6 Thanksgiving Crafts for You and Your Kids That Won't Break the Bank or Your Sanity

November 13, 2018

When fall time rolls around and the holiday season is before you, it's the ideal time for doing hands-on activities with your kids. Not only do arts and crafts keep your little ones busy, but it's the perfect opportunity to let out some creativity, make gifts for family members, or create some lovely decor for the home. Here are 6 simple Thanksgiving crafts to do with your little ones that will brighten their day, without putting a dent in your wallet.

1. Turkey Glove Puppet

This craft is festive, fun, and functional since your little ones can wear these cute gloves in the chilly, Thanksgiving-day air. Supplies you'll need include the following:

• A pair of simple gloves
• Colored pieces of felt (yellow, red, orange, brown, green, etc.)
• Glue and scissors

Here's how to make the glove puppet:

1. Cut out feather shapes in your colored felt. You will need 4 feathers for each finger.
2. For the glove's thumb, you will need to cut out a felt beak (orange), turkey wattle (red), and a little eye.
3. Use the glue to attach the feathers to each one of the fingers and then attach the pieces to the thumb for the paste.
4. Allow to dry completely and it is ready to be worn.

2. Painted Pinecones

Pumpkins aren't just for Halloween and this cute craft makes an ideal centerpiece for your Thanksgiving holiday. All you need for this project is:

• Pinecones (either found outside or store-bought)
• Finger paint, glitter, and/or glue

To complete this easy and personalized craft,

1. Use a toothbrush or other bristled-brush to clean off any debris or dirt from pinecones.
2. Set up paint, glitter, and any other tools to make them easily accessible to the kids.
3. Give your kids paint brushes and free reign to color the pinecones as they choose.
4. Allow the pinecones to dry completely and use as a bright table display or centerpiece!

3. Turkey Napkin Rings

Looking for something that your kids can contribute to the Thanksgiving festivities? These napkin rings can be easily made on a budget and added to the table for a formal but fun accessory. For this craft, you'll need:

• Brown felt (for the turkey's body)
• Red felt (for turkey's wattle)
• Googly eyes
• Ribbon: different colors and sizes
• Glue and scissors

To make these easy napkins, follow these steps:

1. Cut napkin ring pieces in the brown felt, roughly 5 x 2 inches.
2. Gently roll together the ends to make a ring and glue together.
3. Then cut out a smaller, brown piece for the turkey (the turkey's body) and set aside.
4. Cut your ribbon in random sizes and fold them in half. Attach these pieces to the back of your turkey piece with glue. These will act as the turkey's feathers.
5. Use your eyes and red felt piece to create the turkey's face. When your felt turkey is done, simply glue it to the napkin ring and allow it to dry completely.

4. Leaf Sun Catchers

Your kids will love hanging this crafts up in the window after they're done and you'll enjoy how easy they are to make. To make your own festive sun catchers, you simply need the following:

• Colored tissue paper (orange, red, and yellow)
• Glue
• Wax paper

To help your kids make their own leaf sun catchers,

1. Lay out a large piece of wax paper.
2. Get the tissue paper and let your little ones tear them into little pieces.
3. Using small bits of glue, let your kids get messy and attach the colored bits of tissue onto the wax paper.
4. Ensure your wax paper is covered with the tissue and there is no space missing.
5. After the tissue and glue have dried, you and your little ones can cut the results into leaf shapes.
6. Hang your leaves on a window or door that lets the sunshine in and enjoy the colors that shine through!

5. Turkey Pudding Cups

Do your little ones love crafts and snacks? This craft lets kids transform their favorite pudding snack into a cute, fun, festive character. All you need to accomplish this project is

• Pudding cups (and flavor/type)
• Red, yellow, and green pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes
• Orange construction paper
• Glue and scissors

In just a few minutes, you'll have a cute and edible craft. Create these turkey pudding cups by completing these steps:

1. Use your orange construction paper to cut out a triangle for the turkey's beak.
2. Bend your colored pipe cleaners in half, so they have the appearance of a feather.
3. Use the glue to attach your pipe cleaners to one side of the cup (this will be the back of the turkey).
4. On the other side of the pudding cup, attack 2 googly eyes and your orange beak.
5. After drying, they are ready to be handed out to family and friends.

6. Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hat Cups

These fun little cups can be used to hold crayons, snacks, or even little goodies for your Thanksgiving guests. And all you need to make them is the following:

• Black paper cups
• Black construction paper or card stock
• Ribbon
• Buttons
• Glue and scissors

Here's how to quickly and cheaply make decorative, pilgrim cups:

1. Carve or cut out the bottom of the paper cup. This will become the top of your hat.
2. Glue a piece of ribbon around the rim of the cup, and then glue a button on top of the ribbon. This will be the front of your hat.
3. With the rim of the cup still facing down, place it on top of the black construction paper and trace a circle slightly larger than the diameter of the hat. This will serve as the brim (and bottom) of the hat.
4. Glue this circle to the rim of the hat and wait for it to dry.
5. Use it as decoration or a holder for crayons, snacks, etc.