printable // giving thanks pumpkin cutouts

Have you ever cut out folded paper dolls? You know the kind I mean, where it looks like they're all holding hands? That's what these little pumpkins are based on. You fold the paper, cut once for each word, open it up and give thanks. Maybe you'll give thanks for your home, family, and good things to eat...or maybe you'll give thanks that you didn't cut yourself while crafting this little decoration.

Hey...whatever works for you!

For a Month of Giving, I like the idea that the two parts of this printable can be switched around. Have your pumpkins say "Giving Thanks" or "Thanksgiving." It's up to you!



Download the PDF here, then print it on nice paper. You can use card stock, but I've found that the paper is easier to work with for folding and cutting. Trim the orange rectangles down like shown so you only need to do one round of folding.



Fold the paper on the dotted lines. A good way to do this is to fold it in half with the print facing out. Then, fold the center crease over to meet the next fold line, and then fold the end back. Repeat this at the other side.

But really, the idea here is to zig zag the folds, and only fold on the dotted lines. That's important.



When it's all folded, it should look like this from the edge. The creases shouldn't come all the way to the ends that don't fold. Again...that's important!



Cut the pumpkin shape that shows on the first letter of each word. I did my cutting just inside the white line so that it doesn't show, but don't cut too far in or you may cut some vital folds!



Now you've got two little ziggy zaggy pumpkins. Ready to open them up?




Not only are they a fun little chain with a great reminder, but they also stand up!



These words of thanks are perfect on a mantle, in front of books on a shelf, or even on your table! The point is to give thanks. Because no matter what is going on in our lives and all around us, we are so blessed.

Speaking of things going on around us, Natalie of Kits 'n' Bits is donating 25% of her profits to the Red Cross to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan. It's a wonderful way to help and get some Christmas shopping done!