The World Wide Web is chock full of no-cost Thanksgiving images that have a variety of fun uses. They can be used to impart a traditional Thanksgiving feel on websites or blogs, or can be pressed into service for those old-time favorites: Thanksgiving crafts. For example, making craft projects out of free digital antique Thanksgiving cards are easy-as-pie, because vintage images are both versatile and very effective at getting a point across. These pictures also usually cost nothing to download and their use doesn’t have any repercussions because their age puts them beyond copyright protection.
Just a simple Web search using the search term “vintage Thanksgiving cards” will give you a huge number of free vintage images from which many craft projects can be made. And if you’re not a fan of vintage, contemporary Thanksgiving art or fall clip art can also be used to produce beautiful craft projects.
Here are three examples of crafts kids and teens can make using free art found on the Internet:
* We’re so Thankful Garlands *
Making “thankful” garlands can be as uncomplicated as having guests or family members write their blessings on leaves cut from construction paper. Then, download and print an assortment of vintage Thanksgiving cards and using miniature clothespins, fasten the vintage cards and the leaves, alternating them onto a long piece of ribbon or yarn. In the absence of clothespins, you can use paper clips, colorful clamps you can get at the office supply store or tape to hold everything in place. Another option to consider would be to alternate Thanksgiving clip art with the leaves, instead of using the vintage cards. Once finished, drape the garland over a windowsill or a mantelpiece to show off everyone’s good work!
* Handmade Thanksgiving Greeting Cards *
When you’ve downloaded the Thanksgiving image you’d like to use, paste it into a word processing or PowerPoint document. You can make the card virtually whatever size you want using the software’s settings. Place the image on one half of the card, so it can be folded in half after it’s printed. Print the card on card stock as heavy as your printer will allow, fold it and and apply just a little glitter glue to make it sparkle. You might also want to make your own envelopes or just buy two-for-a-dollar card and envelope sets at the dollar store and then throw away the cards.
* Thanksgiving Place Cards *
The Thanksgiving dinner table is much prettier when you use table place cards. Fortunately, you can make them easily with free clip art images or vintage cards. Simply download the the image or images you like and insert them into a table in your word processing or other type of program. Make the table two columns by six or eight rows, depending on how tall you want the cards to be. Place your chosen art into every other cell, leaving room to write people’s names. Then, print onto heavy card stock, cut the place cards using a paper cutter or a ruler and craft knife and just fold them in half. Voila! That’s it. Your Thanksgiving table will be instantly more beautiful.
I hope your family has a great time making these Thanksgiving craft projects and that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!