40 Best Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts

Author:
Loraine Brummer
Updated date:
Mar 14, 2022

Loraine loves arts and crafts and used to volunteer at an elementary art class. She loves sharing fun and easy craft tutorials.

Let's face it: Thanksgiving is like the middle child of holidays. Although it is a celebrated holiday, it seems to lose importance because it's between Halloween and Christmas.

When you want to decorate for the holiday, it is sometimes difficult to find supplies for those Thanksgiving and turkey projects. At times we just have to make do with the supplies we can find. In this article, I'll show some nice projects, include a picture of the project, and give a link to the directions for it.

Go to Kids & Glitter for the directions and patterns for the We Give Thanks wreath shown above.

1. Paper Bag Pumpkin

Wouldn't this be a terrific idea for table decorations for a large banquet where a lot of items are needed? The supplies are inexpensive and the pumpkins are easy to make. Check out the tutorial at A Crafty Mom’s Life to make these paper bag pumpkins.

This is a beautiful Thanksgiving banner that you will use year after year. Go to Holiday Crafts for the instructions.

3. Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial

Find a great fabric pumpkin tutorial by going to the Cottage Mama. This is elegant and easy!

4. Turkey Button Art

This is actually a Thanksgiving card project, but I think it is so appropriate for using the idea for an art project. If you don't have enough buttons consider using sequins, dotting paint, or thumbprints instead of the buttons. Find the instructions for making this button card art at A Couple of Craft Addicts.

5. Indian Corn Magnet

Chenille strips and beads makes this a colorful and easy craft to make, even for the very little kids. Go to the Parents site to find the instructions for making these Indian corn magnets. Useful and unique.

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6. Turkey Party Hat

The kids especially will enjoy making and wearing these turkey party hats. A great Thanksgiving tradition started.

7. Turkey Napkin Rings

I love the colorful feathers on these clothespin turkey napkin rings. The kids will love making these napkin rings for your Thanksgiving table. The instructions are found at Uncommon Designs.

8. Cereal Box Turkeys

Start saving you cereal boxes so you'll have plenty of the cardboard to make these cute little turkeys. A nice inexpensive Thanksgiving craft for all ages. The instructions for making these turkeys is found at plum pudding.

9. Zentangle Pumpkin Art

The kids are going to love making this zentangle art, and they'll be so pleased with how beautiful their pumpkin art will turn out. Check the Angela Anderson blog to see how to make zentangle pumpkins.

10. Folk Art Thankful Art

This art project includes using oil pastels, so you know it'll be loads of fun. Go to Sine Metu Designs for the directions and then make your own folk art.

11. Spatter Leaf Art

The photo shown here doesn't do this project credit at all. Be sure you go to the Berceaumagique site to see the step-by-step pictures showing how this is done. The blog is written in a foreign language, but the pictures show how to proceed. You'll have to scroll down a ways to find this project on the page.

12. Leaf Luminaries

It's fun to decorate for Thanksgiving when you have cute items such as these leaf luminaries to decorate with.

13. Pilgrim Silhouettes

Use the downloadable Pilgrim silhouettes from Box to make Thanksgiving pictures like these. Or make embroidery hoop pictures like the ones at Atta Girl Says.

14. Thanksgiving Place Cards

These Thanksgiving place cards are made by using the small terra cotta flower pots. Very cute and very easy to make. Find the tutorial for making these place cards at Better Homes and Gardens.

15. Scarecrow Magnet

Use these scarecrow magnets to help you display all the kids' Thanksgiving art project on your fridge. Find the tutorial for making the scarecrow magnets at Today's Creative Idea.

16. Be Thankful Utensil Holders

There are printables included in this project by The Idea Room to help you make these utensil holders in no time flat. A beautiful way to include a word of thankfulness at the table.

17. Gratitude Board

Imagine how much easier it would be to teach the little ones, and the bigger ones, gratitude if you had a Give Thanks board reminder. It may take a little time to make this, but it will be well worth the time. You'll find the tutorial for this craft at Jellybean Junkyard.

18. Pine Cone Turkey Decoration

19. Turkey Pop-up Card

Pop-up cards are so much fun to make, but sometimes it's hard to give them away. Make this cute turkey pop-up card and then give it to someone in the family.

20. I'm No Turkey

The kids love using their imaginations to dream up outfits to hide their turkey from being Thanksgiving dinner. Find a copy of the turkey to be dressed at Kids & Glitter.

21. Thanksgiving Turkey Mask

Imagine the fun that the kids will have making and wearing a turkey mask. You'll find the instructions that you'll need to make this mask at Designs With Heart.

23. Hand Print Turkey Keepsake

You'll be aware of how much the little ones have grown from one year to the next by making keepsakes like this. Find the instructions at Share & Remember.

24. Harvest Crowns

Make cute little harvest crowns by finding the directions at the Made Everyday site.

25. Giving Thanks Tree

A great way for the family to reflect on all the things that they are thankful for. Give everyone a chance to add their thoughts to this Giving Thanks tree shown on Jumpstart. Also find the instructions for the project there.

26. Stand Up Turkey

You'll find the directions for this cute stand up turkey at Designs With Heart.

27. Chenille Strip Thanksgiving Finger Puppets

28. Acorn Napkin Rings

Thanksgiving and the beautiful things in nature go hand in hand. A great example is this acorn napkin ring by Hello Little Home.

29. Crocheted Turkey Wreath

This is a very nice looking Thanksgiving wreath that will be used for many years during the fall holidays. Go to favecrafts for all the instructions.

30. Leaf Window Clings

I've never tried to make window clings, but these leaf window clings look like something fun to make.

31. Indian Corn Thanksgiving Favors

32. Autumn Leaf

This is a very interesting craft because you use the flimsy type window screening to make the leaves. Find the instructions at Crafts For All Seasons and make some of these leaves for your fall decorations.

33. Waxed Fall Leaves

This waxed fall leaves project looks interesting. A leaf garland made using them would be outstanding.

34. Fabulously Frugal Pumpkins

Make a quick and easy set of pumpkins by following the pictured directions at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

35. Placemat and Crayons

Be prepared to entertain the little ones at the Thanksgiving table by having crayons and a placemat for them to color. You'll find what you need for this project at alpha mom.

36. Book Page Leaves Wreath

Find the instructions at Good Housekeeping.

37. Felt Leaf Napkin Rings and Placecards

The perfect touch for your Thanksgiving table. Find the directions at merriment design.

38. Turkey Favor Tins

These very attractive turkey favor tins, with the tutorial for making them at Burton Avenue, will be the finishing touch for your holiday table. Very nice!

39. Glitter Leaves and Acorns Thanksgiving Napkins

Make beautiful Thanksgiving napkins by following the instructions at Crafts By Amanda. These will definitely put the finishing touch on your holiday table.

40. Scarecrow Centerpiece

Make an outstanding Thanksgiving centerpiece like this scarecrow by going to the Craft Klatch website for the tutorial.

Nancy Tate Hellams from Pendleton, SC on November 23, 2013:

Wow, these are some great Thanksgiving Crafts. Thanks so much for sharing and I will share, too.

anonymous on December 09, 2012:

Very creative lens. I love your versatility.

bgassociate on November 20, 2012:

great craft ideas

Rosemarystilson55 on November 16, 2012:

there some really cool crafts love the cd turkey

Deadicated LM on November 16, 2012:

Thanks for the great craft ideas; I decorate a little bit for Thanksgiving.

shovonpk on November 14, 2012:

Arts and Crafts i like it

Mary Stephenson from California on November 09, 2012:

Lot of terrific ideas here.

FantasticBdaypa on November 06, 2012:

great ideas! I love the glitter wreath at the beginning of the lens!

nicey on November 04, 2012:

I give you thumbs up! How do you get all these creative ideas?I would like to make things without copying others.The pictures were excellente.

anne mohanraj on November 04, 2012:

Thank you for sharing this very interesting and creative lens!

amandascloset0 on September 22, 2012:

These are really cute! My daughter is going to love them. Thanks for sharing these!

Jackie Block from SE Michigan on August 30, 2012:

These are really cute crafts. I can't wait to give them a try. Thanks for sharing these!

kengibbons4 on November 23, 2011:

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norma-holt on November 22, 2011:

Wonderful and so visually appealing. Congrats on LOTD and now featured on Squidoo LOTD Lenses, hugs

Srena44 on November 17, 2011:

great lens

anonymous on November 15, 2011:

Great lens.

VSP on November 15, 2011:

Great lens! Will be featured on Fri. on my fb page Homeschool Preschool thru High School.

DebMartin on November 15, 2011:

Great lens. I love the Autumn Elegance. Nice.