gratitude memory jar

One of the top challenges parents face
in getting crafty with kids is over-thinking it.
We might want everything to be perfect.
And there can be sssooo many supplies,
it's hard to get going. 
Art with kids can be wild
- in creativity, which asweome
but also in way over the top mess if we're not careful.

One of my core sayings for 2016 is "just do it."
So let's do this art with kids thing 2016.

For 3 years, I've seen people online talking about creating a yearly memory jar around New Years.
There is something so sweet emptying the contents of this jar on New Year's Eve.
Of taking the time to bring awareness to our favorite golden bits of life throughout a year.
Or maybe when we need a little pick-me-up, pulling a memory from the jar.

Finally, this year we did it: we made our very own gratitude memory jar.

Another theme for me in 2016 is "break it down into small steps."
Sometimes I want to push through with projects.
But for young children,
five minutes of blissful focus can be the best way to go.
in that case,
you can do this activity over the course of 
If your family is the focused type,
you have older children,
or you'd rather make a gratitude memory jar in 1 day

So on Day 1 (Sept 1 if you're doing this activity in one day):
We got a pickle jar and wrapped some beautiful metallic paper my mom picked up on one of her last trip's to Oregon.

Day 2, we painted paper for the labels and to write our memories on. If you want to keep it simple. use post-its.
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Day 3: We cut up the painted paper into small pieces to fit in the jar. We also cut up some old drawings-- which made me so happy as what does one do with all the kid art? This was a great way to give it sweet new life and purpose.

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We then added our first memory.
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Voila!
Our gratitude memory jar to capture our happy moments we're thankful for throughout 2016.

Have a wonderful beginning to 2017,
and here's to lots of crafting with kids
+
breaking things down into small steps
in the year ahead!