“10 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts Made from Toilet Paper Rolls”

Feeling that pre-Thanksgiving pressure to find fun, kid-friendly activities? It seems like every search for Thanksgiving crafts ends with the same old turkey idea, over and over again. 🍂

You’ve saved up a small mountain of toilet paper rolls, knowing they’d be perfect for something. But what can you possibly make with them that feels fresh, new, and creative?

Get ready to turn that pile of cardboard tubes into a whole village of Thanksgiving characters and decor! 🎨 I’ve gathered my favorite recycled crafts that go way beyond the turkey, sparking real creativity and making wonderful memories. ♻️

My Top 3 Favorite Crafts

• Easiest to Make: A Simple Pumpkin Patch. It doesn’t get much simpler than paint and a pipe cleaner, and the final result is absolutely adorable.
• Most Unique Idea: A Sweet Slice of Pumpkin Pie. This is such a clever and unexpected craft! The cotton ball “whipped cream” is the perfect finishing touch.
• Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: Rustic Thanksgiving Napkin Rings. I love that this craft is both beautiful and useful. Guests are always so impressed that these started as plain old cardboard tubes.

1. The Classic Cardboard Tube Turkey 🦃

Of course, we have to start with the beloved classic! Making these simple turkeys is a staple in my family’s Thanksgiving tradition every year. It’s the perfect, simple craft to get everyone in the festive spirit.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Color recognition, fine motor skills (gluing).

🎯 Best For: A perfect first Thanksgiving craft for toddlers and preschoolers.

2. The Charming Pilgrim Duo 🦃

These little pilgrims are just the sweetest! I love making a whole set to place along our mantelpiece. They are a wonderful and gentle way to introduce a little bit of history into your crafting time.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 20 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Shapes (squares, circles), history basics.

🎯 Best For: Creating adorable decorations for a shelf or centerpiece.

3. The Colorful Corn on the Cob 🦃

This is one of my favorite projects because it’s all about texture! Using bubble wrap and paint is a wonderfully fun sensory experience for kids. The finished corn cobs look so vibrant and festive sitting on the kids’ table.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Medium | Active Time: 25 mins | Mess Level: Medium (with paint) | Learning Focus: Textures, patterns, color mixing.

🎯 Best For: A fun sensory craft with a beautiful, colorful result.

4. Rustic Thanksgiving Napkin Rings 🦃

I absolutely adore this craft because it shows how something simple can become so elegant! These look stunning on the Thanksgiving table, and your guests will never believe they’re made from recycled cardboard tubes. It’s my little secret for adding a handmade touch to the holiday.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 10 mins per ring | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Practical life skills, wrapping motion.

🎯 Best For: Creating a functional and beautiful piece of DIY table decor.

5. The Friendly Scarecrow Pal 🦃

What’s a harvest celebration without a cheerful scarecrow? This little guy is so much fun to personalize. We love giving our scarecrows silly hats and happy, crooked smiles.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Medium | Active Time: 20 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Facial features, scissor skills (for older kids).

🎯 Best For: A festive fall character craft that celebrates the harvest season.

6. The Wise Autumn Owl 🦃

This craft is pure magic! With just two simple folds at the top, a plain tube transforms into an owl with perfect little ear tufts. It’s a quick project that always brings a smile to my kids’ faces.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Symmetry, simple paper folding.

🎯 Best For: A super quick and easy craft for a cozy fall afternoon.

7. A Thankful Native American Figure 🦃

This craft provides a wonderful opportunity to talk about the history of Thanksgiving in a thoughtful way. We focus on creating figures that look strong and kind, discussing the Wampanoag people and their role in the first Thanksgiving feast.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Medium | Active Time: 25 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Cultural awareness, history.

🎯 Best For: A history-focused craft that can spark meaningful conversations.

8. Mini Mayflower Ship 🦃

For my slightly older crafters who are ready for a challenge, this Mayflower ship is a huge hit! It’s so rewarding to see it come together. We love floating our finished ships in a bowl of water to see if they are seaworthy!

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Medium-Hard | Active Time: 30 mins | Mess Level: Medium | Learning Focus: Basic construction, history.

🎯 Best For: An engaging project for elementary-aged kids who love to build.

9. A Simple Pumpkin Patch 🦃

You can never have too many pumpkins in the fall! These are so simple to make that you can create a whole patch in no time. We love to line them up on our windowsill to create a festive display.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins (plus paint drying time) | Mess Level: Medium | Learning Focus: Painting skills, learning about harvest foods.

🎯 Best For: A quick painting project to create a group of cute decorations.

10. A Sweet Slice of Pumpkin Pie 🦃

Isn’t this the most clever idea? This little slice of pie is almost cute enough to eat! It’s a fantastic way to use up paper scraps, and the final result is just darling.

Craft Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Active Time: 15 mins | Mess Level: Low | Learning Focus: Shapes (triangles), food recognition.

🎯 Best For: A unique and sweet craft that looks just like a Thanksgiving treat.

🍂 Wrapping Up Our Recycled Fun

Before you toss that next empty cardboard tube, I hope you’ll remember all the amazing Thanksgiving memories you can create. These simple, recycled crafts prove that the best holiday fun doesn’t come from expensive supplies, but from the time we spend creating together. It’s a wonderful way to show our gratitude and make the season bright.

What other Thanksgiving characters could you make from a toilet paper roll? Share your creative ideas in the comments below