Creative Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

Easy Paper Craft
Overflowing Gratitude Box

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One of the best Thanksgiving craft ideas to help you remember all of life’s blessings is an overflowing Thanksgiving box. The box is a free paper craft that requires very few supplies. Add a few of the things you are grateful for to the box flaps. Take the lid off the box and the box falls open, overflowing with all the things you are thankful for.


This is an easy Thanksgiving craft idea that is perfect for children. Although adult supervision is needed for the paper cutting, children can glue, color and list things they are thankful for.


Craft Project Time: 2 hours


Supplies






Cardstock

Cardstock should be coordinating colors

• One 12” X 12” piece of cardstock (outside of box)
  
  
• One 10 1/4” X 10 1/4” piece of cardstock (middle layer of box)
  
  
• One 9” X 9” piece of cardstock (top layer of box)
  
  
• One 6 1/4" X 6 1/4" piece of cardstock (for lid)

Scrapbook Paper

Use 6-7 different sheets of paper with coordinating colors

• Eight pieces of 3 1/4" X 3 1/4" scrapbook paper
  
  Optional: One piece of 3 1/4" X 3 1/4" scrapbook paper (for the box lid)
  
  
• Eight pieces of 2 3/4" X 2 3/4" scrapbook paper
  
  
• Eight pieces of 2 1/2” X 2 1/2" scrapbook paper
  
  Optional: One piece of 2 1/2” X 2 1/2" scrapbook paper (for the inside of box)

Thankful Notes

• 24 notes of things you are grateful for. Cut to 2 1/2” X 2 1/2" or smaller.

Tools

• Paper cutter
  
  
• Scoring blade for paper cutter
  
  
• Scissors
  
  
• Paper glue
  
  
• 4 paper clips
  
  
• Corner rounder (optional)
  
  
• Embellishments (optional)

Directions

Box

1. Take the 12” X 12” cardstock and turn it over so the side you want on the outside of the box is face down.
   
   
2. Measure and score the cardstock 4 inches from each side. The scoring tool scores or makes and impression in the paper, allowing you to easily fold the paper.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. The score lines should make a square in each corner of the paper. Cut off each corner square.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Repeat with the other two box pieces. Take the 10 1/4” X 10 1/4” cardstock and turn it over so the side you want on the outside is facing down.
   
   
5. Measure and score the cardstock 3 1/2 inches from each side.
   
   
6. The score lines should make a square in each corner of the paper. Cut off each corner square.
   
   
7. Take the 9” X 9” cardstock and turn it over so the side you want on the outside is facing down.
   
   
8. Measure and score the cardstock 3 inches from each side.
   
   
9. The score lines should make a square in each corner of the paper. Cut off each corner square.
   
   
10. Take the coordinating pieces of scrapbook paper and lay them out on the 3 pieces of cardstock. This is an important step because it will help you see the finished picture. It will prevent you from placing the same scrapbook pieces together.
    
    
11. When the paper is the way you want it, glue each piece down, beginning with the largest piece of cardstock. Do not glue scrapbook paper to the center of either side of this piece.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Glue the scrapbook papers to the middle sized piece of cardstock. Do not glue scrapbook paper to the center of either side of this piece. The centers will never be seen.
    
    
13. Glue the scrapbook papers to the smallest piece of cardstock. Remember to cover both sides.
    
    
14. Optional: you may glue scrapbook paper on the inside center of the smallest piece of cardstock.
    
    
15. Allow the glue to dry.
    
    
16. Take each paper listing your blessings. Lay the paper out the way you want it.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Note: The blessing on the bottom flap should be upside down. The blessing on the right flap should be rotated clockwise 90 degrees. The blessing on the left should be rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees. (See picture.) When the sides are folded up, each blessing will be right side up. If it is done correctly, the top flap of the cardstock will always be right side up, even as you rotate it to allow each piece to be on top.
    
    Optional: Have the blessings you are most grateful for (Dad, Mom, children, etc.) on the outside of the box. It makes this Thanksgiving craft idea meaningful for your family.
    
    
17. When the papers are the way you want them, glue each paper down in the center of the scrapbook paper. Begin with the largest piece, then the middle and finally the smallest piece.
    
    
    
    
18. Allow glue to dry.
    
    
19. When glue is dry, place a small amount of glue on the back of the center of the smallest cardstock. Place in the center of the middle-sized cardstock.
    
    
20. Place a small amount of glue on the back of the center of the middle-sized cardstock. Place it in the center of the largest cardstock.
    
    
21. Allow glue to dry.
    
    
22. When glue is dry, fold up the sides

Lid

1. Take the 6 1/4” X 6 1/4" cardstock and turn it over so the side you want to be the top of the lid is facing down.
   
   
2. Measure and score the cardstock 1 inch from each side.
   
   
3. The score lines should make a square in each corner of the cardstock.
   
   
4. Fold up the sides.
   
   
5. Turn the cardstock over.
   
   
6. Score each corner diagonally, from the tip of the corner to the edge of the corner, marked by the score lines.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Fold diagonal score lines, pinching them so they fold inward.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Glue inward fold of corner and fold and glue to the right.
   
   
9. Hold in place with a paper clip.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Repeat for each side.
    
    
11. Allow glue to dry.
    
    
12. Optional: Glue scrapbook paper to the top of the lid.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Optional: Add Thanksgiving embellishments.
    
    
14. When glue is dry, remove paperclips. Fold up the box and place the lid on top.

This easy Thanksgiving craft idea makes a good holiday decoration and is a good reminder of all of the blessings in life you have.


Children will enjoy this Thanksgiving craft, but may need help with the paper cutting.




Another option for this Thanksgiving craft idea is to leave the blessing papers blank and allow children to write or draw what they are thankful for. To make it a Thanksgiving day craft, have everyone write what they are thankful for before you begin your Thanksgiving meal.


Keep checking back for more Thanksgiving craft ideas or add your own Thanksgiving craft ideas to the site to inspire our other visitors.

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