The Thanksgiving Tree

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Looking for a fun quick craft? The instructions for this felt turkey were very straightforward. I did it all with glue, two staples, and two quick hand stitched spots to avoid having to break out the sewing machine. This little gobbler covers a star on a photo holder tree.

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I was looking for a way to incorporate something daily into our November- kinda like an Advent calendar for Thanksgiving- so each day we write a few things we've thankful for on leaves and slide the leaves into the photo holder spots. Tomorrow we start adding some yellow leaves too! I made a little word file with the leaves so all I have to do it print on colored paper. Email me if you'd like the file, I'm happy to pass it along!

How did this all come about???

I recently stopped by a client's house and noticed her Christmas tree was up. I'd LOVE to have mine up but my hubby has this crazy rule about waiting until Thanksgiving is over. So I quickly said, "I love that you have your Christmas tree up!" She sweetly told me it was actually their Thanksgiving tree and on closer inspection I realized that all the decorations were, in fact, fall-ish! The lights were orange and brown, the glass ornaments were fall colored, and under the tree she had a cute little scarecrow and some pumpkins and a fall leaf garland. It was perfect!!!

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I texted a photo to my husband before I left, but he still wasn't sold. We'd been talking about how part of what makes me want to put up the Christmas decorations early is all the wonderful holiday traditions that make it a month long celebration! We started doing an advent calendar a few years ago and we all love it. Each day we read a little devotional and scriptures together and then open a door in the calendar. Each door holds one little piece of a manger scene- baby Jesus comes on Christmas day! The kids really get into it, even if they have a hard time sitting still for the full devotional and it's great family time. I'm hoping this Thanksgiving tree turns into an equally well loved holiday tradition!