4 Fun Thanksgiving Card Ideas to Show Your Gratitude

Get your pumpkin embellishments out because the fourth Thursday of November is coming, and we know what that means - Thanksgiving Day 2022! This year, it will be celebrated on November 24, a fun time to come together with family and friends to be grateful for all we have. 

Why not show your thankfulness this 2022 by sending out fun Thanksgiving cards? After all, sending warm wishes on this memorable holiday is best expressed in a beautifully handmade card! 

Thanksgiving Card Messages and Ideas

In this blog post, we'll talk about how you can celebrate Thanksgiving Day by learning more about the holiday, why we celebrate Thanksgiving, and why we do it every fourth Thursday of November. We'll also share some Thanksgiving card ideas that are easy to make and will let your loved ones know how much you appreciate them. So get ready to start crafting, and happy Thanksgiving! 

What Is Thanksgiving Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. It is a day of Thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year. The holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and the second Monday of October in Canada. 

The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first successful autumn harvest in October 1621. They invited the Wampanoag Indians to join them for a three-day feast, thankful for their colony's bountiful harvest. Thanksgiving is still considered a time to give thanks for our blessings, but it is now primarily recognized as a time for family, friends, and feasting!

Sparkle & Shine Crisp Dye Ink Release Bundle 

Why Do We Celebrate Thanksgiving on the Fourth Thursday?

The official date of Thanksgiving went through many revisions from president to president. First, Abraham Lincoln designated a Thanksgiving holiday on the last Thursday of the month in 1863. Then, after him, President Andrew changed it to the first Thursday of the month in 1865. Still undecided, the next President, Ulysses S. Grant, declared Thanksgiving on the third Thursday in November 1869.

After that, the official celebration of Thanksgiving Day went through more revisions until finally, Franklin Roosevelt signed a proclamation that the holiday's final and irrevocable date was on the fourth Thursday of November. Whew, that was a long ride! So remember, we have the late President Roosevelt to thank for finally giving us a permanent date for this special holiday. 

What influenced him to make this decision was the request of the National Retail Dry Goods Association and other merchants to prolong the holiday season so customers could have a longer period to shop for gifts. 

How Do We Celebrate Thanksgiving Day 2022? 

There are many traditions associated with Thanksgiving Day. Most people watch the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, while some use the time to watch good ol' football. Most people also enjoy a hearty meal with their families, with turkey as the main course (make sure to break a wishbone for good luck). 

Antique Gold Pigment Ink

Additionally, since Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, some people choose paper crafting, card making, and other creative endeavors to send their gratitude to loved ones and friends. So in line with celebrating this year's Thanksgiving Day, why not try your hand at some fun, handmade cards? They will surely be a treat for you to make and for your loved ones to receive! 

4 Fun and Easy Thanksgiving Day Card Ideas

1. Make a Gorgeous Fall Card With an Embossed Copper Image

You wouldn’t believe it at first glance, but this card is easy to make! For this stunning Thanksgiving card, simply emboss the frame from the Autumn Bounty Stamp Set onto vellum paper with copper ink. Then, stamp the sentiment inside the frame. 

Autumn Bounty Stamp Set

Then, stamp the pumpkin images on some light-colored paper pack to contrast the dark color of the copper ink. Finally, add some glitter and sequins as accents - you'll have the perfect fall card! 

2. Use a Festive Leaf Image as the Focal Point of Your Card

This card is simple to make, but it gives a great, clean look! 

• Simply choose a seasonal leaf image to stamp and die cut. 
• Then, emboss the image with Antique Gold Embossing Powder and color it with vibrant alcohol markers.
• Attach some glitter cardstock as your card's base, then add square-sized layers of white cardstock. Each successive layer must be smaller than the previous square to give it dimension. 
• Stamp the sentiment on one of the white cardstock layers.
• Finally, prop up the seasonal leaf image in the center of the layers with Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

With Gratitude Stamp Set

3. Get an Autumn-Colored Background With Alcohol Inks

Get a distinct inky look on your Thanksgiving Day cards with alcohol inks! For the background, splatter a few drops of alcohol inks with complementary autumn colors (brown, orange, red, or yellow) on some Yupo paper. 

Alcohol Ink Bundle (24 Colors)

Then attach it to your card base, and use it as a background for your leafy die cuts!

4. Amp Up Your Thanksgiving Cards With Beautiful Stencil Patterns

Happy Pomegranates Stamp & Die Bundle

For this bold and unique Thanksgiving card, replicate the following techniques by Emily: 

• First, emboss images from the Happy Pomegranates Stamp & Die Bundle on watercolor paper pads, and die cut them. 
• Next, use the Winter Wonderland Watercolor Brush Markers to add lush and vibrant red colors to the pomegranate images.
• For the card base, use the Buffalo Plaid Builder Stencil to color on some red cardstock. Make sure that the color you use to make the patterns is a darker shade of red for a tone-on-tone texture.
• After making your background, arrange and attach the die cuts and raise them with Instant Dimension Foam Tape.
• Finally, heat-emboss a sentiment and adhere it to a sentiment strip that coordinates with the color of your red background. 

Of course, you can do this technique with other stencils and products, but make sure to follow the key steps to achieve the same type of design. 

Celebrate Thanksgiving Day With These Cardmaking Tips!

3 Unique Crafting Projects to Celebrate Thanksgiving This Year

Thanksgiving is a time that reminds us to celebrate all the good things in life. After all, the happiest hearts are the most grateful ones. Today, we’ve shared some fun and easy Thanksgiving card ideas that will let you show your loved ones how grateful you are for them, so have fun and tag us in your holiday creations! If you’re feeling stuck on what to write in your Thanksgiving cards, why not browse through our collection of Thanksgiving Greetings and Messages?

If you want more tips on paper crafting and cardmaking, be sure to check out our All About Crafting blog at Altenew! You’ll find tons of inspiration and tutorials for making beautiful cards and crafts that are perfect for every holiday. 

Thanks for celebrating Thanksgiving with us – we hope you have a wonderful time!