Thanksgiving is more than a delicious feast. It is also a wonderful opportunity to slow down, spend quality time with loved ones, and create meaningful memories. One of the best ways to bring everyone together is by making 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids and adults to make together. These creative projects encourage teamwork, spark imagination, and give families beautiful handmade decorations they can proudly display throughout the holiday season. Whether you have toddlers, school-aged children, teenagers, or grandparents joining the fun, there are countless craft ideas that everyone can enjoy.
Besides keeping everyone entertained, these 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts teach valuable skills like patience, creativity, problem-solving, and cooperation. Even better, many of these projects use affordable materials that you may already have at home. From colorful turkeys and festive wreaths to thankful trees and adorable pumpkin decorations, every craft becomes a reminder of gratitude and togetherness.
In this guide, you will discover 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids and adults to make together, along with helpful tips, creative ideas, and inspiration to make your holiday even more memorable.
What Are Thanksgiving Crafts?
Thanksgiving crafts are handmade decorations, keepsakes, gifts, and fun art projects inspired by the Thanksgiving holiday. They often feature traditional symbols like turkeys, pumpkins, autumn leaves, acorns, corn, scarecrows, and harvest baskets.
These 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts are suitable for families, classrooms, church groups, and community gatherings. Although many projects are designed with children in mind, adults can also join in, making the experience more enjoyable for everyone.
Most importantly, these 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts encourage creativity while reminding us to appreciate family, friends, and life’s many blessings.
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Benefits of Making Thanksgiving Crafts Together
Crafting together offers much more than beautiful decorations. Here are some reasons why families love this Thanksgiving tradition.
- Strengthens family relationships through shared activities.
- Encourages creativity in both children and adults.
- Reduces screen time during holiday gatherings.
- Helps children improve fine motor skills.
- Creates lasting keepsakes filled with happy memories.
- Provides affordable Thanksgiving decorations.
- Encourages gratitude through meaningful projects.
- Gives everyone a chance to relax and enjoy quality time together.
Below are 40 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids and Adults to Make Together
40 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids and Adults to Make Together
1. Handprint Turkey Craft
A handprint turkey is one of the most popular Thanksgiving crafts because it captures a child’s tiny hand as a treasured keepsake.
Simply trace each person’s hand on colorful construction paper before cutting it out. Next, glue the handprints onto brown paper to form the turkey’s feathers. Add googly eyes, a paper beak, legs, and a red wattle to complete the design.
Adults can help younger children with cutting while older kids decorate their turkeys with glitter, markers, or stickers.
Why everyone loves it
- Easy for every age.
- Creates lasting family memories.
- Makes adorable holiday decorations.
Pro Tip: Write each family member’s name and the year on the back to preserve the memory.
2. Thankful Tree
A thankful tree encourages everyone to reflect on what they appreciate most during the Thanksgiving season.
Start by placing bare branches inside a vase or bucket. Then, cut leaf shapes from colorful cardstock. Throughout the week, ask each family member to write something they are thankful for before hanging the leaves on the branches.
By Thanksgiving Day, your tree will be filled with heartfelt messages.
Materials
- Tree branches
- Colored paper
- String
- Hole punch
- Markers
Why it’s meaningful
Instead of focusing only on food, this craft reminds everyone about gratitude, kindness, and family.
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3. Paper Plate Turkey
Paper plate turkeys are colorful, inexpensive, and fun for every age.
Paint a paper plate brown before attaching bright paper feathers around the edges. After that, glue on large eyes, a beak, and turkey legs.
Children can personalize each turkey by drawing funny expressions or adding glitter.
Best for
- Preschoolers
- Elementary-aged children
- Family craft afternoons
4. Pine Cone Turkeys
Nature provides some of the best crafting materials, making pine cone turkeys both adorable and affordable.
Collect clean pine cones during an autumn walk. Next, attach colorful felt feathers behind the pine cone before adding googly eyes and a tiny orange beak.
Adults can use a hot glue gun while children arrange the decorations.
Why you’ll enjoy this craft
- Uses natural materials.
- Looks beautiful as table decor.
- Encourages outdoor exploration before crafting.
5. Pumpkin Mason Jar Centerpiece
Instead of buying expensive decorations, transform ordinary mason jars into beautiful pumpkin-inspired centerpieces.
Paint the jars orange and allow them to dry completely. Afterwards, wrap twine around the neck before adding artificial leaves, small flowers, or wheat stems.
Finally, place the finished jars in the center of your Thanksgiving table.
Perfect for
- Dining tables
- Fireplace mantels
- Entryway decorations
6. Leaf Rubbing Art
Leaf rubbing is a simple activity that combines art with nature.
Gather different autumn leaves from your yard or neighborhood. Place one leaf beneath a sheet of white paper. Then gently rub the side of a crayon across the paper until the leaf pattern appears.
Try using several leaf shapes to create colorful Thanksgiving artwork.
Bonus idea
Frame your favorite designs as seasonal wall art.
7. Gratitude Garland
A gratitude garland adds warmth and positivity to your home.
Cut paper into leaf, pumpkin, or acorn shapes. Afterwards, ask everyone to write one blessing on each piece before attaching them to a long piece of string.
Hang the finished garland across your fireplace, staircase, or dining room wall.
Not only does it brighten the room, but it also serves as a daily reminder to appreciate life’s blessings.
8. Turkey Clothespin Puppets
These cute puppets provide both a craft activity and endless entertainment.
Decorate wooden clothespins with paper feathers, googly eyes, and tiny beaks. Once finished, children can use them for imaginative storytelling or a Thanksgiving puppet show.
This project is especially fun because it combines creativity with playtime.
9. Acorn Picture Frames
Celebrate autumn by decorating plain wooden picture frames with real acorns.
Glue cleaned acorns around the edges before adding small leaves, twine, or miniature pine cones.
Finally, insert a favorite Thanksgiving family photo. These frames also make thoughtful handmade gifts for grandparents.
10. Paper Bag Turkey Puppets
Paper bag puppets never go out of style.
Start with a brown paper lunch bag. Then attach colorful feathers, eyes, a beak, and legs using glue.
Once complete, children can use their turkey puppets to perform Thanksgiving stories or family skits.
This craft encourages both creativity and imaginative play while keeping everyone happily engaged.
Please keep Reading….. Don’t stop here ⬇️
11. Thanksgiving Thankful Mason Jar
Turn an ordinary mason jar into a meaningful gratitude keepsake that the whole family can enjoy throughout the holiday season.
First, decorate the outside of the jar with ribbon, burlap, autumn leaves, or Thanksgiving-themed stickers. Next, cut small pieces of colorful paper and place them beside the jar. Then, encourage everyone to write down something they are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving.
Finally, gather around the dinner table and read each thankful note aloud.
Why families love it
- Encourages gratitude.
- Creates lasting memories.
- Becomes a meaningful Thanksgiving tradition.
12. Popsicle Stick Scarecrow
Popsicle sticks are inexpensive, making them perfect for fun family crafts.
Begin by gluing several craft sticks together to form a square. Afterwards, paint the surface a light tan color. Once dry, draw a smiling scarecrow face before adding raffia hair, a tiny plaid fabric hat, and small button decorations.
Children enjoy decorating each scarecrow differently, so every finished craft becomes unique.
Pro Tip: Add a magnet to the back so it can decorate your refrigerator.
13. Coffee Filter Fall Leaves
This colorful craft creates beautiful autumn leaves that look surprisingly realistic.
Flatten several coffee filters before coloring them with washable markers. Afterwards, lightly spray each filter with water to blend the colors together. Allow them to dry completely before cutting them into leaf shapes.
Hang the finished leaves on windows or string them together into a festive banner.
Why you’ll enjoy it
- Affordable materials.
- Easy cleanup.
- Beautiful fall decorations.
14. Turkey Headbands
Turkey headbands are always a favorite, especially for younger children.
Cut a long strip of brown construction paper to fit around each person’s head. Next, attach colorful paper feathers along the back before decorating the front with googly eyes, a beak, and a red wattle.
Once everyone finishes, wear the headbands during Thanksgiving dinner or family games.
The matching creations make adorable holiday photos.
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15. Corn Cob Painting
Painting with corn creates fun textures that children love exploring.
Dip a dried corn cob into washable paint before rolling it across paper. As the corn rolls, it creates interesting patterns that resemble fall harvest fields.
Afterward, add pumpkins, leaves, or turkeys using markers or paint.
Best for
- Preschool art
- Classroom activities
- Family craft tables
16. Paper Pumpkin Decorations
Paper pumpkins instantly brighten any Thanksgiving display.
Cut orange paper into several long strips of equal length. Punch small holes at both ends before fastening the strips together with brass fasteners. Spread the strips outward to create a round pumpkin shape.
Finish by attaching a green paper stem and curly ribbon vine. Place several pumpkins together for an eye-catching centerpiece.
17. Thankful Wreath
A homemade wreath welcomes guests while celebrating gratitude.
Cut a large ring from sturdy cardboard to create the wreath base. Afterwards, decorate it with paper leaves, miniature pumpkins, pine cones, ribbon, and acorns.
Before attaching each leaf, ask family members to write something they appreciate.
The finished wreath becomes both beautiful and meaningful.
18. Turkey Finger Puppets
These tiny puppets provide hours of creative entertainment after crafting.
Cut turkey shapes from felt or cardstock. Then, attach small loops underneath so little fingers can slide through.
Decorate each turkey with colorful feathers, googly eyes, and tiny beaks. Afterward, encourage children to perform a Thanksgiving puppet show for the family.
19. Painted Rock Pumpkins
Painted rocks make wonderful keepsakes and outdoor decorations.
Choose smooth, round rocks before painting them in pumpkin colors such as orange, white, or green. Once dry, use black paint to add smiling faces, harvest designs, or thankful messages.
Seal the finished rocks with a clear protective coating.
Display them on your porch, garden path, or Thanksgiving table.
20. Burlap Leaf Banner
A burlap banner adds rustic farmhouse charm to your Thanksgiving décor.
Cut burlap into small flag shapes before attaching them to twine. Next, decorate each flag with painted leaves, thankful words, or fall-themed stamps.
Finally, hang the banner above your fireplace, dining table, or front doorway.
This simple project looks elegant while remaining easy enough for the entire family to help create.
Why it’s a favorite
- Adds cozy autumn style.
- Easy to customize.
- Reusable every Thanksgiving season.
21. Turkey Windsock
Bring a little movement to your Thanksgiving decorations with a colorful turkey windsock.
Start by covering an empty toilet paper roll with brown construction paper or paint. Next, glue on large googly eyes, a paper beak, and a red wattle. Then, attach colorful tissue paper strips to the bottom so they can sway in the breeze. Finally, add a string at the top for hanging.
Hang your turkey windsock on a porch, near a window, or in a covered outdoor space.
Why it’s fun
- Simple to make.
- Uses recycled materials.
- Adds cheerful Thanksgiving decorations.
22. Pumpkin Seed Art
Instead of throwing pumpkin seeds away, use them to create beautiful Thanksgiving artwork.
Wash and dry the seeds before painting them in different autumn colors. Once they have dried, glue them onto cardstock to form pumpkins, leaves, turkeys, trees, or harvest scenes.
Children can experiment with different patterns while adults help create more detailed designs.
Pro Tip: Seal the finished artwork with clear craft glue to keep the seeds securely in place.
23. Thanksgiving Lanterns
Homemade lanterns create a warm and cozy atmosphere during Thanksgiving dinner.
Wrap clean glass jars with tissue paper in shades of orange, yellow, and red using decoupage glue. After everything dries, decorate the jars with leaf cutouts or thankful messages.
Place a battery-operated tea light inside each jar for a beautiful glow. These lanterns look lovely on dining tables, porches, or windowsills.
24. Gratitude Journal
A gratitude journal is both a meaningful craft and a treasured keepsake.
Decorate a blank notebook with stickers, autumn leaves, ribbon, and colorful paper. Afterwards, encourage every family member to write something they are thankful for each day during November.
Over the years, these journals become wonderful reminders of happy family moments.
Why families enjoy it
- Encourages thankfulness.
- Builds a positive habit.
- Creates lasting memories.
25. Thanksgiving Coasters
Protect your furniture while adding festive style with handmade coasters.
Cut cork sheets into circles or squares before decorating them with painted pumpkins, colorful leaves, or turkey designs. You can also use fall-themed scrapbook paper and seal it with a waterproof finish.
These coasters make thoughtful handmade gifts for family and friends.
26. Leaf Suncatchers
Leaf suncatchers brighten any room with beautiful autumn colors.
Begin by cutting a large leaf shape from black cardstock. Next, remove the center to create an outline. Cover the opening with clear contact paper before adding small pieces of colorful tissue paper.
Once complete, seal the back with another sheet of contact paper and hang the suncatcher in a sunny window.
The sunlight makes the colors shine beautifully.
27. Mini Hay Bale Centerpieces
Create charming Thanksgiving table decorations using miniature hay bales.
Arrange small hay bales on a tray before decorating them with tiny pumpkins, pine cones, faux berries, and colorful leaves. Add a ribbon or small sign with the word “Grateful” to complete the display.
Adults can assemble the arrangement while children help place the decorations.
This centerpiece instantly gives your table a cozy harvest feel.
28. Turkey Bookmark
Encourage holiday reading with a fun turkey bookmark.
Cut a bookmark from sturdy cardstock. Afterwards, decorate the top with a turkey face, colorful feathers, and googly eyes.
Children can personalize each bookmark with their names or favorite Thanksgiving quotes.
Pair the bookmark with a Thanksgiving-themed book for a thoughtful gift.
29. Cinnamon Stick Bundle Decoration
Fill your home with the comforting scent of autumn by making cinnamon stick decorations.
Bundle several cinnamon sticks together using twine or ribbon. Then, add dried orange slices, small pine cones, artificial leaves, or sprigs of rosemary for extra charm.
Display the bundles on trays, shelves, or the Thanksgiving table.
Not only do they look beautiful, but they also smell wonderful.
30. Family Thankful Canvas
A thankful canvas becomes a meaningful piece of holiday artwork that you can display every year.
Paint a blank canvas with a simple autumn background. After it dries, invite each family member to write something they are thankful for using paint pens or permanent markers.
You can also add painted handprints, leaf prints, or small drawings around the messages.
Once finished, frame the canvas and display it as part of your Thanksgiving decorations.
Why it’s special
- Celebrates family gratitude.
- Creates a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
- Becomes more meaningful every year as you look back on your blessings.
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31. Thanksgiving Table Place Cards
Handmade place cards add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving table while making every guest feel welcome.
Cut small cards from cardstock before folding them in half. Afterwards, decorate each card with tiny pumpkins, colorful leaves, or miniature turkey drawings. Finally, write each guest’s name using a metallic marker or colorful pen.
Children can decorate the cards while adults help with neat lettering.
Why you’ll love this craft
- Makes guests feel special.
- Adds charm to your table setting.
- Uses simple and inexpensive supplies.
32. Fall Leaf Crown
Let everyone feel festive by creating beautiful autumn leaf crowns.
Start by measuring a strip of cardstock to fit around each person’s head. Then, glue artificial or paper leaves around the band until it is completely covered.
For extra style, add small pine cones, ribbon, or paper berries.
These crowns are perfect for Thanksgiving photos and family gatherings.
33. Turkey Treat Bags
Turkey treat bags are fun to make and even more exciting to receive.
Use brown paper lunch bags as the base. Next, glue colorful feathers, googly eyes, a paper beak, and a red wattle onto the front.
Fill each bag with popcorn, candy, cookies, or other Thanksgiving snacks before folding the top closed.
These treat bags also make wonderful party favors.
34. Painted Wooden Spoons
Turn ordinary wooden spoons into adorable Thanksgiving decorations.
Paint each spoon to resemble a turkey, pumpkin, scarecrow, or pilgrim. After the paint dries, add small details using permanent markers, felt, ribbon, or googly eyes.
Display the finished spoons inside a vase or use them as decorative kitchen accents throughout the fall season.
Best for
- Older children.
- Teens.
- Adults who enjoy painting.
35. Paper Feather Wall Art
Create eye-catching Thanksgiving wall décor using colorful paper feathers.
Cut feather shapes from patterned cardstock in different sizes. Afterwards, decorate them with markers, glitter, or painted designs.
Arrange the feathers into the shape of a turkey or glue them around a thankful quote for a beautiful wall display.
This project is easy to customize for any decorating style.
36. Thanksgiving Photo Booth Props
Make family photos even more memorable with handmade photo booth props.
Cut fun shapes such as turkey feathers, pumpkins, pilgrim hats, speech bubbles, and autumn leaves from sturdy cardstock. Then, attach each design to a wooden craft stick.
During your Thanksgiving celebration, encourage everyone to pose with the props for fun and laughter.
The finished pictures will become treasured holiday memories.
37. Yarn-Wrapped Pumpkins
Yarn-wrapped pumpkins are soft, colorful, and surprisingly easy to make.
Begin with a small foam pumpkin or a cardboard pumpkin cutout. Apply craft glue to one section before wrapping yarn tightly around it. Continue until the entire pumpkin is covered.
Finish by adding a felt leaf and a small twig for the stem.
This craft looks beautiful on shelves, tables, or mantels.
38. Fall Nature Collage
Celebrate the beauty of autumn by creating a nature-inspired collage.
Collect leaves, small twigs, acorns, grass, seeds, and flower petals during a family walk. Once you return home, arrange the natural materials on sturdy paper to create harvest scenes, trees, pumpkins, or abstract artwork.
Because every collection is different, no two collages will ever look exactly the same.
Why it’s a favorite
- Encourages outdoor exploration.
- Inspires creativity.
- Uses free natural materials.
39. Thanksgiving Memory Box
A Thanksgiving memory box is a wonderful way to preserve special holiday moments.
Decorate a small wooden or cardboard box with paint, autumn paper, ribbon, and thankful messages. Afterwards, fill it with family photos, handwritten notes, recipes, greeting cards, and other keepsakes from your Thanksgiving celebration.
Open the box each year to relive your favorite memories together.
40. DIY Harvest Basket
End your crafting session by making a beautiful harvest basket that can serve as a festive centerpiece.
Start with a plain woven basket before decorating it with ribbon, burlap bows, artificial leaves, miniature pumpkins, pine cones, and seasonal flowers.
After decorating, fill the basket with apples, gourds, corn, or homemade treats.
Place it on your dining table, entryway, or kitchen counter to complete your Thanksgiving decorations.
Why everyone enjoys this project
- Easy for the whole family.
- Creates a beautiful seasonal display.
- Can be reused year after year.
Practical Tips for Making Thanksgiving Crafts Together
Creating this 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts should be enjoyable for everyone. These practical tips will help make your crafting session fun, organized, and stress-free.
- Gather all your supplies before you begin.
- Choose crafts that match the ages of everyone participating.
- Cover your work surface with newspaper or a reusable tablecloth.
- Keep child-safe scissors, glue, and paints within easy reach.
- Allow children to be creative instead of aiming for perfection.
- Use recycled materials whenever possible to save money.
- Take photos of everyone working together to preserve the memories.
- Display your finished crafts throughout your home to celebrate your hard work.
Recommendations
To make your Thanksgiving crafting experience even more enjoyable, consider these helpful recommendations:
- Set aside a dedicated family craft day before Thanksgiving.
- Play soft fall or holiday music while crafting.
- Serve seasonal snacks like apple slices, popcorn, or pumpkin muffins.
- Combine several small crafts into one fun afternoon activity.
- Encourage every family member to contribute ideas and decorations.
- Save your favorite crafts so you can build new Thanksgiving traditions each year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in this 40 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts
Although Thanksgiving crafts are simple, avoiding these common mistakes will help everyone have a better experience.
- Choosing projects that are too difficult for young children.
- Forgetting to protect tables and work surfaces.
- Rushing through the craft instead of enjoying the process.
- Using hot glue guns without adult supervision.
- Buying expensive supplies when affordable alternatives work just as well.
- Throwing away handmade crafts instead of saving special keepsakes.
- Comparing finished projects instead of celebrating everyone’s creativity.
By avoiding these mistakes, your family can focus on making memories instead of worrying about perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions About 40 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids and Adults
1. What are the best Thanksgiving crafts for families to make together?
The best Thanksgiving crafts are simple, affordable, and enjoyable for every age group. Family favorites include handprint turkeys, thankful trees, paper plate turkeys, gratitude jars, pumpkin mason jars, leaf rubbings, harvest baskets, and Thanksgiving lanterns. These projects allow both children and adults to participate while creating meaningful holiday memories.
2. What materials do I need for Thanksgiving crafts?
Most Thanksgiving crafts use inexpensive supplies that are easy to find at home or at a local craft store. Common materials include:
- Construction paper
- Cardstock
- Glue and glue sticks
- Child-safe scissors
- Markers and crayons
- Acrylic or washable paint
- Googly eyes
- Popsicle sticks
- Mason jars
- Twine and ribbon
- Pine cones
- Autumn leaves
- Paper plates
- Toilet paper rolls
- Felt
- Fabric scraps
You can also recycle everyday household items to make many of these crafts more budget-friendly.
3. How can I make Thanksgiving crafts fun for both kids and adults?
Choose projects that allow everyone to contribute based on their abilities. For example, younger children can paint, color, or glue decorations, while older children and adults can handle cutting, assembling, and adding detailed finishing touches.
Additionally, play music, prepare seasonal snacks, and let everyone personalize their creations. Focusing on spending time together instead of creating perfect crafts makes the experience much more enjoyable.
4. Can Thanksgiving crafts become family traditions?
Absolutely. In fact, many families look forward to making the same crafts every Thanksgiving. Activities like creating a thankful tree, decorating gratitude jars, making handprint keepsakes, or adding thankful messages to a family canvas become more meaningful each year.
As your family grows, these handmade decorations become treasured reminders of holidays spent together.
5. How do I preserve Thanksgiving crafts for future holidays?
Store your finished crafts in sturdy plastic containers or labeled storage boxes after Thanksgiving. Wrap delicate decorations in tissue paper or bubble wrap to prevent damage.
You can also laminate paper crafts, apply a protective sealer to painted projects, and keep keepsakes in a memory box. Proper storage allows you to enjoy your handmade decorations for many Thanksgiving celebrations to come.
Conclusion
Making these 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids and adults to make together is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday while creating lasting memories with the people you love. Although Thanksgiving is often centered around delicious food, it is also a time to slow down, express gratitude, and enjoy meaningful moments with family and friends.
From adorable handprint turkeys and colorful paper pumpkins to gratitude journals, thankful trees, and beautiful harvest baskets, every project offers an opportunity to laugh, learn, and work together. Even better, most of these 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts require only simple supplies, making them affordable for families of all sizes.
Remember, the true purpose of crafting is not to create perfect decorations. Instead, it is about spending quality time together, encouraging creativity, and celebrating the blessings that make Thanksgiving so special.
As you gather around the craft table this season, enjoy every conversation, every smile, and every handmade creation. Long after the holiday has passed, those shared moments will remain some of your family’s most cherished Thanksgiving memories.
Which one are you trying first among these 40 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids and Adults to Make Together.