How to Make Thanksgiving Kids Crafts that Look Good Too

Anyone who has little ones in their life can agree that kids' arts and crafts projects are a treasure no matter how it actually looks. Kids can do no wrong, when it comes to crafts, right?

If you're being totally honest, you may have at some point, decided not to put Junior's homemade papier mache turkey in the center of the table for Thanksgiving dinner. That doesn't make you a bad person. Often times kids' crafts are just different than serious, beautiful DIY home décor. You love them both for different reasons.
 

Here are a few ideas on how to make Thanksgiving kids' crafts that look good too! You never knew Thanksgiving craft centerpieces could be kid-friendly. I advise, from personal experience, that you stay away from the crayon box if you want these crafts to turn out better than expected. While we love the scribbles of a young artist, we can just leave those on the fridge for the time being. Starting out with some colored felts makes the job of “staying in the lines” a non-issue. Colored felt also cuts cleaner than regular construction paper, so half the battle of looking cleanly cut is already won.
 

Something basic like a Turkey Table Accent is a fun craft to make with kids and yet festive for the holidays. You can set it in the center of the table with pride that you and your child made it together. And it's an easy Thanksgiving craft to make. The method of using a hand as a template for a Thanksgiving turkey is not a new one. In fact, your children have probably already done this craft at school many times over. However, slipping the turkeys together to make a larger, fuller turkey centerpiece may be a new twist on an old craft. Since each person in your family has a different sized hand, make several turkeys and make them represent each family member. Your kids will get a kick out of eating dinner with their little mini-me turkey as the centerpiece. With the soft felt accents that create colorful turkey feathers, this thanksgiving craft project for kids is a keeper.

Turkey Table Accent

Materials:

• 1 - Cocoa EZ Felt Sheet, 12 x 18
• 1 - Red Soft Felt Sheet, 9 x 12
• 1 - Tangerine Soft Felt Sheet, 9 x 12
• 4 - 3/8" Diameter Google Eyes
• Fabric Glue
• Scissors
   

Steps:

1. Trace around your child's hand onto a piece of Cocoa EZ Felt twice.
    
2. Cut out hands from EZ Felt Sheet.
    
3. Cut corresponding slits on each felt hand. One hand will have a slit going from the middle finger to the center of the palm. On the other hand, the slit goes from the bottom of the palm to the center point of the hand.
    
4. Glue google eyes onto the thumbs of the hands. This will be your turkey's head.
    
5. Cut 8 Feather Shapes each from the Red and Orange Soft Felt Sheets. Also cut an oval shape from the Red Felt.
    
6. Glue feathers and oval to the turkey like shown above. Repeat for the other side. You will have to recut the slit from Step 3 on one of the hands.
    
7. Slip together.