Ah, Thanksgiving. A day of giant balloons on Fifth Avenue. A day of uncomfortable dinner-table discussions. A day of even more uncomfortable history lessons. A day spent being thankful, hanging with family and eating your weight in mashed potatoes. But what else is there to do other than napping off your food coma with those you love? Crafts, of course!
But crafting around Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you’re obligated to stick to hand turkeys — and please, in the name that of all that is good, no more paper pilgrims. Below are a few colorful crafts the entire family can make. Holiday entertainment and fall home decor you can hang ’til New Year’s? Sold.
So build a fire, pour some apple cider and enjoy these bright Thanksgiving-y crafts you can make well before — and beyond — Thanksgiving itself.
Clay leaf charms
This is an easy DIY from Mod Podge Rocks Blog that can be used for so many things. Tie it to your Thanksgiving place settings as a festive charm, use it as an ornament, or write the names of each of your Thanksgiving guests on the back and use them as name cards. Plus, this craft only needs four items: clay, leaves, black paint and “antique” Mod Podge — and it can be made in four easy steps.
Ribbon apple suncatchers
Pumpkin pie garland
Because what’s Thanksgiving without a little pie? This garland from the craft queen herself, Martha Stewart, is as fun to make as the real deal is to eat. (Well, almost.) With just pieces of paper and glue, you can make this “delicious” holiday decor — and top it with a whipped cream pom-pom for an extra-sweet detail.
DIY leaf-print pillowcase
(or napkin or place mat or apron or…)
Be careful with this one, because once you start, you’ll want everything you own to be covered in leaf prints. This DIY from Ukkonooa has a simple three-step process: collect leaves, paint them with a fabric paint of your choosing, and press the leaves onto your desired fabric to create these beautiful prints.
Leaf potato stamping
Watercolor leaf & branch mobile
How gorgeous is this watercolor branch mobile? Get the details over on Happiness is Homemade; kids of all ages can help with this incredibly eye-catching craft. Simply use watercolors in fall shades to make a few paintings, cut out the leaves and attach them to a branch with string.
Autumn lanterns
Wreath of plenty
Every leaf you add to your wreath makes it a fuller, more beautiful piece of Thanksgiving decor — as well as a beautiful reminder of all of the things your family has to be grateful for. The folks at Parents magazine share this easy holiday DIY. Cut out leaves from colorful paper, leave out pens or markers for your family to write down what they are thankful for and pin them into a foam circle or wreath form you’ve wrapped in fabric or painted. Almost too easy.
Maple play dough
What is Thanksgiving without delicious smells wafting through the house? This maple play dough from The Best Ideas For Kids not only gives you delightful play dough to squish around, but it also smells just like Thanksgiving breakfast. The blog even has recipes for apple pie play dough and pumpkin pie play dough; try these only if you’re confident you won’t be tempted to eat them. This dough does need to be cooked, but little kids can get in on that fun too — by helping to measure the ingredients and stir the pot. Once the batch is ready, get started on those incredible, edible-smelling creations. (But please, don’t eat them.)
Leave a Comment