Feeling stuck in a turkey-craft rut? 🦃 Every November, I pull out the paper plates, but the thought of making another handprint turkey just doesn’t feel special anymore.
I kept asking myself, “There must be more creative Thanksgiving crafts with paper plates, right?” I knew there had to be a way to use these simple, frugal supplies to celebrate the entire season of gratitude.
Well, I’ve found them! Get ready to fill your home with joy, because I’ve gathered 12 absolutely wonderful and unique paper plate crafts that go way beyond the turkey! 🍁
🛒 My Go-To Paper Plate Craft Supplies
White Paper Plates
Assorted Construction Paper
Washable Paint Sticks
Kid-Safe Scissors
Craft Glue
✨ Click each item to explore affordable options for your Thanksgiving setup!
My Top 3 Favorite Crafts
Before we dive into the full list, here are my personal top picks that I think you’ll absolutely love:
- Easiest to Make: The Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Slice
- Most Unique Idea: The Paper Plate “Slice of Thanks” Gratitude Wheel
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: The Paper Plate Mayflower Ship
1. The Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Slice 🦃
I just adore this sweet craft because it gets everyone talking about their favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner! It’s wonderfully simple, and the fluffy cotton ball “whipped cream” is always a huge hit with the little ones.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Shapes, food recognition, fine motor skills]
🎯 Best For: A quick pre-dinner activity for toddlers and preschoolers.
Image-1: A close-up shot of a finished paper plate pumpkin pie craft, with a fluffy cotton ball for whipped cream, sitting next to a small bottle of orange paint and a brush.
2. The Paper Plate Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) 🦃
This craft is a beautiful way to talk about abundance and gratitude. My kids love cutting out their own little paper fruits and veggies to fill the horn of plenty. It makes for such a meaningful decoration on the fridge.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 20 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Scissor skills, symbolism, gratitude]
🎯 Best For: Teaching the meaning of Thanksgiving in a hands-on way.
Image-2: A paper plate rolled into a cornucopia shape, with colorful paper cutouts of grapes, apples, and corn spilling out onto a wooden table.
3. The Paper Plate Mayflower Ship 🦃
All aboard for a creative adventure! This craft is a staple in our house for talking about the Pilgrims’ journey. It looks so impressive when it’s finished, and it’s amazing to see a simple plate turn into a ship that can stand on its own.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Medium | Active Time: 25 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: History (the Pilgrims’ journey), construction]
🎯 Best For: School-aged kids who enjoy building and learning about history.
Image-3: A completed Paper Plate Mayflower Ship with brown paper sails attached to a craft stick mast, floating on a blue construction paper “sea.”
4. The Paper Plate Scarecrow Face 🦃
Nothing says “harvest season” quite like a cheerful scarecrow! This is a fantastic craft for using up leftover supplies like yarn, buttons, and scraps of paper. Each scarecrow turns out with its own unique and silly personality.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 20 mins | Mess Level: Medium (glue/paint) | Learning Focus: Facial features, textures, autumn themes]
🎯 Best For: A fun afternoon craft that lets kids express their creativity.
Image-4: A happy scarecrow face made from a paper plate, featuring bright yellow yarn for hair, googly eyes, and a patched construction paper hat.
5. The Paper Plate Thanksgiving Wreath 🦃
We love making these wreaths to hang on the doors inside our home. It’s such a lovely way to welcome guests and the season of thanks. Kids can get so creative with the colors and shapes of the paper leaves they glue on.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 25 mins | Mess Level: Low-Medium | Learning Focus: Color patterns, nature, fine motor skills]
🎯 Best For: A collaborative family project to create a beautiful DIY decoration.
Image-5: A beautiful Thanksgiving wreath made from a paper plate ring, covered in overlapping paper leaves in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the crafts we’ve covered so far, which one are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below!
6. The Paper Plate Pilgrim Bonnet 🦃
This craft always brings so many giggles and is perfect for imaginative play. With just a few simple folds and a piece of ribbon, a paper plate transforms into an adorable, wearable bonnet. It’s a great activity to do while telling stories about the first Thanksgiving.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Medium | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: History, following instructions, imaginative play]
🎯 Best For: Getting kids into character for Thanksgiving storytelling or a school play.
Image-6: A child happily wearing a simple white paper plate Pilgrim bonnet tied with a ribbon under their chin.
7. The Paper Plate Native American Headdress 🦃
We approach this craft with respect and use it as a chance to learn about Native American cultures. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk about patterns and symbolism as kids decorate their own colorful paper feathers for the headband.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 20 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Patterns, cultural appreciation, creativity]
🎯 Best For: An artistic craft that opens up a conversation about history and culture.
Image-7: A vibrant headdress made from a paper plate band, adorned with brightly colored paper feathers decorated with marker patterns.
8. The Paper Plate “Slice of Thanks” Gratitude Wheel 🦃
This is perhaps the most meaningful paper plate craft we do all year. It turns the classic pie shape into a beautiful tool for sharing what we’re thankful for. It becomes a treasured keepsake that we look back on every Thanksgiving.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Gratitude, writing/drawing skills, family sharing]
🎯 Best For: Focusing on the heart of the holiday and encouraging family conversation.
Image-8: A paper plate decorated like a pie, with each “slice” featuring a drawing or word representing something to be thankful for, like “Family,” “Our Dog,” and “Home.”
9. The Paper Plate Corn on the Cob 🦃
This is such a fun sensory craft, and there are so many ways to make it! We’ve used yellow pom-poms, painted bubble wrap, and even dried beans to create the corn kernel texture. It’s a unique and delightful celebration of the harvest.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 20 mins | Mess Level: Medium (paint/glue) | Learning Focus: Textures, sensory play, harvest foods]
🎯 Best For: A sensory activity that engages little hands and creative minds.
Image-9: A paper plate cut into an oval and covered in yellow pom-poms to look like corn kernels, with green construction paper “husks” glued to the back.
10. The Paper Plate Sunflower 🦃
What a cheerful way to bring a little sunshine inside! This sunflower craft is perfect for practicing scissor skills, and the finished product is so bright and happy. We love using tracings of my kids’ hands for the petals to make it extra personal.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 25 mins | Mess Level: Low-Medium | Learning Focus: Scissor skills, counting, nature]
🎯 Best For: A bright and sunny craft to decorate for the fall season.
Image-10: A large, happy sunflower made from a paper plate center and surrounded by bright yellow paper triangle petals.
11. The Paper Plate Apple Basket 🦃
An apple a day keeps the crafting blues away! This is one of the quickest and easiest crafts on the list, making it perfect for toddlers or when you just need a simple activity. The little paper apples are so fun to “pick” and glue into the basket.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Colors, counting, scissor skills]
🎯 Best For: A super-fast and easy craft for the youngest family members.
Image-11: A paper plate cut in half and stapled to form a basket, filled with cute red and green paper apple cutouts.
12. The Paper Plate Pilgrim & Wampanoag Story Puppets 🦃
Bring the story of the first Thanksgiving to life! Creating these little stick puppets is a wonderful way to move beyond a simple craft and into the world of storytelling. It helps kids connect with history in a personal and interactive way.
Craft Snapshot: [Difficulty: Medium | Active Time: 30 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Storytelling, history, empathy, imaginative play]
🎯 Best For: Encouraging imaginative play and understanding historical narratives.
Image-12: Two small paper plate puppets on craft sticks—one decorated as a Pilgrim and one as a Wampanoag tribe member—ready for a puppet show.
🍂 Wrapping Up a Plateful of Fun
As you can see, a simple paper plate holds endless possibilities for celebrating Thanksgiving! These crafts prove that the most memorable holiday activities come from imagination and time spent together, not expensive supplies. I hope this list inspires you to create some new traditions and beautiful memories.
Which of these unique paper plate crafts are you most excited to make with your family this year? Share your favorite in the comments below
