thankful jar

Last year we showed you how to make a grateful book for the Thanksgiving season, and this year we've created a similar project with the same feeling. I love giving family members a chance to write down their blessings--it helps us to remember how blessed we really are. This Thankful Jar is perfect for recording what each person is grateful for this year, and after Thanksgiving you have the start of a great Christmas garland to remind you of those blessings all season long!


Note: I used papers and rub-ons from Pink Paisley's Amber Road collection, which I think is beautiful and versatile. It looks like autumn, but it easily transitions into Christmas and winter.

Thankful Jar Tutorial

Supplies:
*Glass apothecary jar (we found ours on clearance at Ben Franklin for $2!)
*Rub-ons (we used the "Thankful" piece from Pink Paisley's Amber Road collection)
*Rub-on applicator or Popsicle stick
*Double-sided patterned papers cut into 1/2" by 6" strips
*Piece of patterned paper cut to fit part of the inside of the jar
*Length of ribbon to tie around jar
*Glue Dots
*Mini attacher or stapler (we love the one by Tim Holtz)
*Pen or marker

1. Be sure your glass jar is clean and free from dust and then adhere your rub-on. (Stacy mentioned she didn't know how to use rub-ons, so I've added a tutorial within the tutorial for you first-timers!) Cut the portion you want from the rub-on from sheet and remove paper backing. Place where you want it on the glass and lightly press it down with your fingers. Use your rub-on tool (mine is by EK Success) or a Popsicle stick to rub all over the image until it is completely transferred. If part of the rub-on doesn't transfer, just put it back down in the right spot and rub again until it does. Easy-peasy!




Here's what my finished rub-on looks like up close:


2. Cut a strip of one of your papers about 3" wide and long enough to fit all the way around the inside of the jar. I used Glue Dots to stick it to the inside of the jar. If you position them right, you won't see the Glue Dots because the ribbon will cover them up.


3. Tie a coordinating ribbon to the outside of the jar just above the rub-on, being sure to cover up your Glue Dots.


4. Cut your patterned paper into 1/2" x 6" strips. We used various patterns just to make it look cute in the jar.


That's it for the jar! Now leave the strips of paper next to the jar with a pen so your family, friends, and guests can write their blessings on a strip and put it in the jar. I plan on reading the strips out loud at the Thanksgiving dinner table. But don't throw them away when you're done!


We took our strips and made them into rings, using a mini attacher (aka cute little stapler) to create a chain.




This creates a meaningful garland to remind your family of all their blessings during the rush of the Christmas season. Hang it on your tree, across your mantle, from a light fixture, or anywhere else it will be enjoyed.




Another idea is to create a scrapbook layout using the strips as the background. Just adhere them close together on a sheet of card stock and you have a sweet homemade patterned paper for your Thanksgiving photos. Sorry, no picture of that yet!