Daydream in ColorThanksgiving Archives

With Thanksgiving approaching and being halfway done with our Month of Thanks, I realized how great it is to reflect on the things I’m thankful for. I know sometimes it’s a dreaded thing at family gatherings to have to say in front of everyone what you are thankful for, so I came up with these little accordion books. What’s great about it is, you can make one for every year or one for every person to record their own and since the covers are loose, you can make yours as thick or thin as you want to accommodate all your extended family.

The template may seem daunting, but it’s a really simple craft. You could even print a stack of templates and have people make their own in their favorite color so you can focus on your turkey. I’ve also included a blank version, so you can make them for party favors for any occasion.

Supplies:

Templates (1 for cover & at least 1 for pages)
Colored or white copy paper
Chipboard/cardboard (for covers)
Printer
Scissors or paper cutter
Scoring tool, optional
Adhesive
Ribbon, optional

Directions:

Click on desired template to open.
Print templates on colored or white copy paper.
Cut out cover templates along solid lines.
Cut out page templates along solid lines. Depending on how many pages you want, you will either cut out or not cut out the extra tab for gluing. For example, if you want 6 pages total, cut out both optional tabs on the template.
Use your cover template to cut two chipboard/cardboard pieces to size. These will be your front and back covers.
Center your chipboard cover on your cover wraps and glue down.
Fold each tab in to wrap around your chipboard cover and glue down. Do this for both the front and back covers.
Fold your pages along dotted line alternating mountain and valley folds like a fan.
Glue the tabs to previous pages if you want more than 3 pages in your book.
Glue the pages to the front inside cover that has a tab. Make sure that the “Front Inside Cover” words are not on the same side as the “I’m Thankful For” words.
Glue “Front Inside Cover” to front chipboard cover. Make sure the front cover is facing the correct way before you glue it down so the pages will unfold with “I’m Thank For” showing as you open the book. Refer to picture as needed.
Glue the pages to the back inside cover with your extra tab. Make sure that the “Cover Template & Back Inside Cover” words are not on the same side as the “I’m Thankful For” words.
If you are using a ribbon closure, glue down ribbon on wrapped back chipboard cover.
Glue down front and back inside covers to chipboard covers.
Fold up your book and tie the ribbon!
Set these little booklets out with pens for your family or friends to fill out.