ARP Magazine - Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

Give Thanks!
30 days of Gratitude for the Thanksgiving
month of November!
By Jennifer Jordan and family
Materials:
Wood board (although you can use just about any flat surface you want)
Canvas (any color)
Staple gun
Mod Podge
Glue gun
Glue stick
Variety of coordinating scrapbook paper
Different colored thin ribbons (I used brown, green, yellow and orange)
Light-colored Cardstock for writing your “thankful message” on.
30 Coin Envelopes. Mine were 3 3/8” x 6”.
Hole punch
Directions:
• Get a wood board. Mine is a piece of plywood measuring 24” x 28”. Using a staple
gun, attach the canvas to the piece of plywood.
• Take your 30 coin envelopes and cut them down to 3 3/4” tall. Make sure you cut off
the top part that is already open so you still have the pocket to insert your cards in later.
• Use a glue stick to adhere the scrapbook paper to the front of the envelope. I used a
variety of coordinating papers.
• Lay out your cards on your board. I was able to do five rows of six cards each. I
wanted to arrange them first so I could make sure no two matching papers were right
next to each other.
• I then used my Silhouette to cut out the numbers 1-30, but you could use stickers,
stencils, create a Word Document or go online to find some printable numbers to cut out.
• Use Mod Podge to glue on the numbers to the cards and then Mod Podge over the
entire front of the card to cover your scrapbook paper. It makes the card sturdier and
helps it to last for years to come. Be careful not to glue your envelope shut!
• After your Mod Podge is dry, hole punch two small holes in the top of your envelope.
Just hole punch the scrapbook paper side. Take your ribbon and put it through both
holes and tie a knot.
• Use your glue gun to adhere your envelopes to your board. This is where I tried a
few different glues.....learn from my mistakes....the glue gun worked the best by far!!! I
also recommend that you place the hot glue a little bit away from the edges of the envelope.
This allows your cards to go in and out more easily in a later step.
• Use Mod Podge to adhere your “Give Thanks” (or the phrase of your choosing) to
the top of your board. I used my embroidery machine to create the words. Then, Mod
Podge over the whole phrase.
• Cut out light-colored cardstock to slide into your envelopes. Mine ended up being
two light shades that I cut to 3” by 4 1/2”. Place them inside your envelopes.
Each night in November at dinner time, I am going to pull the cardstock out on the
appropriate day and have each person write or say what they are thankful for that day.
When next year rolls around, I’m going to use the same cardstock and have them write
on the back. For the following years, I’m just going to add some more cardstock in the
envelopes.
Stephen and Jennifer Jordan live in Muscle Shoals, AL. Stephen is currently seeking a call.
Their children are Noah, 12, Elijah, 8, Elizabeth, 6 and Phoebe, 2.
14 THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN