So are you ready to celebrate the 12 days of Thanksgiving??? (never heard of it you ask, well I just made it up ha ha ha ha)…. Go make an Advent Calendar– to find out how, hop on over here for directions to make it!!
Here are some ideas that I hope will peak your interest!
Make 12 Quilted Shapes!
I made a Turkey and a Pumpkin with some left over charm pieces. You will have PLENTY to make 12 things to fit in all the pockets if you want! I just “drew” the Turkey but if you are interested let me know by leaving a comment and I can put up the directions/pattern here.
It would be easy to think of 12 little “things” to make for your pockets.. you could make, leaves, pumpkins, pilgrim hats, turkeys, boats… the list goes on- look for online coloring pages for shapes to use.
Link to the Turkey Applique Pattern can be found here
Fill the pockets with 12 facts about Thanksgiving: just go to Wikipedia, you’ll find out more than you ever thought you’d want to know about Thanksgiving!
What about a “Quote a Day” about Gratitude? Here are 12 I found online.
Gratitude Quotes
1. God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” ~William A. War
2. The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer
3. Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern
4. There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed. If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude. ~Robert Braul
5. For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is always Good Ole’ Candy? I mean who doesn’t love that!
Some other ideas!
12 Autumn Recipes (would be a good one if you don’t have little kids at home)
12 Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving Dinner
Go ahead and “rewrite” 12 Days of Christmas … to 12 Days of Thanksgiving…
“On the first day of Thanksgiving, my true love gave to me, a Turkey on a silver tray”…
“two pilgrims hats”
“three french fries” (okay so that might not work, but you get the idea!)
12 silly “jokes” about Thanksgiving… you know “why did the Turkey cross the road?”
A gratitude “project” a day for your family...
1- Today write a letter letting your teachers know how much you appreciate them.
2- Don’t take things for granted, find something today that you can give to someone who needs it more than you.
3-Today, find a way to serve your neighbor.
4-Do something nice, and totally unexpected for another member of your family
5-Write a sincere letter to someone who has had a profound influence in your life.
6- Say “thank you” at least 10 times today.
7- Write 5 Thank You notes today, and MAIL THEM (email does NOT count!)
8- Bake a special treat for someone in your life who you truly appreciate.
9- For one week, in your prayers, only thank God for the blessings in your life, don’t ask for anything.
10- Give someone a HUG!
11- Do a chore today without being asked.
12- Call your parents and tell them how grateful you are for everything they have ever done for you.
Also check out:
Angela @ A Bushel and a Peck listed out activities for the calendar she made last year.
So let me know! What do you think? If you have done something like this before post a link, I’d love to repost them here to share with everyone!
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Fabulous as always!! I LOVE this. I’ll be doing it asap.
And hope you don’t mind if I link to this post!?
Oh, this is ingenious!!! I absolutely love the calendar and all of your ideas. The turkey is too stinkin’ cute. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this. Now I have to make one. Oooo, just think…a Halloween one or even a birthday one. LOL!
Wonderful!
This looks awesome Melissa! You are so creative!
Hi there, I’ve loved all your ideas for the Moda Bake Shop, not to mention on your blog! 🙂 Thanks! 🙂
~Molly
question for you, which is totally random, but do you mind sharing what paint you used in your craft room and your daughters bedroom?
thanks a bunch!
That is a cute calendar!
LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing. I’m linking this post to my blog so I can have all of your great ideas for what to do each day. Thanks.
Ok I just love these ideas, especially the gratitude ones as well as the crafts, what is Thansgiving, what thankful for. I guess i just love them all. I would love for yopu to post your pattern for the pumpkin and turkey. THANK YOU for all you do
This is awesome and much better than trying to fill all 30 days! I love the colors and your little quilited turkey. So cute and all your ideas should be enough to fill that calendar up with something different each year just based on what stage your children are in. I just love it.
I just started cutting out squares for mine today – perfect timing. Thanks for all the ideas.
Great idea for this. I love all the ideas…now to get sewing. Would love the pattern for the turkey. 🙂
Love it! Love it! Love it! Very creative!
I love it! You are so talented to be able to make this up. The colors, turkey, and ways to use the pockets are perfect.
I love all your ideas and projects. You really are so talented (and a hard worker too, because talent often takes years of practice!)
Wishing I could have gone to St. James with you. I LOVE that place and I was one of the crazy ones last year and brought the girls (in a stroller). Thank heavens they were so good!
Miss you!
What a great idea! I’d love to make this!
Beautiful work! Love the “craft a day” idea for inside. I’m so inspired, I’m heading to the fabric store right NOW!
I hope you don’t mind that I shared your great idea with my readers:
http://binspiredmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-advent-calendar-tutorial.html
Happy Holidays!
Very, very cute! I’d love the pattern for the turkey- I want to know how you made the fabric seem so thick. Thanks!
This is a fantastic post. I don’t think I have ever seen a thanksgiving advent calendar. The number of ideas you have listed and the gratitude quotes are just wonderful. Thank you!
Hello! I’ve been reading your web site for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the good work!
Hello!!!
I’m so glad you “delurked” and said Hello! I always wonder who’s out there 🙂
Hello webmaster, do you allow guest posting ?? Please let me
know, i’m interested 🙂