5 Thanksgiving Garland Ideas

Paper Thanksgiving Craft: Decorate with Garland

Decorate your dining room for Thanksgiving with cute fall garland you make together as a family. Use these ideas for paper garland decorations or let each family member design their own. Some fun Thanksgiving garland ideas include fall leaves, owls, turkeys, pumpkins or squash, pilgrim hats, tepees, or cornucopias. Enjoy!

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Thanksgiving Garland Ideas.

10 Paper Bag Thanksgiving Crafts: Turkey

Easy Paper Bag Turkey Craft and More

These paper bag Thanksgiving crafts are easy to make. Whether you make a cute turkey with preschoolers or carve up a roast turkey paper bag, you'll find a simple turkey craft to decorate your holiday table or use as an invitation to craft at the kids' table. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

10 Paper Bag Thanksgiving Crafts: Turkey.

Handprint Turkey Craft Thanksgiving 8

8 Easy Handprint Turkeys

Looking for an easy, quick Thanksgiving activity to do with the little ones? Try a Handprint Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving. We're sharing Eight of our favorites from Kid Bloggers and Pinterest. Enjoy!

8 Easy Handprint Turkey Crafts for Thanksgiving.

• We like how this handprint turkey from Meet the Dubiens used the entire hand for the feathers. It allows for lots of fun, messy handprints!

Easy Handprint Turkey for Preschoolers from Meet the Dubiens.

• How cool is this unique handprint turkey? They are thinking outside of the box at floortjetekent blog? But, maybe their turkeys look different than ours? Turkeys don't have combs... do they?

Unique handprint turkey or is it a rooster?

• Easy Paper Footprint Turkey Craft

• Over at 123Peppy, they spruced up their colorful handprint turkey by pasting it to a plate and adding a decorative border.

Colorful handprint turkey from 123 Peppy.

• It isn't a handprint, but this footprint, turkey feather Native American Headdress is a cute activity for Thanksgiving.

• Dress your handprint turkey for the occassion, by giving him a pilgrim hat for Thanksgiving, like this one from Lonestar Knits.

Paper Handprint Turkey with Pilgrim Hat.

• These felt handprint roosters are stuffed, and they stand up. Just add a gobbler, colorful feathers, and drop the comb to make a felt handprint turkey craft. 

Make felt handprint turkeys for the Thanksgiving table.

• Mayhem designed this paper and pipecleaner turkey craft all by herself. She twisted the yellow pipecleaner into feet and then looped the orange one through the middle in the shape of a J. Then, she traced her handprint, cut it out, and attached it to the pipecleaner with hot glue. She twisted a loop in the top and hot glued the head to the orange pipecleaner.

Paper and pipecleaner handprint turkey.

To make him even more special, have your child write what they are thankful for on each feather!


Recommended:

Turkey Song for Thanksgiving

Jumbo Pack of Pipecleaners*

Edible Marshmallow Turkeys

Turkey Trouble Thanksgiving Book*

Over the River and Through the Woods Thanksgiving Poem

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Styrofoam Cup Turkey Craft

Easy Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving

This styrofoam cup turkey craft is an easy turkey craft for Thanksgiving. He is cute enough to become your Thanksgiving table centerpiece, and simple enough for little hands to manipulate. Include this cute, turkey craft as a sensory fine motor project for preschool and kindergarten class. Enjoy!

Cute Styrofoam Cup Turkey Craft.

To make Styrofoam Turkey Craft

Styrofoam Cup

Orange or Brown Paint

Pipecleaners in Fall Colors

Mini Pom Poms

Assorted Construction Paper

Glue Stick

Hot Glue Gun

Easy Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving with styrofoam cup.

Prep: Cut cardboard toilet tube in half.

Flatten the top, and fold a flap approximately 1".

Fold a small piece of paper in half, draw a circle, and cut out for the eyes. Draw pupils at different levels to give the turkey a loopy look.

Cut a gobbler from red paper and attach just below his mini pom pom beak.

Paint the styrofoam cup with tempera paint. Allow to dry.

Parent or Teacher: Make a bead of hot glue all around the bottom of the styrofoam cup (Top of the bird), quickly connect the cardboard tube head.

Bend the pipecleaners in half. Twists halves together at the bottom.

Insert pipecleaners by poking the ends into the back of the cup as shown below.

Back of Turkey: Poke pipecleaners just below the turkey's head.

Recommended:

Watch this Torn Paper Owl Craft and make a Turkey Instead.

Turkey Trouble Thanksgiving Book for Kids*

Edible Turkey Craft

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Thanksgiving Activity: Broomstick Toss Craft and Game for Parties

Broomstick Toss Craft and Game for Kids for Fall Parties

You are busy working in the kitchen; your kids need something to do. Take a minute to turn some plates and a broom into a fun Thanksgiving Activity. This Broomstick Toss game is perfect for preschoolers and family parties. Bring on the holiday fun! Enjoy.

Thanksgiving Game for Parties.

Jake is happy he got to use scissors, nevermind he did not follow the instructions. Let your kids experiment. Give them a plain piece of paper and a pair of kiddie scissors, and you've just earned twenty minutes of freedom. Cut the center from your mini-paper plate. Grab your broom. Dessert Plates work best.

Use Sensory Motor Skills to make this craft.

Easy Thanksgiving activity game for kids to make and play.

Thanksgiving Game for Parties  

You will need:

6 -10 paper plates, scissors, and a broom.

• Start by poking a hole in the center of your plate and cutting around to form a ring.
• Repeat with all plates.
• Divide into two teams, each team taking half the plates to opposite ends of the room.
• Get your broom, decide which team goes first.
• Unlike the traditional ring toss the player holds the broom and actively tries to catch the rings. It can be a boisterously fun game for preschoolers.
• We found when you toss your plate upside down it flies better, but it is nearly impossible to catch on the broom. So, toss your plates under-handed with the eating side up.
• When a player tosses all of their plates, tally the 'ringers' and switch sides.

The winner catches the most plates with the broom.

 

Jake beams after catching a plate- Don't tell Amanda we let her cheat!

Action!....

The kids really like this game and it is so SIMPLE.  It is a great 'busy' activity while you cook Thanksgiving Dinner. They needed very little moderation, although I can see the broomstick turning into a weapon quickly in a dispute, so don't leave them unattended for too long. :-)



Recommended Reading:

Thanksgiving Song for Kids

Thanksgiving Song for Kids

Turkey Marshmallows? Don't try this one at home: Messy Edible Thanksgiving Craft super fun for kids

Marshmallow Turkey Place Setting fun Favor for Kids to Make

I thought about not posting our failed attempt at Turkey Marshmallows, but it was so much fun for kids; I kept trying hoping for a perfect one. Then, I thought about the difficulty we had and decided more than likely it will happen to you too. We all struggle with perfection. If you want to have some fun with your kids, try this! If you want to make a beautiful, impressive, Thanksgiving table setting... Don't!

Messy Marshmallow Turkey Craft.

Marshmallow Turkey: Edible Craft for Thanksgiving.

I tried with fresh marshmallows. Then with frozen marshmallows to buy some more time.  The kids loved it!   They loved getting messy, they loved eating the mistakes - but it never seemed to work.  I know, I said it's all good and it was good... just somewhat disappointing. You've seen those cute snowman marshmallow party favors or table decorations?

I thought , that looks simple so why not try it with a turkey theme.

Well, here's why not:

First, we stuck toothpicks through the marshmallows for added stability - maybe not the best idea for little ones who like to grab the marshmallows and eat them.

So, then we tried to "glue' them together with chocolate icing.

Marshmallow and Toothpick Turkey.



They looked cute for about two second but the weight of the DOT candies we used for "turkey feathers" caused our turkeys to topple! Every time we tried something new, the marshmallows got gooey and goo-ier.

This part attracted my 4 year old, son who previously had no interest in the project, "Hey, I want to make one! Can I eat your broken one?" "Sure, why not?" Well, his actually stayed standing a little longer...

Thanksgiving Turkey Marshmallow activity 

for your holiday place setting: Jake's (4 yrs.)

I think it's because he has a shorter attention span and wasn't into decorating like the girls were, so the marshmallows didn't melt as quickly. Also, he used plain toothpicks for tail-feathers. 

What you will need to make the attempt:

• Marshmallows - they make chocolate ones that are conceptually great for a Turkey - but stickier than the good, old white variety.
• Icing white or chocolate for "Glue".
• Toothpicks.
• Candies for the tail-feathers - we tried "Dots" and "Milk Duds" but something lighter would work better. Any ideas? I am thinking chocolate chips or mini marshmallows.
• "M and M's", "Red Hots", Chocolate Chips, or Necklace candy for facial features.
• Plastic knife or spoon to spread icing.
• Lots of baby wipes to clean sticky hands.

Good idea, messy results.

Make Turkey Peanut Butter Balls Instead!

Recommended Reading:

Marshmallow Snowman Cupcakes 

Turkey Trouble*






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Food Play: Edible Thanksgiving Apple Crafts for Kids

These are our after-school kids Edible apple turkey crafts for snack.

The After-school Kid's Apple Turkey Trials and links to other Edible Turkey Crafts and Snacks. Bon Appetit Creative Apple Crafts for kids snack from the archives. Fun way to play with your food.

Edible Apple Turkey

Apple Crafts for Thanksgiving

Apple Turkey? Afterschool Snack

To insert candy and pretzels poke holes with the small end of a spoon  or skewer first. 

Cream Cheese Mayflower Sandwiches

TPC Kids Turkey Treats

Candy Corn Turkey Edible Craft for Kids

Healthy Vegetable Veggie Mayflower Boats

Turkey Footprint Art for Thanksgiving

Paper Footprint Art Turkey Thanksgiving: Easy, Cute Craft for Preschool

This turkey Footprint paper craft for Preschoolers is easy and fun for kids to make at home. Little ones will get a kick out of tracing their feet. Make it a sensory activity by tracing their feet for them- it tickles! Gobble Gobble. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

Paper Footprint Art Turkey Thanksgiving.

For the turkey above, use four feathers (footprints). The fourth
footprint becomes the turkey's body. Just attach feathers on the toes.

Paper footprint turkeys with handprint neck.

Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Footprint Craft.

You can also use four or more feet for feathers, and cut a body from brown paper. Don't forget to give your turkey feet.

Make a Footprint Turkey for Thanksgiving.

How to Make Footprint Turkey

Stand on construction paper and trace your feet. Bigger feet need two sheets, little feet only require one. Jake thought this was fun. He loved the idea of taking his shoes and socks off to do a craft project.

How to Make Footprint Turkey.

Make a fist and have someone trace it for you.

Trace your feet.

Trace your fist to make the turkey body and head.

 Cut the fist and the feet out.

Paper footprint craft.

Baby Feet.

Glue the feet together in a fan shape. The more feet you trace, the fuller your turkey feathers will turn out. Then, glue the fist cut-out into the middle of the feet-feathers.

The fist is the turkey's head and neck. Add feet, eyes, beak, and a gobbler. We added a body, because we thought he looked off balance. Additional feathers solve that problem.

When it's all done, cut up an old fridge magnet, and glue it to the back of the turkey with tacky glue. Pictured below is the head from Amanda's Turkey Snack Cup.

 

Magnet Turkey Craft.

  

Recommended Reading:

Eatable Edible Turkey Craft

All New Crafts for Thanksgiving (All-New Holiday Crafts for Kids)

Fall and Halloween Crafts for Children

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas recycle that leftover Pumpkin into a Turkey for Thanksgiving- turkey placeholder crafts

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas recycle that leftover Pumpkin into a Turkey for Thanksgiving

I've  been surfing the for turkey crafts and placeholders for you. Links are provided. Got pumpkins leftover from Halloween?  How about turning them into turkeys?



Tom Turkey Placeholder from Google Search - the link broke, I can't give it proper credit. If you know from whence it came please leave a comment.

Our Edible Mayflower Boats would make cool placeholders too!  Just add a place card to a toothpick.

Recommended Reading:

Edible Eatable Crafts

175 Easy-to-Do Thanksgiving Crafts (Creative Uses for Recyclables)

Thanksgiving Craft Ideas for Kids

Pumpkin Crafts