Annual Gratitude Layout

I love November and the lead up to Thanksgiving. Not only are we shifting into the holiday season, but I love seeing the increased social media posts on gratitude. The past couple of years I’ve seen daily gratitude posts from November 1st through Thanksgiving where people will state something they are thankful for every day. The older I get the more I recognize the power of gratitude.

Since 2019 I have been journaling every morning five things that I am grateful for. As I look back over my entries, I recognize how bountiful my blessings have been. This has been a powerful exercise that has me looking for the good in everyday - even when the days have been downright hard.

While gratitude doesn’t change my circumstances, it changes my attitude. And attitude is everything. I love the powerful reminder of “There is always something to be grateful for.”

As a way to focus my kids on gratitude, I was inspired to create a scrapbook layout where everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving with me would write down something for which they were grateful. The first year I had to be a pest and literally hand family members the pen and stand there until they signed the layout, but I did not let people leave until they put something down. Although I still have to give a friendly reminder, my kids and extended family now know the drill.

I love this tradition so much and wish I had started sooner. I absolutely love seeing what the kids write. Sometimes my husband has even surprised me with some of the thoughtful things he has written. And my brothers usually make me laugh or roll my eyes with their entries.

There are no pictures on this layout, but it is so precious to me. It focuses our perspective on the things that matter and also preserves the handwriting of my family members - something that is rare in our digital age. It is a simple, yet wonderful holiday tradition.

Scrapbooking Tips

In all honesty, these layouts are some of the easiest layouts I make all year.

The first year I was inspired with an Allison Davis sketch. She had a hexagon border around her layout and focused her design within the center of the hexagon. I simply did a border and had people sign inside.

Every year I have created my page with a cut file from the Silhouette Design Store. I find a fall looking design and create my title. With this particular design I added Nuvo drops to dress up the look.

These layouts can be as simple or as complicated as you would like to be. The design isn't the most important element - it's the attitude of gratitude it helps create.

Supplies used:

Thanksgiving

Cardstock: Bazzill and The Stamps of Life

Silhouette Cut Files:

Pumpkin Hexagon wreath by Lilium Pixel SVG - Silhouette Design ID 303999

Thanksgiving Phrase by Sarah Bailey - Silhouette Design ID 335032

Thanksgiving 2022

Cardstock - Bazzill & The Stamps of Life

Silhouette Cut Files

Pumpkin with Leaves by Lilium Pixel SVG - Design ID 423536

Nuvo Vintage Drops - Chocolate Chip