Paddington Bear is one of our favorite story characters. I remember reading the stories when I was younger, and my kids have loved to read them, too.

Of course Paddington is lovable, but one of our favorite qualities he shows is looking on the bright side of things, and being genuinely grateful for everyday things — things we might take for granted.

What better quality than gratefulness to focus on as a family in the new year?

So I created a Paddington-inspired foldable paper suitcase and notes that fit inside. You can use these with your family! Here’s how it works:

You might choose to print and fold a suitcase for each family member – or just one for the whole family! Then, in a family meeting you can explain that each family member should write at least one note a week — or a day — or whatever you choose — to each other member of the family expressing something they’re grateful for.

Of course, we haven’t seen the movie yet, but we recently re-read the Paddington stories from The Paddington Treasury, and knew this would be a great family project.

Here’s how to make them:

(Top row:) Download and print the printables (below) on cardstock. Cut as many notes as you need – they’re the easy part!

(Middle row:) For each suitcase, follow these steps. Cut the suitcase out of the sheet of cardstock and cut along the dotted lines (middle picture). Fold along one of the bottom lines – easier once you’ve cut the dotted lines to make a straight fold.

(Bottom row:) Fold along the next bottom line and then along the fold at the top of the suitcase. Then fold both sides that are perpendicular to the folds you just made, as shown in the bottom right picture.

(Top row:) As shown in the top left photo, it works best if the small piece on the bottom is innermost, the handle side next and then the “back” side. Put some glue or double-sided tape on the inside large flap, both sides, and push together.

(Middle row:) To make this fold easy, cut a bit diagonally off of each side on the two remaining top flaps. Place double-sticky tape on the flaps, stick inside and adhere.

(Bottom row:) Now just write your notes and slip them inside! I made the slot big enough to allow easy removal of the notes as well.

And here are the printables!

Just right-click on this link or on one of the images below and choose “save link as” to download the printable PDF.

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 Excited for the Paddington movie? We are!

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