Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to be around family and friends. If you have young grandchildren, nieces and nephews, however, it can be difficult to figure out a craft or activity that’s fun for the whole family. Here are a few tried-and-true Thanksgiving crafts that everyone will enjoy creating together.
Tree place mats
Thanksgiving is all about sharing a delicious meal with your loved ones, so why not create something the family can admire while they chow down on their turkey dinners? Place mats are easy to create and make beautifully personal additions to any table. Here’s what you’ll need to get started, according to Parents magazine:
- Muslin
- Scissor and pinking shears
- Brown yarn
- White glue
- Water
- Acrylic paint in seasonal colors
- Corks.
To start, cut the muslin into rectangles that are about 14×18 inches. You can use regular scissors for clean edges or add a scalloped border by employing pinking shears. Set the rectangles aside, then mix one part water with one part white glue to thin the latter ingredient out. Cut a piece of string that is about a foot long, then dip it into the watered-down glue. Place it vertically on the rectangle, about 4 inches in from the left side, so that it will be visible when plates and silverware are added. This is the trunk of your tree. Cut pieces of string that are between 5 and 7 inches long and dip them in glue as well, then place them horizontally along the trunk to create branches.
Once you’ve made string trees on each place mat, have everyone take the corks and dip one end in acrylic paint. Using the cork like a stamp, press circles along the tree branches to create leaves. Allow everyone to get creative and add as many colorful leaves as they’d like. Let the place mats dry before using them to decorate your Thanksgiving table!
Prepare for Thanksgiving day by making crafts with your family.
Turkey hand prints
This classic craft has long been a go-to Thanksgiving activity in elementary schools because of its fun and simplicity. This version, from craft blog Things to Share & Remember, transforms everyone’s hand prints into keepsakes you’ll use to decorate for years to come. Grab these items to get started:
- Burlap
- Cardboard
- Acrylic paint
- Raffia
- Pipe cleaners
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Hole punch.
To start, have everyone dip the palm of his or her hand into paint, and press it onto a square of burlap. Using more paint, decorate the hand prints so they look like turkeys with colorful feathers. Next, have everyone decorate a square of cardboard that’s about 3 inches larger than the burlap square on all sides.
Once the burlap is dry, each person can glue their turkeys to the cardboard backings. Cut out strips of construction paper and write each person’s name along with “Thanksgiving 2015,” then glue these labels above the turkeys on the cardboard. Punch two holes in the top of the cardboard, then thread either pipe cleaners or raffia through and secure both ends at the top. Hang these keepsakes throughout your house as special seasonal decorations.
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CHC