50 Cute + Quirky Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

1. DIY Turkey Piñatas: Oh, em, gee — this isn’t your gramma’s traditional table decor. These paper mache birds of plenty are so fun for the kids, they give today’s Thanksgiving tablescapes a needed modern twist. A perfect way to keep the little ones distracted while you’re busy basting the real thing. (via Handmade Charlotte)

2. DIY Thanksgiving Puppets: These adorable finger puppets will give the kids hours of fun, first making the puppets and then acting out with them (what, no internet?) (via Tori Avey)

3. Thanksgiving Turkey Balloons: Sometimes the simplest crafts are the best. Your standard oblong balloons turned on the side make a perfect bird shape. Kids will have so much fun adding googly eyes, an orange beak, and a red snood to create these sunny yellow gobblers. (via Design Improvised)

4. Crayon Turkeys for the Thanksgiving Kids’ Table: You saw and drill the driftwood; kids have fun pasting the faces and choosing the colors that will make up the “tails.” Bonus: These cute gobblers double as colorful and festive decor for your Thanksgiving kids’ table. (via Paging Supermom)

5. Felt Fall Leaf Garland: One of the best things about fall is the colorful foliage. This leafy garland is made from premium wool felt that will stand the test of time. This is one craft you’ll reuse, again and again, breaking it out as part of your Thanksgiving tradition. (via Cutesy Crafts)

6. Colorful Turkey Paper Plate Craft: These pastel Tom Turkeys are so simple to assemble, the project can double as a kids’ table activity. Little fingers will be occupied for hours while honing tracing and cutting skills. (via Hello, Wonderful)

7. DIY Dream Catchers: Looking for a charming Native American theme to introduce this Thanksgiving? Kids really dig the idea of dream catchers, and this version is so colorful and cute, they’d make a sweet takeaway to hang above their beds. (via Rebecca Propes)

8. DIY Napkin Folding: Perfect to put as decoration around table settings, serving platters, or the bar, these will definitely have the kids focused for hours. For a fun, unique look have them draw on white napkins beforehand, and help them with the smaller folds! (via The House That Lars Built)

9. Thanksgiving Kids Table: Small gourds make the perfect bird shapes. Just add some googly eyes, a beak, and feathers and voila! — festive turkeys. When you’ve got a table this cute, everyone will want a seat at the kiddie table. (via Design Improvised)

10. DIY Painted Acorns: Make a day out of collecting acorns with the kids, and then closer to the big day spend some time painting them in your most festive seasonal colors. Use them for decoration around the table, string them together as a garland, or fill a vase with them for a centerpiece. This is a good craft to get kids in the holiday mood in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. (via Home Stories A to Z)

11. Easy DIY Fall Headband: These fall headbands are cute and oh-so-festive — and they work for both girls and boys. They also double as colorful photo booth props for Turkey Day selfies. (via Make Life Lovely)

12. Pinecone Turkeys: Pine cones are the perfect shape to make a turkey body, and the feathers tuck nicely into the spindly folds. Just add a beak and googly eyes and these little gobblers come alive. (via Lia Griffith)

13. Thanksgiving Turkey Puppet Craft: These precious folk art turkey puppets are easy to make and provide hours of imaginative play. Bonus: They double as festive Thanksgiving Day decor. (via Mer Mag)

14. DIY Pinecone Wreath: This fall wreath is simply put together with pinecones and an old wire hanger. Kids will enjoy exploring the outdoors while collecting bits of nature, then helping to string them together. (via I Heart Naptime)

15. DIY Turkey Shirt: This craft can be made no-sew by using iron-on fabric squares, available in craft stores and in the sewing aisle of big box stores. Turkey faces are super easy, so let the kids freehand the shapes. The crazier they come out, the better! (via Artsy-Fartsy Mama)

16. Free Thanksgiving Photo Booth Props: These first Thanksgiving-themed photo props could not be cuter! Kids will enjoy cutting them out and playing pretend pilgrim. Your guests will enjoy sharing photobooth selfies in their social feeds. (via The Dating Divas)

17. Origami Pumpkin Garland: These little origami shapes are so easy to pull off with the provided template and tutorial. It’s a common shape kid’s can learn and use again and again. Just change the color of the construction paper to make apples, strawberries, and so on to suit each season. (via My Poppet)

18. Turkey Glove Puppet: Jump-start this craft by using some inexpensive cotton glove liners in fall colors. You wield the needle and thread, while kids enjoy staying in the lines and tracing the template shapes. The end result is a cute little gobbler they’ll play with for days. (via Dream a Little Bigger)

19. Pinecone and Leaves Turkey Craft: This pinecone turkey has a colorful tail that’s cleverly made from foraged leaves. Kids will love collecting the leaves, and you’ll love the free craft supplies! (via Easy Peasy and Fun)

20. DIY Felt Pilgrim Hat: These no-sew girls’ pilgrim hats are so easy to make. Just grab your scissors and glue gun and click through for the downloadable template. Then kick up your feet and watch the scene unfold, as the kiddos enjoy hours of imaginative pilgrim play. (via Say Yes)

21. Pony Bead Indian Corn: Now here’s a kids’ table craft that calls for just two materials: beads and pipe cleaners. They’ll dress up the table in fall festive colors, then get to take them home as mementos. (via Cutesy Crafts)

22. Yarn Pumpkin Garland: If they can make a yarn pom-pom, they can master these little orange pumpkins, which are based on a pom-pom craft without the cut edges. They string up easily on green pipe-cleaner “stems” and look so festive strung over the mantle. (via Design Improvised)

23. Handprint Turkey Plate: This craft will forever capture the little handprints of all the kiddos in the family. Seal it with a glaze and it’s a serving platter, or simply display it each year at Thanksgiving time as part of your Thanksgiving decor. (via Inspirational Momma)

24. Mason Jar Lid Pumpkins: Everyone HEARTS mason jar crafts, because there are so many things we can do with them. This clever pumpkin centerpiece made of painted metal lids adds a pop of jolly orange to your Thanksgiving tablescape. (via The Country Cook)

25. Fall Leaf Wreath: This snazzy wreath is made from materials you can find in any crafts store. So what are you waiting for? Down with Mr. Bones and up with fall foliage, just in time for Turkey Day. (via Design Improvised)

26. Thanksgiving Decoration and Ice Breaker: This one’s for you all who love to deck the halls in gold this time of year. It really does add that magical touch of bling. Better yet — this tutorial includes a fun party game template to get everyone chatting. (via Home Made by Carmona)

27. Thanksgiving Turkey Craft: These little birds are cleverly made out of those little apples you see in every craft store. The gold paint jazzes things up, while the feathers cut from scrap cardstock are such a pop of color. (via One Dog Woof)

28. Modern Pink Pine Cone Turkey: While most pine cone turkeys come with traditional brown, yellow, and orange feathers, this DIY shakes things up a bit. The end result is a more contemporary turkey that fits right in with modern decor. (via Hello, Wonderful!)

29. DIY Color Wrapped Wheat: Here’s a centerpiece that reminds every one of today’s abundance compared to the first Thanksgiving, when wheat was scarce. Kids wrap colorful ribbons around each stalk of wheat, adding a rainbow of colors to your Turkey Day table. (via Inspired by Charm)

30. Pumpkin Turkey Craft: Don’t toss those post-Halloween gourds just yet. Gourd + construction paper = turkey. (via Craftberry Busy)

31. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups: Kids get impatient when adult dinner conversation drags on long after little tummies are full. So stock some crayons at the kids’ table and give the little guys something to do; everyone will *thank* you for it. (via Lil’ Luna)

32. Kids Thanksgiving Turkey Craft: Colorful baking cups make the perfect turkey plumage. Fan them out, attach a pom-pom head and a paper beak, and you are good to go! (via Oh My Creative)

33. Vintage Thanksgiving Card Banner: This one’s for the vintage babes in the house — you know who you are! Antique postcards make a sweet Turkey Day banner and they don’t have to cost you a thing. Click through for tips on locating the free printables that were included in this craft. (via BugabooCity)

34. Boy’s Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hat: There’s nothing more fun than watching kids enjoy role play, enacting the first Thanksgiving. This one’s for the little boys at the table. It’s just like the hats you see in catalogs this time of year, but without the *imaginative* price tag. (via Make Life Lovely)

35. DIY Thanksgiving Mayflower Voyage Magnet Game: The object of this craft game is to move your Mayflower from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth Rock. A magnet placed on the back of the box attracts the paper clip that’s glued to the back of the boat. Genius! (via Hello, Wonderful!)

36. Boat Place Card: Now here’s a crafty idea: Cover the children’s table with a paper map, then have the kiddos help fold the little boats and write their names on the sails. This project will keep them happily occupied for hours, and the end product looks so festive. (via My Eastern Shore Wedding)

37. Turkey and Pumpkin Thanksgiving Garland: This adorable yarn garland is so cute, you’ll find yourself breaking it out again year after year. Kids will enjoy creating the yarn balls that become the turkeys and pumpkins. (via Frugal Mom Eh!)

38. How to Make Paper Pumpkins: These little paper pumpkins look so sophisticated, but they’re quick and easy to assemble. Use your choice of colored paper strips, or substitute leather if you want an extra chic decoration that will look good for years to come. (via Life With Lovebugs)

39. DIY Teepee Kids Craft and Centerpiece: Kid’s toy or creative centerpiece — you decide. These adorable teepees are made using plain, white paper and toothpicks. But you could jazz them up by subbing colorful wrapping paper or cardstock, and they’d make a beautiful table centerpiece or mantle decor. (via Paging Supermom)

40. Turkey Wine Cork Placecards: The silly turkey faces on these place cards will put a smile on everyone’s face at the table. Nothing says Thanksgiving like a colorful little Turkey with a fan of festive feathers. (via Caitlin Ball)

41. No Sew Turkey Headband: Before you run out and buy festive headbands for the kids, check out this inexpensive DIY. Velcro makes them one size fits all, so each kiddo at the table can wear one. (via Toddler Approved)

42. Thankful Tree with Gratitude Leaves: To get the vivid colors needed in these clay leaves, you’re going to toss in several heaping spoonfuls of powdered tempera paint. Add a glossy coat of mod podge after they bake, and you get a swirled mix of fall colors that looks sparkly and marbleized. (via Rhythms of Play)

43. Fall Leaves Garland DIY: This cute little leaf garland could not be simpler to pull off, but the end result is so impressive. Cut leaves from various colors of felt, punch holes, then sew a thick cord yarn through. This is one fall themed garland you’ll never want to take down. (via A Beautiful Mess)

44. Thanksgiving Finger Puppets: Here’s a fun holiday craft that will engage the kiddos, while the adults put the finishing touches on the Thanksgiving table. Older kids can help the little ones with tricky cutting, but kids of all ages will want to play. (via Southern Mom Loves)

45. DIY Pie Place Card Holders: Kids can help set the table with pride when they make their own place card holders. (via The Glitter in My Tea)

46. Squeeze Paint Pumpkin Turkey:Leftover pumpkins from Halloween can be salvaged in time for Thanksgiving with some super messy fun. (via Hello, Wonderful)

47. Wood Place Card Holders: Now those wood slices and cutouts can go to good use and keep the small ones occupied in the lead up to dinner. (via Lolly Jane)

48. Painted Leaf Art: Have them paint one-of-a-kind table decor to supplement your runner or seasonal decor. (via Handmade Charlotte)

49. Thankful Paper Turkey: In case people need a little reminder, putting together a few of these is a good way to keep everyone humble and thankful. (via Hello, Wonderful)

50. Thanksgiving Play Props: The kids will love performing a show of the original Thanksgiving around the kid’s table before dinner with these super cute props.

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Additional Reporting by Ariel Garneau.