How to Make Thanksgiving Placemats

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Family members will come from near and far to celebrate together. Each will bring something to the table to make this holiday even more memorable than the one before.

Your family's task is to create place-mats each guest will take home as a memento of this wonderful time together.

Here are a couple of placemats ideas to get you started.

For all placemats you will need:

1. Enough red, yellow, orange, and brown construction paper to create a place-mat for each family member
2. Clear plastic adhesive paper to laminate the place-mats (or you can have them laminated professionally)
3. Scissors, glue or tape, markers or pens

For each placemat, use calligraphy, stencils, or simple handwriting to write the name of the individual either on the center top of the mat or on the bottom right of it.

Now to the placemats!

Personalized Placemats

You will need:
1. Pictures of the family members; find them in your photo collection, or any on-line networking site (such as Facebook, MySpace, or personal blog pages) they are members of
2. Quotes or personal stories from each family member

Secure the picture(s) on the paper with glue or tape, either straight or at an angle, on the left or the right side of the paper. On the opposite side, record either a quote from this family member or a moment in his life; however, you will need to make sure that it is not offensive to him; many times what we find funny, the family member would rather forget!

Add a personal note, such as why you are grateful he is part of your family, or you are grateful for something he has done for you.

When you are done and are happy with the result, set aside and start on a new one.

Scripture Placemats

You will need:
1. Your sacred book(s) to locate scriptures of thanksgiving
2. Memo notes (sticky notes or actual memo ones)

Locate as many scriptures as you can on being thankful and thanksgiving.

Copy each scripture on a sticky note or a memo note; don't forget to record the book, chapter, and verse of that scripture.

On each mat, add the note on either the left or right side and, on the other, write your personal comment about that scripture; then add a thanksgiving thought about that particular family member.

When you are done, move on to the next one.

Thankful Turkeys Placemats

You will need:
1. Finger paint
2. Turkey cutouts

You can follow the complete directions of the turkey cutouts for your turkey, or you can just follow the directions for its body.

If you follow the complete instructions of the cutouts, assemble the turkey as directed, then on some of the fingers write one thing you are thankful for; don't forget to include why you are thankful for that particular family member.

If you choose to just use the instructions for the body, you will need to create the feathers with the finger paint. Color your hands, or your child's hands, and leave the two imprints on the paper. Make sure that the thumb on both hands will be on the outer part of the print.

Once the paint is dry, attach the body and complete it with eyes, beak, and wattle.

Write on the fingers things you are thankful for, including why you are thankful for the family member whose name is on the mat.

If you choose to use finger paint, you may want to create feathers for all place-mats first; this way, by the time you are done printing, the first ones will be ready to complete.

With any of the above ideas, you can be as creative as your imagination lets you be.

If you like scrapbooking, you may want to create the placemats as if you were creating a scrapbook page by using backs for the pictures, notes, quotes, etc. You just need to make sure that the placemat's surface will not be bulky, when completed, or items placed on it at dinner time will be unstable.

After all placemats are completed, laminate them on both sides with the clear contact paper. If you prefer, you can have them laminated professionally.

The good thing about being in charge of place-mats is that if, for some reason, some family members will not make it to the dinner, you can mail the place-mats to them and they will still feel part of the celebration.