Thanksgiving Crafts: Branching Out

Sometimes it seems like fall foliage is bright and beautiful one day and gone the next. You can capture the spirit of fall's falling leaves with this quick craft for Thanksgiving -- the colored paper will stay bright and cheery long after all the branches are bare outdoors.

To make your own branch decoration, you will need: a vase, a bare branch, an assortment of colored and patterned papers, scissors and a hot glue gun. Cut your branch down to size for whatever vase you plan to use. If your branch is heavy, you may want to put stones, marbles or some other heavy material into the base of the vase to keep it from toppling.

Trace leaves onto various colors and patterns of paper. (I used red and orange construction paper and one piece of patterned scrapbook paper). Cut out your leaves. Place branch into vase. Let your hot glue gun heat up, then place small dabs of glue at the base of each leaf and attach it to the branch. Follow the branch's natural outcroppings to determine your leaf placement and try to vary the colors as you fill each section of branch. Remove any excess strings of hot glue once it has dried. These fall leaves are sure to bring a bit of autumnal cheer wherever you place them.