Hello, friends! With Veterans Day just around the corner, my heart always turns to finding meaningful ways to show our gratitude as a family. It’s so important to teach our little ones about the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes. 🇺🇸
That’s why this year, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of just one craft, I’ve put together a special “7-Day Family Décor Challenge” to help us fill our homes with patriotism and thanks. ❤️
These projects are simple, fun, and designed to bring your family together to create something beautiful that honors our veterans. Are you ready to join me and turn your appreciation into action? ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: Challenge #4: The Handprint American Flag Banner
- Most Unique: Challenge #3: The “Field of Poppies” Porch Planter
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: Challenge #1: The “Welcome Our Heroes” Front Door Wreath
Curb Appeal & First Impressions
Challenge #1: The “Welcome Our Heroes” Front Door Wreath 🇺🇸
I just love starting with a project like this! A beautiful wreath on the front door is the first thing guests and neighbors will see, and it makes such a powerful and welcoming statement of support for our veterans. It’s a wonderful way to kick off our week of gratitude.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~45 mins
Best For: Kicking off your family challenge with a beautiful first impression.
Key Materials:
- Foam or grapevine wreath form
- Red, white, and blue ribbon (various textures)
- Small wooden stars
- Hot glue gun
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that using a multi-pack of assorted patriotic ribbons really elevates this project. It gives you different textures and shades to create a wreath that looks full and professionally made.
Image-1: A smiling mom and child hanging the finished, vibrant wreath on a dark-colored front door.
Challenge #2: The Patriotic Window Star Garland 🇺🇸
This is such a sweet and simple craft that looks absolutely lovely. My kids and I made these last year, and they had so much fun tracing the stars. It’s a decoration that brings a little patriotic sparkle to your home, both inside and out!
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: A quick and impactful craft that’s perfect for little hands.
Key Materials:
- Red, white, and blue cardstock or construction paper
- Twine or string
- Star-shaped cookie cutter (for tracing) or stencil
- Hole punch
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a set of star-shaped craft paper punches makes this project go so much faster and gives you perfectly uniform stars every single time.
Image-2: A close-up shot of the paper stars hanging in a window, with the outdoor light softly filtering through.
Challenge #3: The “Field of Poppies” Porch Planter 🇺🇸
This project is so special because it opens the door for a wonderful conversation. Creating these beautiful poppies gives us a chance to talk with our children about why this flower is such an important symbol of remembrance for our heroes. It’s a craft with a beautiful story behind it.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~1 hour
Best For: Creating a meaningful decoration that teaches an important lesson.
Key Materials:
- Red craft felt or crepe paper
- Green pipe cleaners (for stems)
- Small black buttons or pom-poms
- A flower pot filled with floral foam or sand
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I recommend getting a variety pack of red crepe paper rolls for this. The texture is perfect for creating delicate, realistic-looking poppy petals.
Image-3: A child carefully placing a finished red poppy into the pot on the front steps.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Indoor Displays of Gratitude
Challenge #4: The Handprint American Flag Banner 🇺🇸
Oh, this one is a treasure! Using your children’s little hands to create the stripes of our flag results in a piece of art you will keep forever. My son and I made one years ago, and I still get a little teary-eyed when I unwrap it each November and see how small his handprint was.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins (plus drying time)
Best For: Creating a heartfelt keepsake that captures a moment in time.
Key Materials:
- Large white canvas or poster board
- Red and blue non-toxic, washable paint
- Paintbrushes
- Star stickers
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: For a project like this with little ones, you absolutely want a set of Crayola washable kids’ paint. It makes cleanup stress-free!
Image-4: Action shot of a child’s red-painted hand being pressed onto the canvas by their mom.
Challenge #5: The Red, White & Blue Mason Jar Centerpiece 🇺🇸
I love a craft that is both fun to make and beautiful enough to be the centerpiece on our family table. These painted mason jars are so charming and versatile. For a quicker version when you’re short on time, you can skip the paint and fill the jars with layers of red, white, and blue sand or even candy!
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~40 mins (plus drying time)
Best For: A rustic and charming decoration for your dining table or mantel.
Key Materials:
- Three mason jars
- Red, white, and blue acrylic or chalk paint
- Twine or ribbon
- White flowers (carnations, baby’s breath)
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Starting with a fresh 12-pack of Ball Mason Jars is perfect. They are a blank canvas for so many wonderful craft projects throughout the year.
Image-5: The three finished jars lined up on a rustic wooden table, filled with white flowers.
Challenge #6: The “Wall of Heroes” Photo Display 🇺🇸
This is easily the most meaningful challenge of the week. Taking time to create a special place to honor the veterans in your own family is incredibly powerful. It sparks the most amazing conversations about family history, courage, and service. This is what it’s all about.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: A deeply personal and meaningful way to honor your family’s history.
Key Materials:
- Printed photos of veteran family/friends
- String and clothespins
- Blue and red construction paper
- A sign that reads “Our Family’s Heroes”
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A set of miniature wooden clothespins is perfect for this project. They have a sweet, rustic look and are the perfect size for hanging photos and small paper decorations.
Image-6: A tastefully arranged mantelpiece featuring framed photos, a small flag, and a child’s paper chain garland draped across it.
Challenge #7: The Gratitude Chalkboard Message 🇺🇸
For our final challenge, we bring it all together with a simple message of thanks. This is a wonderful, living piece of décor that your family can add to all day long on November 11th. It’s a beautiful way to focus our hearts on gratitude and share what we’re thankful for.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~15 mins
Best For: A collaborative family activity to express gratitude in your own words.
Key Materials:
- Small chalkboard or whiteboard
- Red, white, and blue chalk or dry-erase markers
- Eraser
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A rustic tabletop chalkboard sign is perfect for this because you can place it anywhere—in the kitchen, the entryway, or on the living room mantel.
Image-7: The finished chalkboard, with colorful messages and drawings, leaning against a wall in the kitchen or entryway.
Quick Tips for a Successful Family Challenge
- Prep Your Station: Before starting each challenge, gather all your materials in one spot. A plastic tablecloth makes cleanup a breeze!
- Share Your Progress: Post a photo of your finished project each day! Use the hashtag #VeteransDayFamilyDecor to see what other families are creating.
- Assign a “Director”: Let your child be the “Art Director” for one of the challenges. Giving them ownership makes it even more fun and boosts their confidence.
- Talk About the “Why”: Use this time to have age-appropriate conversations about what Veterans Day means and why we are taking the time to create these decorations of gratitude.
- It’s About Fun, Not Perfection: The goal is to spend quality time together and show respect. Don’t worry if the stars are crooked or the paint is smudged—that’s part of the memory!
Symbolism Explained
Why Red, White, and Blue?
Ever wonder what the colors of our flag mean? The red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white stands for purity and innocence, and the blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Using these colors in your decorations is a wonderful way to honor the values our veterans have fought to protect.
I hope this 7-day challenge brings your family closer together and fills your home with beautiful reminders of gratitude. Taking the time to create something with our hands is such a powerful way to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. It’s about making memories while we remember our heroes.
Thank you for joining me in this challenge. Now I’d love to know, which project are you and your family most excited to try first? Let me know in the comments below
