Blog Summary: 10 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Busy Moms and Kids
This blog features ten quick and creative Thanksgiving crafts busy moms can make with their kids. From handprint turkeys to gratitude pumpkins, these simple DIY ideas add warmth and family fun to the holiday. With minimal supplies and maximum joy, they make celebrating Thanksgiving easy, meaningful, and memorable.
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that brings everyone together, family, laughter, food, and plenty of heartfelt moments. But between meal prep, work deadlines, and travel plans, finding time to enjoy creative family fun can feel impossible for busy working moms.
But here’s the best part: You don’t need an entire day (or a pile of craft supplies) to make lasting Thanksgiving memories. With a few simple materials, you and your kids can create beautiful, festive crafts that brighten your home and keep little hands happily occupied while you prep for the holiday feast.
Here are 10 simple Thanksgiving crafts that are quick, easy, and perfect for kids of all ages.
1. Handprint Turkeys
A timeless classic that never gets old! Trace your child’s hand on colored paper and cut it out. The thumb becomes the turkey’s head, and the fingers are the feathers.
Let your kids decorate each feather with crayons, markers, or even glitter. You can write something they’re thankful for on each feather for a sweet, personal touch.
Why moms love it: It’s adorable, fast, and makes for an easy keepsake or a perfect decoration for your Thanksgiving table.
2. DIY Thankful Tree
Turn gratitude into a centerpiece! Grab a few bare branches from your backyard and place them in a vase or mason jar.
Cut out leaf shapes from colorful paper, punch a hole at the top, and tie them with string. Every family member can write one thing they’re thankful for and hang it on the tree.
Pro tip: Use gold or copper paper for an elegant touch that fits perfectly with your Thanksgiving décor.
3. Paper Plate Turkeys
For this easy arts and crafts idea for Thanksgiving, you only need paper plates, construction paper, googly eyes, and glue. Cut feather shapes from colored paper and attach them to the back of the plate. Add a beak, eyes, and a wobbly red wattle to complete your turkey friend.
Why kids love it: It’s fun, colorful, and a little bit silly, just like Thanksgiving should be!
4. Corn Husk or Paper Corn Crafts
If you don’t have real corn husks, use yellow and green construction paper. Cut out an oval for the corn, then glue on small pieces of colorful tissue paper or buttons to mimic kernels. Add a paper husk and you’ve got your very own corn craft masterpiece.
Mom tip: These make great name cards or table decorations for your Thanksgiving dinner.
5. Gratitude Pumpkins
Grab a few mini pumpkins and a permanent marker. Each family member writes something they’re grateful for directly on the pumpkin’s surface. This is one of those easy DIY crafts for Thanksgiving that doubles as meaningful décor. Place them around your house or on your dining table to remind everyone of what truly matters.
Bonus idea: Use artificial pumpkins so you can bring them out again next year!
6. Thanksgiving Wreath with Fall Leaves
Cut a circle from cardboard to make a wreath base, then glue real or paper leaves all around it. Add a ribbon or bow to hang it on your front door. This is a great chance to take a short outdoor walk with your kids to collect colorful fall leaves, it turns crafting into an outdoor adventure.
Why moms love it: It’s a beautiful, low-cost way to bring the spirit of fall right to your doorstep.
7. DIY Pilgrim Hats and Headbands
Turn craft time into dress-up time! Create Pilgrim hats from black construction paper and yellow paper buckles, or make Native American-inspired headbands with feathers. Your kids can wear them during Thanksgiving dinner or for family photos.
Quick tip: Keep the design simple so you can make several in under 30 minutes.
8. Pinecone Turkeys
Nature meets creativity! Collect pinecones from your backyard or a nearby park. Add colorful paper feathers, googly eyes, and a small orange beak using glue. Place them around your home or use them as placeholders for your Thanksgiving dinner table.
Why kids love it: They get to play outside, collect materials, and create something fun from nature, a win-win for everyone.
9. Paper Bag Puppets
Turn ordinary lunch bags into Thanksgiving characters! Kids can make turkeys, pilgrims, or pumpkins using construction paper cutouts. Once done, they can use their puppets to put on a little Thanksgiving show for the family.
Why moms love it: It keeps kids entertained while you finish prepping dinner, and it sparks creativity, too.
10. DIY Thanksgiving Garland
Using string, clothespins, and paper cutouts, create a festive garland to hang across your fireplace, window, or dining area. Cut shapes like pumpkins, leaves, acorns, or turkeys, then write thankful messages on each before clipping them onto the string.
Pro tip: Let each family member add to the garland every day leading up to Thanksgiving. It becomes a growing display of gratitude and creativity!
Bonus: Quick Crafting Tips for Busy Moms
Because let’s be honest, between managing work, school schedules, and meal planning, time is precious! Here’s how to make these easy crafts to make for Thanksgiving even more manageable:
Use what you already have: Construction paper, paper plates, tissue paper, and markers go a long way.
Set up a “craft corner”: Keep all supplies in one bin or basket so setup and cleanup are quick.
Get everyone involved: Even toddlers can help with gluing or coloring.
Pair crafts with family time: Play holiday music or talk about what everyone’s thankful for while crafting.
Keep expectations realistic: The goal is fun, not perfection, those uneven feathers or messy glitter moments are the memories that matter!
Crafting together isn’t just about creating cute decorations, it’s about connection. For working moms, these small creative breaks can become opportunities to slow down, laugh, and engage with your kids without screens or schedules getting in the way.
Even 15 minutes of crafting can help you reconnect and build traditions that your children will cherish long after the holiday is over. Whether it’s a turkey made from handprints or a garland of gratitude, each piece tells a little story of your family’s love, creativity, and togetherness.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be hectic, even for busy working moms. With these 10 simple Thanksgiving crafts, you can bring your family together, create fun memories, and decorate your home with warmth and gratitude. Whether it’s a quick DIY wreath, a handprint turkey, or a thankful pumpkin centerpiece, these easy projects are designed to fit your busy schedule while keeping the holiday spirit alive.
So grab your craft supplies, take a break from the chaos, and enjoy the creative side of Thanksgiving with your kids. You’ll not only make adorable decorations but also unforgettable memories filled with laughter and love.
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Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Mahesh Kumar
Mahesh is the spokesperson of the Transcription Certification Institute, a Nashville, TN, based company that provides comprehensive online general transcription training certification courses. This transcription certification course facilitates careers in transcription because it provides a guaranteed internship with a major transcription company upon certification.
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