Take An Art Break

I am Grateful for…

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…
it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
– Melody Beattie

November is a time of harvest, a time to reflect on the past year and bring in gratitude for the things you appreciate and cherish. 

cat by the window sitting under a grateful mobile art piece

This Take an Art Break Idea intends to harvest gratitude. I thought it would be cool to practice gratitude for the mundane things in our life, so this art break uses items from around the house that you use almost every day. This is a fun, simple, and powerful art break to do with everyone in your house.

Art Break Supplies:

Dental Floss
Scissors
Post it Notes
Hanger
Pastels/Paint/ Crayons
Marker

hanger with post its and oil pastels

Art Break Directions:

1. Write down things you are grateful for on the post it notes.
2. Feel free to draw pictures of what you are thankful for as well.
3. Take scissors and poke a hole at the top of the paper.
4. Cut dental floss at different lengths for each post it note created.
5. Thread the dental floss through the hole and tie it to the hanger.
6. Hang your grateful art mobile somewhere prominent
7. Keep it there for at least a month to help you remember all that you have to be thankful for.
8. Feel free to add to it whenever you think of something new to be grateful for!

hanger with pieces of paper with notes of gratitude hanging in a doorway

This art break can also be done with wire that can be bent into any shape. Feel free to just stick the post it notes to your wall or window and let the world know what you are grateful for. Mirrors also make a great canvas for grateful notes and drawings! You could also make it a collaborative art work at your next get together. Have everyone jot down or draw what they are grateful for and hang it up together. Last, but not least, make a gratitude wishing tree. In Japan they call it Tanabata (read more here).