When November’s cool temperatures and colorful leaves arrive melancholy sets in. You see November celebrations – my birthday, my late husband’s birthday, our anniversary AND Thanksgiving are all crammed into this month…with Hanukkah and Christmas just around the corner. It can be a lot to handle. In the past two years I have discovered ways to ‘make’ my grief tolerable.
This post will be the first in a series called, Crafting Your Grief, where I will share with you hands on ways to express your grief, create new traditions, or memorialize a loved one.
Red Cardinal Memory Ornament
Supplies Needed:
- Small plastic terrarium ornament
- White modeling clay
- Red cardinal
- Bottlebrush pine tree
- Ribbon or twine/Red bow with bell
- Feather, white or red (optional)
Instructions:
- Using your fingers, spread the modeling clay into the bottom of the ornament. Insert tree and cardinal. Push each into the modeling clay and mold the clay around each item. Adding a feather is optional.
- Attach the holiday bow and bell onto the the ornament using a glue gun or glue dot. Just a dot of glue on the outside top of the ornament should hold bow/bell in place. Let the bells hang over the ornament for decorative effect and to allow them to chime.
- Let the glue and modeling clay dry. Your ornament is ready to hang.
- Optional: If you have a Cricut machine, create a name/date sticker to attach to the back of the ornament. Or use a black sharpie, to write name/dates. I left mine blank.

Symbolism
Red Cardinal

Feathers

White feathers are a sign that the angels are with you right now. It signifies comfort, peace, purity, and protection. What Does a Feather Symbolize?
“Feathers appear when angels are near.”
Bell

Watching It’s a Wonderful Life was an annual family tradition. I had to add a bell to my ornament!