Thanksgiving is the perfect season to bring the warm glowing colors of autumn inside. These kid-friendly DIY Thanksgiving crafts and art projects can be made in the classroom, during art class, or as stations. Or you can make them at home with your own family—think Thanksgiving morning, to distract hungry tummies from all the delicious smells and keep the “is it ready yet?”s to a minimum. We’ll even help you find all the supplies you need, so planning for these fun projects will be a breeze.
1. Leaf Sprites
Adorable posable leaves made of painted paper and pipe cleaners whimsically usher in autumn.
Try it: Leaf Sprites
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2. Beaded Corn
These clever DIY Thanksgiving crafts are perfect for little hands. They’re not only adorable but help develop fine motor skills.
Try it: Beaded Corn
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3. Woodland Folk
These sweet woodland folks are made from wood pegs and felt. The huts are made from cardboard tubes and natural materials.
Try it: Woodland Folk
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4. Folded Paper Pumpkins
Colorful construction paper strips are folded into fans and layered on top of one another to form these charming pumpkins.
Try it: Paper Pumpkins
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5. Pom-Pom Turkey
This adorable little guy is simple to put together and will brighten up your Thanksgiving table.
Try it: Pom-Pom Turkey
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6. Tiny Cornucopia
An old-fashioned craft made from crepe paper cut into fringes and a construction cone. Perfect for filling with sweet holiday treats!
Try it: Paper Cornucopia
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7. Decoupage Leaf Bowl
Colorful silk leaves are molded together with Mod Podge to create this charming fall leaf bowl.
Learn more: Decoupage Leaf Bowl
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8. Oreo Turkeys
Almost (but not totally) too cute to eat! Everyone loves these yummy turkey cookies.
Try it: Oreo Turkeys
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9. Leaves of Gratitude
A lovely reminder of what the season is all about—thanksgiving. Painted branches don clay leaves stamped with words of gratitude.
Try it: Gratitude Tree
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10. Turkey Treats
A fun classroom goodie! These M&M-stuffed turkeys are made with netting, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.
Try it: Turkey Treats
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11. Mason Jar Scarecrow
A painted mason jar is decorated with corn husk hair and a burlap headband. A sunflower tops off this playful centerpiece.
Try it: Scarecrow Centerpiece
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12. Gratitude Stones
A fun and easy craft for kids of all ages. Go outside and gather stones with your students. Then, have students paint them alternating bright colors and write the letters that spell out “Give Thanks.”
Learn more: Thanksgiving Painted Rocks
Buy it: Acrylic paint at Amazon
13. Twine Bottles
These cool bottles are a snap to create. Just wrap clean, used wine bottles in twine, adhering as you wrap with hot glue. Then embellish with ribbons and fabric flowers for a lovely centerpiece.
Try it: Twine-Wrapped Bottles
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14. Velvet Pumpkins
Velvet pumpkins of various sizes are all the rage these days. These beauties are pretty easy to create.
Try it: Velvet Pumpkins
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15. Bubble Wrap Corn Wreaths
Who would believe this whimsical wreath was created using bubble wrap? Shades of red, orange, and yellow paint really make them look like colorful corn kernels.
Learn more: Corn Wreath
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16. Nature Banner
This seasonal banner lends the perfect touch to your Thanksgiving decor. Go on a nature walk to find all the natural elements that form each letter.
Try it: Nature Banner
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17. Turkey Place Card Holders
These little turkeys are so adorable, they may not sit on the table as place card holders for long.
Try it: Cork Turkeys
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18. Felt Napkin Rings
Felt, burlap, and a few simple stitches (or hot glue) are all it takes to create these colorful napkin rings.
Try it: Felt Napkin Rings
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19. Paper Strip Pumpkin
What a sweet way to think about all the things we are thankful for. All it takes is orange and green construction paper, staples, and a marker.
Try it: Thankful Pumpkin
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20. Fall Leaves Garland
Make this beautiful leaf garland with cardboard, felt, yarn, and a few other easy supplies.
Try it: Felt Leaf Garland
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21. Ombre Pine Cones
Create a rainbow of ombre pine cones to decorate your mantle or sideboard! There are even budget-friendly fake pine cones that can help you avoid the mess of using real ones.
Try it: Ombre Pine Cones
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22. String Art Pumpkin
Kids will be fascinated by the artistic process involved with this craft! Note: This craft requires drying time.
Try it: String Art Pumpkin
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23. Pumpkin Candles
This craft will depend on whether you can get your hand on some mini pumpkins at your local stores, but they make a perfect gift for parents, teachers, and friends.
Try it: Pumpkin Candles
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24. Autumn Leaf Lanterns
Gorgeous, luminous, and easy to make! Alicia from Spark & Chemistry recommends ironing the fabric leaves to make them a bit more pliable.
Try it: DIY Lanterns
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25. Block-Printed Thanksgiving Napkins
Include a personalized touch on your Thanksgiving table this year (and every year!).
Try it: Block-Printed Thanksgiving Napkins
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26. Apple Turkey Craft
Who doesn’t love it when snack time and craft time intersect? These silly DIY Thanksgiving crafts can be darling decorations or tasty treats.
Try it: Apple Turkey Craft
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27. Handprint Turkey Puppet
Would it even be a holiday without a handprint craft to commemorate it? This cutie is not only a fun puppet but a sweet keepsake.
Try it: Turkey Puppet
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28. Sweet and Salty Turkey Treats
So simple and so adorable—and the combination of salty and sweet will be enjoyed by all.
Try it: Sweet and Salty Turkey Treats
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29. Handprint Owls
Yet another fun keepsake craft—this one involves colorful paper and matching feathers. Rolled-up newspaper painted brown forms the tree for the owls to perch on.
Try it: Handprint Owls
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30. Leaf Cookies
Hey, cookies can be art, if you make them with this gorgeous marbled dough and a leaf cookie cutter!
Try it: Leaf Cookies
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31. Turkey Windsock
Who could resist seeing these funny little windsocks fluttering in the wind? So simple to put together with just a clean tin can and a few craft supplies.
Try it: Tin Can Turkey Windsock
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32. Froot Loop Fall Tree
Froot Loops are not only yummy, they also come in fall colors (sort of). Use markers to draw a tree with branches on a sheet of paper, then glue Froot Loops on for leaves. Add a pile at the bottom for the fallen leaves.
Try it: Fruit Loop Tree
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33. Craft Stick Scarecrows
Theses wee little scarecrows are adorable DIY Thanksgiving crafts that double as guardians for your garden or potted plants.
Try it: Craft Stick Scarecrows
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34. Painted Leaf Friends
Take a walk and collect leaves in pretty fall colors. Be sure to find as many different shapes and sizes as you can. Then, use paint pens to create faces. Use the leaves as characters and put on a play with them.
Try it: Painted Leaf Friends
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35. Wooden Photo Holder
This little fella will bring a smile to the table. Use it for place-card holders, thankfulness notes, or photos of Thanksgivings past.
Try it: Wood Slice Photo Holder
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36. Pop-Up Thanksgiving Card
Made from card stock and folded pieces of construction paper, this craft is as fun to make as it is to give.
Try it: Turkey Card
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37. Painted Pine Cone Turkey
With their fuzzy pom-pom heads, googly eyes, and felt beaks and wattles, these tri-color turkeys bring on the Thanksgiving spirit.
Try it: Painted Pine Cone Turkey
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38. Paper Plate Hedgehog
This cute little critter is so simple to make. Just paint a paper plate and add googly eyes (one on each side), a nose, and a smile. Then glue on found leaves or faux leaves.
Try it: Paper Plate Hedgehog
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39. Painted Acorns
These colorful DIY acorn crafts would make a lovely addition to your Thanksgiving table nestled into a special bowl or scattered along a table runner.
Try it: Colorful Painted Acorns
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40. Button Pumpkin
A simple yet sweet craft for little ones. Just help students cut out a pumpkin and stem, then set out an assortment of buttons and glue and let them decorate!
Try it: Button Pumpkin
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41. Woven Paper Basket
Ask your students to bring in clean, recycled paper bags. Then, follow along with this video and create these adorable baskets. Use them to hold Thanksgiving napkins, rolls, or whatever you please.
Try it: Woven Paper Basket
42. Paper Bag Pumpkin
How sweet is this little guy? The quintessential preschool Thanksgiving craft.
Try it: Paper Bag Pumpkin
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43. Woodland Critters
Students in upper elementary will love the challenge and the results of these charming felt puppets.
Try it: DIY Forest Friends Finger Puppets
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44. Leaf Bowls
Theses gorgeous DIY Thanksgiving crafts, made from clay and then painted, look like fall leaves.
Try it: Leaf Bowls
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45. Patchwork Glass Vases
What a lovely centerpiece one of these patchwork painted glass vases would make. Instead of buying glass vases, ask students to bring in clean, smooth recycled glass jars from home.
Try it: Patchwork Glass
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46. Turkey Crayon Holder
Made from a paper cup and construction paper, this cute little turkey is perfect for supplying little ones with crayons to keep busy at the Thanksgiving table. Alternatively, fill them with pre-feast snacks.
Try it: Turkey Crayon (or Snack) Holder
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47. Corn Cob Colored Pencil Holder
Along the same lines as the craft above, this clever “corn cob” is made from dried beans and felt.
Try it: Corn Cob Pencil Holder
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48. Autumn Leaf Folded Napkin
Kids love to be helpful, especially around the holidays. And why not make a little work fun? Try one of these fun napkin-folding activities, like the leaf shown here. Or try a crown, a hat, or a boat!
Try it: Thanksgiving Table Folded Napkins
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49. Pie Garland
Yum, this festive garland of colorful slices of Thanksgiving pie is so easy to make.
Try it: Paper Plate Pie Garland
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50. Gratitude Book
What a lovely keepsake to record your gratitude! This accordion-fold book is the perfect tool to collect thoughts from everyone at your table.
Try it: Accordion Fold Gratitude Book
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51. Glove Turkey
This quirky little guy is bound to bring a smile to the faces of everyone at your Thanksgiving table.
Try it: Glove Turkey
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52. Fallen Leaves Sunflowers
Take your students outside and go on a leaf hunt. Look specifically for thin yellow leaves. Then, put together these lovely DIY sunflower crafts for them to take home to use as Thanksgiving centerpieces.
Try it: Sunflower Centerpiece
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53. Mini Turkey Pinatas
Although this is a fairly involved project (best for bigger kids), the results speak for themselves. Fill your baby turkeys with confetti or seasonal candies.
Try it: Mini Turkey Pinatas
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54. Pom-Pom Pumpkins
Pumpkins are an awesome seasonal decoration, but these colorful pom-pom pumpkins are a lot less messy than the real ones.
Try it: Pom-Pom Pumpkins
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