20 Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids (and Adults) of All Ages

Have your most productive Turkey Day yet.

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Paper turkey tout
Photo: Getty Images

Thanksgiving conjures images of turkey, mashed potatoes, and football, but for creative types, it’s also a great time to dive into crafts and DIYs. Whether you're dealing with antsy preschoolers, or you just want to get the whole family involved in creating some homemade table decor, Thanksgiving crafts are a great way to celebrate the day (and the weeks leading up to it).

Some Thanksgiving crafts make great centerpieces, place card holders, and table runners, while others are less purposeful and more about the activity than the final product. No matter what kind of DIY you're looking for, our collection of easy crafts works for kids and adults alike.

Our guides include supply lists and pictures, so you know exactly what the final product is supposed to look like. Use them as vehicles for your Thanksgiving quotes and Thanksgiving wishes, or simply add crafting to your household's list of Thanksgiving activities or games. No matter what, they'll serve as fun-to-make mementos of this year's celebration, small or large.

01 of 20

Potted Succulent Place Card Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Potted Succulent Place Card Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Small succulent in a terracotta pot
  • Liquitex Glossies paint
  • Washi tape
  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • Skewers
  • Magna-Tac Glue
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Paint the terracotta pot and let dry. Apply washi tape to the top part of the pot.
  2. Cut a small place card from the paper and write your guest's name on it. Trim the skewer and glue the name card to it, then stick inside the pot.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

02 of 20

Homemade Thanksgiving Menu

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Homemade Thanksgiving Menu
Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine

What You'll Need:

  • Crayons
  • Construction paper
  • Glue (or a hot glue gun, with adult supervision)
  • Seasonal embellishments such as wheat grass, pinecones, and berries
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut large shapes, such as circles or squares, from construction paper.
  2. Write the day's menu in the center of the paper with crayons.
  3. Use glue to paste seasonal embellishments around the edges. Try one kind on each menu, as seen here, or blend them together for a more colorful look.
03 of 20

Faux Bois Table Runner

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Faux-Bois Table Runner
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Metallic contact paper
  • Canvas
  • Paint
  • Wood graining tool
  • Magna-Tac glue
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut a strip of canvas and trim it to the desired width and length of the table runner.
  2. Apply the contact paper to the canvas with glue. Cover the contact paper in paint.
  3. Use the wood graining tool to make a faux bois design. Let dry.
04 of 20

Wood Coasters

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Wood Coasters
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Wood slices
  • Contact paper
  • Liquitex Glossies paints
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Create a pumpkin stencil out of contact paper with scissors. Place it on the wood slice and fill it in with paint.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

05 of 20

Gold Pinecone Place Card Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Gold Pinecone Place Card Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Pinecone
  • Gold spray paint
  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Spray paint the pinecone and let dry.
  2. Cut out a strip of paper, write your guest's name on it, and place on the pinecone.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

06 of 20

Branch Centerpiece

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Branch Centerpiece
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Vase
  • Branch
  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • String
  • Small hole punch
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut leaf shapes from construction paper or cardstock. Punch holes in the leaves and attach a piece of string to each leaf.
  2. Place the branch in the vase. Tie the leaves onto the branch.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

07 of 20

Natural Table Runner

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Natural Table Runner
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Various-sized terra cotta pots
  • Succulents
  • Pinecones
  • Fake leaves
  • Gold spray paint

Directions:

  1. Spray paint the terra cotta pots and let dry.
  2. Place the succulents with soil into the pots.
  3. Arrange the potted succulents along the middle of table with the pinecones and fake leaves.
08 of 20

Mayflower Crayon Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Mayflower Crayon Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Piece of beige cardstock (or whichever color you want the boat to be)
  • Sheet of white printer paper
  • Sheet of colored construction paper (for the flags)
  • Small piece of foam core
  • 2 wooden skewers
  • Craft knife
  • Magna-Tac Glue
  • Tape
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut out two crescent-like shapes from the cardstock for the sides of the boat. Then, trim the outside curve of each crescent so it has a straight edge (this edge will sit on the table). Write "Mayflower" on each crescent for the boat's name.
  2. Trace a football shape (oval, with pointed ends) on the foam core and cut out with a craft knife. This will act as the base of the boat.
  3. Glue the cardstock crescent's straight edge along the length of one side of the oval foam core base. Repeat this step with the second piece of cardstock on the opposite side of the base. Secure the front and back parts of the boat with tape.
  4. Draw and cut out one big and one small hourglass shape from the white printer paper for the "sails." Create two slits at the top and bottom of the cutouts and slide each one onto a skewer.
  5. Create a little "flag" from the construction paper and glue to the top of one of the skewers.
  6. Trim the skewers if needed. Place them on opposite sides of the boat by piercing the pointed end of each skewer into the foam core. Secure with glue if needed.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

09 of 20

Mini Gourd Place Card Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Mini Gourd Place Card Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Small dried gourds
  • Permanent marker

Directions:

  1. Write your guest's name on the dried gourd with the permanent marker.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

10 of 20

Leaves Table Runner

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Leaves Table Runner
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Colorful canvas fabric or felt
  • Magna-Tac glue
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut out leaf shapes from the fabric (or you can buy pre-made shapes).
  2. Layer them together in one long strip with glue.
11 of 20

Pipe Cleaner Turkey Place Card Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Pipe Cleaner Turkey Place Card Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Brown pom pom
  • 7 pipe cleaners in autumnal colors (like brown, red, orange, or beige)
  • Small pinecone
  • 2 small googly eyes
  • Piece of yellow felt
  • Piece of construction paper
  • Magna-Tac Glue
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Fold six pipe cleaners in half and create two loops on each end. Wrap the middle parts of all of the pipe cleaners together and arrange in a fan-like shape to create feathers. Once you have your desired shape, glue the combined piece to the bottom of the pinecone.
  2. Glue the pom pom to the top of the pinecone. Cut a small triangle out of the yellow felt for the beak. Add the googly eyes and the beak to the pom pom with glue.
  3. Cut the remaining pipe cleaner in half and use one of the pieces to create feet. Glue to the bottom of the pinecone.
  4. Cut out a small flag from the construction paper and write the guest's name on it. Glue to the pipe cleaners.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

12 of 20

Turkey Place Card

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Turkey Place Card
Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine

What You'll Need:

Directions:

  1. Print one copy of the template for each crafter.
  2. Cut out the template and decorate with crayons. Write each person's name in the center and arrange around the table.
13 of 20

Pom Pom Trim Table Runner

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Pom Pom Trim Table Runner
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Strip of burlap, linen, or canvas
  • Pom fringe trim
  • Magna-Tac glue

Directions:

  1. Cut a strip of burlap, linen, or canvas fabric to the desired length of the table runner.
  2. Attach the pom pom fringe to the edges of the fabric with Magna Tac.
14 of 20

Acorn Face Napkin Ring

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Acorn Face Napkin Ring
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Acorns
  • Faux suede leather cord (cut into 9-inch strips)
  • Paint pens
  • Permanent marker

Directions:

  1. Draw faces on the acorn using the paint pens and permanent marker.
  2. Tie each end of the cord around the stem of one acorn.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

15 of 20

Wheat Place Card Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Wheat Place Card Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Stalks of wheat
  • Twine
  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • Hole punch
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut out a circle from the paper, punch a hole at the top, and write your guest's name on it.
  2. Gather three pieces of wheat and wrap together with twine. Then tie the place card to the wheat.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

16 of 20

Leaf-Shaped Crayons

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Leaf-Shaped Crayons
Photo: Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine

What You'll Need:

  • As many broken crayons as you can find
  • Festive-shaped silicone trays (such as leaves or pumpkins)
  • Kraft paper

Directions:

  1. Place broken crayon bits in trays. Sort by color, or combine shades for a more vibrant final product.
  2. Bake in the oven until the crayons have melted. Remove and allow to cool completely.
  3. Cover a table or other surface with kraft paper. Once the crayons are cool, remove from trays and distribute to everyone to use to decorate the paper.
17 of 20

Acorn Wreath Place Card Holder

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Acorn Wreath Place Card Holder
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Acorns (for one wreath, you'll need about eight)
  • Construction paper or cardstock
  • E6000 Craft Adhesive
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Glue acorns together in a wreath shape, with the tops facing outside.
  2. Cut out a strip of paper, write your guest's name on it, and glue to the wreath.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

18 of 20

Cutlery Envelope

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Cutlery Envelope
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Printer paper (you could use heavier paper or cardstock, depending on your printer's capabilities)
  • Envelope template
  • Washi tape
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Download the template and print out on cardstock or paper. Fold the paper to create the envelope.
  2. Secure and decorate with washi tape.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

19 of 20

Butcher Paper Table Runner

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Butcher Paper Table Runner
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Roll of butcher paper
  • Leaves (they can be real or fake)
  • Gold spray paint
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Cut a strip of butcher paper so it fits the length of your table. You might have to trim it to the desired width (depending on whether you want a wide or thick table runner).
  2. Place leaves all over the butcher paper and spray gold paint all over it.
  3. Once dry, remove the leaves to reveal the leaf silhouettes.
20 of 20

Turkey Cups

Thanksgiving crafts, ideas - Turkey Cups
Emily Kinni

What You'll Need:

  • Cupcake liners
  • Construction paper (in different colors for the head, eyes, and beak)
  • Double-stick tape
  • Magna-Tac Glue
  • Scissors

Directions:

  1. Trim the sides of the cupcake liners to create oval and hourglass shapes. Tape them onto the glass in a fan shape. Optional: Secure with glue.
  2. Cut out a circle from the construction paper for the head. Create eyes and a beak from the paper and glue to the circle. Attach the head to the cup with tape or glue.

Craft developed by Morgan Levine

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