30 Days of Gratitude

Can you believe November will be here in just a few short days? As life gears up for the mad holiday rush that is December, I like to spend the month of November focused on gratitude, giving thanks for all that I have. Although the holiday of Thanksgiving is an American one, the need for giving thanks is universal.

Last year I committed to a month-long project to post five things on Facebook every day that I was thankful for. It was a wonderful exercise to focus my thoughts and attitudes on what I have, instead of complaining about what I don’t.

This year I decided to take that project one step further and document it in a tangible way in a little mini-album. And, of course, invite you all to join me! I found so many ideas online to record and document a gratitude project – whether you want to keep it simple and just post a few things online every day, follow a photo challenge, jot down things you’re thankful for in a journal, or create a full-out album, jar, board, garland, or another project, I hope you will take some time this month to remember and reflect on your blessings!

Here’s a few ideas to jumpstart your creativity, along with some digital products I thought would work well with these projects, including word art, elements, and more.

Gratitude Album/Notebook

Creating an album or notebook to record what you’re grateful for can be as simple as a plain composition or spiral notebook, or as involved as a complete digital or hybrid album – or anything in between! If you prefer the guided experience, Crystal Wilkerson hosted a 30 day challenge on her blog last November, and the complete set of quotes and journaling challenges are available in her shop. I believe she will be starting a new project on November 1st, as well.

This 30 Days of Gratitude post on the Write Shop blog includes some excellent ideas for a simple gratitude journal, including involving your kids. The S.I.P. Project blog shares a tutorial on how to customize a composition book for a gratitude journal – this would be so fun to do with printed-out digi paper/supplies!

Thankful Jar

I found this lovely project on the Young House Love blog. You could use any jar or container, obviously, and I’m thinking that some digi supplies printed out would make for pretty snazzy “I’m Thankful For…” cards (see the end of this post for ideas).

Gratitude Tree

This is a particularly fun one to do with children. It can be an actual (well, miniature) potted tree, a fake tree, or a paper tree on the wall. Every day, have each member of the family write something they’re thankful for on a leaf and add it to the tree. By the end of the month, your tree will be lush and full of thankfulness!

Gratitude Board

I found this beautiful tutorial for a Gratitude Board and instantly thought it would be perfectly suited to a hybrid project. You could design and decorate your own numbered squares in Photoshop.

Photo Challenge

If photography is more your speed, try setting up your own “30 Days of Gratitude Photography challenge” – find something you’re thankful for every day in November and take a picture of it. To give you a few ideas, check out this challenge list posted at Positively Present last year.

Thankfulness-Themed Digital Scrapbooking Products

Whether you print them for a hybrid journal or project, or scrap a page about what you’re grateful for this month, here’s a selection of digi supplies with this “30 Days of Gratitude” theme in mind.

I hope you’ll join me in November to purposefully remember the many blessings we so often take for granted. If you do, I would love to hear about your project! Feel free to tell us about it or link to your blog post in the comments.