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Thanksgiving crafts for families

Thanksgiving is a time to gather, celebrate, and make memories with loved ones. Crafts and activities add to the holiday experience, making it extra meaningful and fun. This guide combines 15 Thanksgiving crafts and activities with supply lists and step-by-step instructions to help you get started. Let’s dive into the fun!

1. Thankful Tree: A Growing Display of Gratitude

Creating a Thankful Tree is a lovely way to highlight gratitude as Thanksgiving approaches. This project doubles as meaningful decor and a daily reminder of what you’re thankful for.

Supplies:

• Small branches (for the tree)
• A vase or pot to hold the branches
• Construction paper (in fall colors)
• Hole punch
• String or ribbon
• Pens or markers

Instructions:

1. Place the branches in a sturdy vase or pot.
2. Cut out leaf shapes from the construction paper, then punch a hole at the top of each leaf.
3. Have family members write down something they’re grateful for each day and tie it to the branches.
4. On Thanksgiving Day, read the leaves together.

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2. Handprint Turkey Art: A Classic Thanksgiving Keepsake

Handprint turkeys are a timeless favorite for kids. They make adorable decorations and lasting keepsakes for Thanksgiving.

Supplies:

• Non-toxic paint (brown, orange, red, yellow)
• Paper or cardstock
• Paintbrushes
• Googly eyes
• Markers
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Let kids dip their hands in brown paint and press onto paper to form the turkey’s body.
2. Use other colors to add feathers, creating additional handprints around the body.
3. Once dry, glue on googly eyes and use markers to draw a beak and feet.
4. Display the finished artwork on the fridge or around the house.
   

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3. DIY Thanksgiving Placemats: Personalized Table Decor

DIY placemats let kids personalize the Thanksgiving table while keeping them busy and engaged.

Supplies:

• Large craft paper or blank placemats
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Thanksgiving-themed stickers
• Optional: Laminator

Instructions:

1. Have kids decorate the placemats with drawings, stickers, or messages of gratitude.
2. Laminate the placemats for durability, if desired.
3. Set them out for Thanksgiving dinner as a personalized touch.

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4. Gratitude Jar: A Tangible Way to Practice Thankfulness

A Gratitude Jar encourages family members to write down what they’re thankful for each day, creating a heartwarming experience on Thanksgiving.

Supplies:

• Large jar
• Slips of paper
• Pens or markers
• Decorative stickers or ribbon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place the jar in a common area of your home.
2. Each day, write down something you’re grateful for and drop it in the jar.
3. On Thanksgiving, take turns reading the notes as a family.

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5. Corn Husk Wreath: Rustic Thanksgiving Decor

Create a rustic Corn Husk Wreath for an earthy, autumn-inspired decoration that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.

Supplies:

• Wire wreath frame
• Corn husks (available at craft stores)
• Hot glue gun
• Mini pumpkins, faux berries, or fall leaves (optional)

Instructions:

1. Arrange corn husks around the wreath frame and secure them with hot glue.
2. Layer the husks for a fuller look and add mini pumpkins or berries for decoration.
3. Hang the wreath on your front door or inside your home.

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6. Turkey Pinecone Craft: Nature-Inspired Table Accents

This nature-inspired turkey craft uses pinecones to create festive table decorations.

Supplies:

• Pinecones
• Feathers (in fall colors)
• Googly eyes
• Small pieces of felt (for the beak and wattle)
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Attach feathers to the back of the pinecone to create the turkey’s tail.
2. Glue on googly eyes and add a felt beak and wattle.
3. Place the turkeys around the house or on the Thanksgiving table.

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7. Leaf Stamping Art: A Celebration of Autumn Colors

Leaf stamping brings the beauty of autumn indoors and is an easy art project for all ages.

Supplies:

• Fresh leaves (various sizes)
• Paint (fall colors)
• Paper or cardstock
• Paintbrushes

Instructions:

1. Dip each leaf in paint and press onto the paper to create a textured stamp.
2. Use different colors and leaf shapes to fill the page.
3. Once dry, display the artwork or use it as Thanksgiving table decor.

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8. Thanksgiving Story Bracelets: Telling the Thanksgiving Story with Beads

Thanksgiving Story Bracelets are an educational craft, that uses beads to represent parts of the Thanksgiving story.

Supplies:

• Elastic string
• Beads in various colors (each color symbolizes part of the Thanksgiving story)
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Select beads to represent parts of the Thanksgiving story (e.g., green for growth, brown for the earth).
2. String the beads onto elastic, explaining the story as you go.
3. Tie off the bracelet and let kids wear it on Thanksgiving.

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15 Fun Thanksgiving Crafts for Families

9. Pumpkin Bowling: A Fun Pre-Dinner Game

Pumpkin Bowling is a lighthearted activity that gets everyone involved before or after dinner.

Supplies:

• Mini pumpkins (for pins)
• Small gourd (as the ball)

Instructions:

1. Arrange the mini pumpkins as bowling pins.
2. Use the gourd to “bowl” and see how many pumpkins you can knock down.
3. Take turns and enjoy the fun!

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10. DIY Thanksgiving Napkin Rings: Festive Touches for the Table

These napkin rings add a handmade touch to each place setting.

Supplies:

• Paper towel rolls (cut into rings)
• Paint or markers
• Thanksgiving-themed stickers or small embellishments
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Cut paper towel rolls into rings and decorate with paint or markers.
2. Add embellishments, such as stickers or small leaves, for a festive look.
3. Use these rings to hold napkins and add a special touch to the table.

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11. Paper Plate Turkey Masks: Playful Dress-Up for Kids

Turkey masks are a fun and easy craft for kids that can add a playful atmosphere to Thanksgiving Day.

Supplies:

• Paper plates
• Feathers (various colors)
• Markers or paint
• Glue
• Popsicle stick or string

Instructions:

1. Color the plate to resemble a turkey’s face and glue on feathers.
2. Attach a popsicle stick or string to make it easy to hold or wear.
3. Let kids show off their turkey masks or hold a mini parade.

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12. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Holders: Practical and Decorative

Pilgrim Hat Crayon Holders make Thanksgiving table decor more interactive, especially for kids.

Supplies:

• Black paper or foam sheet
• Scissors and tape
• Yellow construction paper (for the buckle)
• Crayons or markers

Instructions:

1. Roll black paper into a hat shape and secure with tape.
2. Add a yellow buckle to the front.
3. Fill each hat with crayons for kids to use during Thanksgiving dinner.

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13. Apple Turkeys: Healthy Snack Craft

Apple Turkeys combine craft time with snack time, creating an adorable, healthy treat for kids.

Supplies:

• Apples
• Toothpicks
• Mini marshmallows
• Raisins or candy eyes
• Candy corn (for the beak)

Instructions:

1. Insert toothpicks with marshmallows into the apple to create feathers.
2. Add candy eyes and a candy corn beak for the face.
3. Let kids enjoy their apple turkeys as a healthy Thanksgiving snack.

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14. Fall Leaf Suncatchers: Bringing Nature Inside

Fall Leaf Suncatchers are a great way to use autumn leaves in your decor.

Supplies:

• Wax paper
• Colorful fall leaves
• Crayon shavings
• Iron
• Towel

Instructions:

1. Place leaves and crayon shavings between two sheets of wax paper.
2. Cover with a towel and use an iron to melt the crayon shavings, sealing the leaves in place.
3. Hang the suncatchers in a window to catch the autumn sunlight.

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15. Thanksgiving Memory Game: Fun and Educational

A Thanksgiving Memory Game is a simple, engaging way to entertain kids after the meal.

Supplies:

• Thanksgiving-themed images (print two copies of each)
• Cardstock
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Print two copies of each image on cardstock.
2. Cut them out to create matching cards.
3. Lay the cards face down and take turns flipping to find pairs.

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Conclusion

Thanksgiving crafts and activities are a fantastic way to involve everyone in the holiday fun.

These 15 ideas encourage creativity, foster gratitude, and bring families together.

Each craft and activity adds to the Thanksgiving celebration, from the classic Handprint Turkey Art to the fun Pumpkin Bowling game.

Enjoy these projects and make this Thanksgiving unforgettable!