Jaquard
**You can find Paper Accents™ papers, Accent Design Chenille Stems,
Eyes, Jingle Bells and Boutique Trims Embellish It™ charms at
your local craft or scrapbook store.
a paper leaf garland, hang it up, and as guests arrive and are
waiting to eat, have them remove a leaf and write things they
are thankful or grateful for this year, on the back. Replace
the leaf on the Grateful Garland. Maybe you can read them aloud
between dinner and dessert, or while having dessert! You'll
want to save this one from year to year, adding more stems and
leaves as desired! This makes a great family tradition and it's
fun to read the blessings of past years as well!
To Make Leaves:
1. Enlarge and print the "Maple Leaf" pattern
(click here)
onto any
color of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock and have an adult or older
child cut out shapes to trace.
2. Apply the Castaway ink pad liberally, directly to the rubber
stamp. Firmly stamp designs, covering one side of your 12" fall
colored cardstock.
3. Allow the ink to absorb and sink into the paper for 5 minutes,
then have an adult iron the designs to make them magically
turn color! (Do not use steam.)
4. Have the kids trace the pattern shapes with pencil onto the (back)
PLAIN SIDE of stamped cardstock. Tear the leaves out following
the lines, then, erase all pattern lines.
5. Punch a 1/8" hole about 1/2" above the bottom center of each
leave with hole punch or a pen.
6. To add even more interest, apply ink to the torn leaf edges on
(design) FRONT SIDE, by swiping the pad against them. Have an
adult iron leaves once again.
7. To Make Garland Base: Twist two brown bump chenille stems
together to secure.
8. Now twist one stem around the base 4 times making smaller branches.
9. Add two more stems forming 6 smaller branches and bend these
upward to look natural. Add another stem to lengthen the base
and add 3 more small branch stems.
10. To attach leaves, simply thread a small branch stem into hole from
the FRONT SIDE until it's on the fat part of chenille stem,
turn leaf over and bend branch end upward to secure.
Tip: Add as many branches as you like to lengthen the garland.
smallest leaves as you have people.
2. Form one large chenille stem into a spiral, then bend the center up.
3. Write guests names on leaves with marker, insert into holders and
place on table where you'd like them to sit.
Note: You could also have guests pass these around the table at
some point and write why they are thankful for that person on the back.
Easy Napkin Rings
1. First, bend under 1/4" on all ends of chenille stems for safety.
2. Wrap a tan color bump chenille (or other color) stem around a fat marker.
3. Remove chenille stem and thread a leaf charm (for adults) about
1/2" from top end, and bend end to secure.
4. For kids napkins, thread a fun gold jingle bell in the center
of the chenille stem.
5. Unwind and loosen the spiral a little bit, just enough to slide
a folded napkin ring into in.
Turkey Pencil Topper
1. Fold under just the tips of chenille stems for safety. An
adult should do this for samll children! Bend three
of the thick areas of a brown bump chenille stem in half.
Repeat this with a second stem so you have two.
2. Fold the first feather end around the base stem to secure, and
twist the bottom stems together of these turkey feathers so
there is one solid stem.
3. Fold an XL thick tan stem in half and push down on the fold
so a round head is formed. Twist the neck area togther once.
Cut off a 3/4" long piece of a red and orange thick stem.
Push red one into center of head and fold to the back for
waddle. Trim the orange piece to a point at one end, and
push fat end into head and fold, for beak.
4. Glue on eyes with Tacky glue and let dry.
5. Clip the feathers stem to 1" and bend in half towards
back of feathers.
6. Place the feathers stem just below the metal earser holder
of a pencil, and the head in front of earser.
7. Wrap the tan stems, in opposite directions, around the pencil
and over the brown stem. Wrap close together so its fat and
fluffy. That's it! Slide turkey down to use eraser.
Keep in mind that you can make these items for Christmas as
well! Simply use green cardstock and tear simple holly leaves
for the garland, and christmas tree shapes for the placecards.
Try twisting red & white chanielle stems together for the
napkin rings...you get the idea!
Right click on leaf pattern diagram, then save as "maple_pattern1"
and open up in a photo program. Enlarge pattern to
8 1/2" by 11" before printing!
Return to Garland Instructions
