Thanksgiving crafts fill the house with laughter, color, and just the right amount of glue chaos. Both kids and adults can dive into handprint turkeys, leaf wreaths, painted pine cone birds, or silly turkey headbands and gratitude chains. These crafts aren’t just cute—they’re about making memories, showing creativity, and maybe even competing for the messiest workspace. And the fun’s not over yet—there’s plenty more festive inspiration coming your way, so keep those craft supplies close!
1. Autumn Leaf Turkey
There’s something magical about seeing a bunch of ordinary autumn leaves turn into a goofy-looking turkey, and that’s exactly what the Autumn Leaf Turkey craft is all about.
Imagine heading outside, crunching through piles of leaves, and bringing back a handful of colorful treasures. With a free printable template from One Little Project, this is one of those turkey crafts kids can make without any fuss.
It’s a simple craft, yet the results are always unique—no two turkeys will ever look the same! Kids get to pick leaves in all shapes and colors, arrange them into feathery fans, and watch their turkey come to life.
The finished turkeys make hilarious, cheerful decorations for Thanksgiving, perfect for sticking on windows or walls and showing off to everyone.
2. Handprint Turkey
After all those leaf-collecting adventures, some families are ready for a Thanksgiving craft that’s a bit more personal—and maybe even a little bit messy. Enter the handprint turkey! This classic project is a hit in Thanksgiving crafts for kids because it’s easy to make, super fun, and always unique. Kids trace their hands, paint each finger a different color, and voilà—a turkey with feathers as one-of-a-kind as they are. The giggles when little hands get covered in paint? Priceless.
3. Painted Pine Cone Turkeys
First, there’s the quest for pine cones—think of it as a mini adventure in your backyard or local park, hunting for the best “turkey bodies” nature has to offer.
Once you’ve got your pine cones ready and maybe picked out a few sticks from your hair, it’s time to break out the paints, googly eyes, and feathers to turn each one into a wild, colorful turkey masterpiece.
Everyone can try something different, so no two turkeys have to look alike—unless you want a turkey army, of course!
4. Gratefulness Chains
Gratefulness chains bring everyone together, with each person adding their own thankful messages to the growing paper chain—kind of like making a giant friendship bracelet, but with words.
As the chain gets longer, it doesn’t just look cool hanging across the room or draped on the table, it also reminds everyone of the good things they have.
It’s a simple way to decorate and build gratitude at the same time, making the whole house feel a little warmer (and maybe just a bit more crowded with paper strips).
5. Autumn Leaves Wreath
There’s something pretty magical about turning a pile of colorful autumn leaves into a wreath that actually makes your front door look like it belongs in a magazine.
The autumn leaves wreath is a classic Thanksgiving craft project that gets the whole family outside, hunting for the brightest reds, oranges, and yellows.
Once the leaves are collected, everyone can pitch in—arranging, gluing, and maybe even arguing over whether pine cones or acorns look better as accents (spoiler: both are awesome).
Throw in a bit of raffia ribbon, and suddenly you’ve got a decoration worthy of a holiday feast.
Tons of craft guides exist, so even beginners won’t get lost.
Best part? The wreath stays up all season, giving your home serious fall vibes.
6. Pumpkin Pinch Pots
Pumpkin pinch pots make clay modeling easy and fun, with just a few simple steps—pinch, shape, and smooth—so even beginners can jump right in without stress.
These mini pots aren’t just cute; they can hold tealight candles, stash candy, or show off tiny treasures, making them sneaky little multitaskers on your Thanksgiving table.
Plus, once the clay dries, the decorating possibilities are endless, so everyone can create a pumpkin masterpiece that’s totally their own.
7. Jar Leaf Lanterns
There’s something magical about turning plain old jars into glowing lanterns with just a few leaves and a bit of creativity.
Jar leaf lanterns are the ultimate craft for kids or anyone who wants a simple Thanksgiving project that actually looks amazing on the Thanksgiving table. All you need are some empty jars, colorful leaves (real or fabric—your choice!), and a bit of glue. Seriously, it’s that easy.
Grab a craft guide online, like the one from One Little Project, and you’ll be on your way to creating autumn masterpieces in no time. Kids can pick out their favorite leaves, sticking them on the jar and feeling like mini artists.
Once the candles are lit inside, the glow makes the whole room feel warm, festive, and unforgettable.
8. Paper Roll Turkey
Get ready to turn trash into treasure with the Paper Roll Turkey, a craft that only needs a few basic supplies—think empty toilet paper rolls, construction paper, glue, and whatever fun decorations you have lying around.
The steps are simple: trace your hand for feathers, cut and glue everything together, then jazz up your turkey with googly eyes, wild colors, or even a mustache if you’re feeling silly.
If you want a table full of goofy turkeys, this is the project to try—everyone’s bird ends up looking totally different, and that’s half the fun.
9. Family Thankful Jar
When Thanksgiving rolls around, families everywhere look for ways to celebrate more than just food—cue the Family Thankful Jar. This simple craft is a real game-changer.
All it takes is an old jar, some paint, ribbons, or printable labels, and a little creativity to make it festive. Each family member writes down what they’re grateful for and pops their note into the jar all month long. It’s like storing up tiny treasures of gratitude!
When Thanksgiving dinner arrives, everyone takes turns reading the notes aloud, which can get pretty hilarious or moving—sometimes both. The Family Thankful Jar turns a regular meal into a heartwarming tradition, reminding everyone that Thanksgiving is about more than just mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
10. Beaded Pipe Cleaner Pumpkins
Grab some pipe cleaners and beads, and suddenly, you’ve got the makings of the cutest Thanksgiving pumpkins ever. This fun and easy children’s craft is totally mess-free, which means no sticky fingers or glue disasters! All it takes are orange pony beads and green beaded pipe cleaners—simple supplies that you can find in almost any craft aisle. Kids can twist, bend, and thread the beads to create their own unique Thanksgiving decorations. Each pumpkin can be big, small, round, or silly—let creativity go wild! Plus, this craft secretly works those fine motor skills while everyone is having a blast.
11. Gratitude Tree
How do you turn a simple branch into the most heartwarming centerpiece of Thanksgiving? With a gratitude tree, of course! This craft turns an ordinary branch into something special—family members write what they’re thankful for on colorful paper leaves, then hang them up for everyone to see. It’s fun and educational, especially for kids who get to practice their cutting and writing skills. Plus, those little messages spark meaningful conversations as everyone shares their blessings. Set the branch in a decorated pot, add some ribbons for flair, and suddenly your table looks amazing. The gratitude tree isn’t just pretty; it helps everyone remember what Thanksgiving’s all about.
12. Turkey Headbands
A turkey headband is the ultimate badge of Thanksgiving spirit—equal parts crafty fun and instant costume. Turkey headbands rank high on the list of craft ideas that kids will love, especially on Thanksgiving Day.
With just some leftover cardboard, colorful feathers, and a few googly eyes, this project turns anyone into a turkey in no time. Printable templates from sites like Sew Woodsy make getting started a breeze for parents and teachers.
The best part? Each kid can personalize their headband with favorite colors and wild designs, so every turkey is unique. Plus, it’s the perfect way to keep kids entertained while the turkey cooks!
13. Watercolor Turkey Place Settings
Nothing says “Thanksgiving artist” quite like a table full of bright, hand-painted turkey place settings.
Picture the excitement as little ones gather around with paper, watercolor paints, and big imaginations, ready to create their own Turkey Day masterpieces. Each child gets to design a playful turkey, maybe adding silly feathers or a wild hat, and then writes a guest’s name on it—no more fighting over where to sit!
The process is simple: paint, cut, and let the table shine. Parents get a break from fancy decorations, and kids feel proud seeing their artwork front and center.
The best part? These watercolor turkeys don’t just jazz up the table—they become keepsakes, reminding everyone of a festive, creative holiday spent together.
14. Glittery Book Page Leaves
Plenty of crafty fun waits with glittery book page leaves, a project that’s basically autumn magic mixed with a dash of sparkle.
Imagine taking old, forgotten books and giving them a second life—talk about repurposing old books in style! The process is super easy: trace some real leaves onto book pages, cut them out, and then get wild with glitter.
The results are simple ideas that pack a serious wow-factor for Thanksgiving decorations. These glittery book page leaves can be strung up as a garland or even scattered on the table for a festive look.
