The turkey roasts in the oven, the smell of fresh pumpkin pie fills the kitchen, and your kids suddenly announce they have zero things to do. Sounds familiar? Before anyone turns the living room into a wrestling ring, hand them glue sticks and construction paper!
Crafting during the holidays keeps little hands busy, builds fine motor skills, and creates fun keepsakes you can save for years. If you want more simple project ideas, explore our list of DIY fall crafts for kids to keep your holiday afternoon calm and entertaining.
1. Pinecone turkeys
Transform ordinary backyard pinecones into silly Thanksgiving turkeys! Send your kids outside on a quick yard hunt to gather the best pinecones they can find.
Kids slip colorful craft feathers between the pinecone scales to make a wide tail. Next, they cut out a small orange felt triangle for the beak and glue on two googly eyes. Pro tip: Use quick-drying craft glue so the pieces stick immediately.
2. Paper plate Thanksgiving wreath
Cut the center circle out of a paper plate to create a sturdy wreath frame for your young artist. Kids can paint the outer ring brown or cover it with torn pieces of fall-colored tissue paper.
Have them glue paper leaves, tiny faux acorns, and a paper turkey cutout onto the ring. Hang the finished wreath right on the front door to welcome your dinner guests.
3. Handprint turkey cards
Nothing beats classic handprint art when you want to capture tiny hands at this age. Trace your child’s hand onto brown construction paper and help them carefully cut out the shape.
The thumb forms the turkey’s neck, while the four fingers become bright tail feathers. Children can draw fun patterns on each finger feather using bright markers from Crayola. These craft cards work wonderfully as personalized place cards for your holiday table.
4. Cinnamon stick gratitude trees
Want your home to smell like fall spices? Glue three cinnamon sticks together into a simple tree trunk shape.
Kids cut leaf shapes out of yellow, orange, and red construction paper. On each leaf, they write one thing they appreciate this year. Glue the leaves onto the cinnamon sticks for a quick, sweet-smelling craft.
5. Mason jar pumpkin lanterns
Light up your evening holiday table with cute recycled jar lanterns. Kids paint clean glass mason jars with orange washable paint or layer orange tissue paper with Mod Podge.
Once dry, kids draw jack-o’-lantern faces or silly turkey expressions on the glass with black permanent markers. Drop a battery-operated LED tea light inside for a warm glow.
6. Felt turkey snack pouches
Combine snack time with craft time. Fold a sheet of brown felt in half and glue the sides down to create a simple pocket.
Kids decorate the front with felt feathers, googly eyes, and an orange beak. Fill the completed pouch with pretzels, popcorn, and chocolate chips for a special holiday treat holder.
7. Toilet paper roll pilgrims
Do not toss out those cardboard tubes just yet. Recycle empty toilet paper rolls into simple historical figures for play time.
Kids wrap the tubes in black and white construction paper to make basic pilgrim outfits. Add paper hats, white collars, and drawn faces to complete these easy figures. Best of all, this project costs next to nothing.
8. Dried corn husk dolls
Introduce your children to traditional folk crafts by making corn husk dolls. Soak dried corn husks in warm water until soft, then show your kids how to fold and tie them with twine.
They can shape arms, heads, and dresses using simple knot techniques recommended by parenting guides on PBS Kids. This activity often sparks great questions about early American history.
9. Coffee filter turkey craft
Watch colors blend with simple coffee filter art. Kids color white coffee filters using washable markers in red, yellow, and orange.
Spray the filter lightly with water and watch the colors bleed together into a soft pattern. Once dry, attach a brown paper turkey body to the center of the filter fan.
Pro tip for easy cleanup
Place the wet coffee filters on baking sheets lined with paper towels to protect your countertops from stray marker dye.
10. Bubble wrap Indian corn
If you have extra packing supplies around the house, turn leftover bubble wrap into textured corn cobs.
Kids brush yellow, brown, burgundy, and orange paint directly onto the bumpy bubble surface. Press the painted bubble wrap onto white cardstock cut into corn shapes to stamp realistic kernel patterns.
11. Apple stamped turkeys
Slice an apple straight down the middle to reveal a natural round stamping shape. Kids dip the flat apple half into red, orange, and yellow paint to stamp overlapping tail feathers on paper.
Add a brown handprint or paper cutouts over the stamped background to finish the turkey body. If you have younger children, explore our guide for Thanksgiving art for toddlers for even simpler paint ideas.
12. Yarn-wrapped cardboard pumpkins
Cut thick cardboard into pumpkin shapes for your children. Hand them rolls of orange yarn and let them wrap the yarn around the cardboard tightly in all directions.
This simple wrapping action builds great finger strength and coordination. Finish the top with a green pipe cleaner stem and a paper leaf.
13. Gratitude turkey feathers jar
Turn family gratitude into a daily centerpiece. Wrap a clean container with brown paper and turn it into a turkey body using googly eyes and a cut paper beak.
Set colorful paper feather cutouts near the jar every day during November. Have every family member write down daily blessings and place the feathers inside the jar.
14. Paper cup Mayflower boats
Cut paper cups in half lengthwise to create simple boat hulls. Kids can paint the hulls brown or draw wood grain patterns on them.
Push a wooden skewer through white paper sails and anchor the mast into the cup base using modeling clay. Test their floating skills in a sink filled with water.
15. Leaf imprint salt dough ornaments
Mix two cups of flour, one cup of salt, and one cup of water to create smooth salt dough. Roll the dough flat and press real fall leaves firmly into the surface to leave detailed vein impressions.
Cut out circle shapes, punch a hole at the top, and bake at 250 degrees for two hours. Once cool, paint the imprints with craft paint from Martha Stewart Crafts.
16. Egg carton turkey craft
Cut up cardboard egg cartons into individual cup sections. Kids paint each cup brown to form light turkey bodies.
Glue real craft feathers or construction paper strips onto the back of each cup. These small creations double as cute seating markers for your holiday table.
17. Beaded pipe cleaner Indian corn
Twist three tan or brown pipe cleaners together at the center point to create six spokes. Kids slide yellow, brown, orange, and clear pony beads onto each leg.
Fold the beaded legs upward and twist the top ends together to form a realistic ear of corn. If your kids like easy paper crafts, check out our collection of printable DIY crafts for your next rainy afternoon.
Make memories around the craft table this Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving gives your family a great reason to pause, sit down together, and make fun art projects. These 17 Thanksgiving crafts bring plenty of creativity to your home without requiring expensive supplies or hard instructions. Wobbly glue eyes and messy fingers are all part of the fun. Grab your craft supplies today, set up a table, and enjoy the holiday afternoon with your kids.