Hello, my wonderful friends! With November just around the corner, my heart turns to Veterans Day and how we can teach our little ones about the importance of gratitude and remembrance. It’s about more than just a day off from school; it’s a chance to have a real conversation about service and sacrifice. 🇺🇸
I’ve always believed that the best way to teach these big lessons is by doing. That’s why I’ve gathered my favorite Veterans Day crafts that are more than just fun projects—they are “Gratitude Projects” designed to help you and your children turn appreciation into beautiful, heartfelt action. ❤️
In this list, you’ll find simple, meaningful ideas that use everyday materials. Each one is an opportunity to create, connect, and start a conversation about our nation’s heroes. Let’s get our hearts and hands ready to say “thank you” in a special way! ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: “Handprint Heroes” Thank You Cards
- Most Unique: “Flags of Our Family” Tribute Flag
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: “Luminaries of Remembrance” Jars
Hands-On “Thank You” Projects
“Handprint Heroes” Thank You Cards 🇺🇸
This is such a classic for a reason, and it’s one of my absolute favorites. I love this project because it connects a child’s own identity—their sweet little handprint—directly to their message of thanks. It makes the gratitude so personal and tangible, creating a keepsake a veteran will truly cherish.
Details: Easy | ~20 mins
Best For: Creating a personal and heartfelt gift.
Key Materials: Cardstock paper (red, white, blue), washable paint, markers or crayons.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that a multi-color pack of Crayola washable kids’ paint is perfect for this. The colors are bright, and the easy cleanup means you can focus on the meaning behind the craft, not the mess!
Image-1: A close-up of a child’s hand stamping onto a folded card, with a finished, decorated card next to it.
“A Star for a Soldier” Garland 🇺🇸
My son and I once spent a whole afternoon making one of these for our local VFW post, and it was such a moving experience. It’s a wonderful group activity that beautifully shows how many small acts of gratitude can come together to create something big, bright, and beautiful.
Details: Easy | ~45 mins
Best For: A wonderful group project for a class or family.
Key Materials: Construction paper, glitter, crayons, stickers, string or yarn, hole punch.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: To make things easier for little hands, a star-shaped paper punch tool is a game-changer. It helps create perfect, uniform stars quickly, so kids can get right to the fun part—decorating!
Image-2: A cheerful child holding up a long, finished garland of colorful, decorated stars.
“Gratitude Rocks” Garden Stones 🇺🇸
We have a few of these in our own garden, and they make me smile every time I see them. This project takes your family’s gratitude outside and creates a lasting, visible reminder of a veteran’s service. It’s a wonderful way to make a tribute that can be enjoyed day after day.
Details: Easy | ~40 mins + drying time
Best For: A craft that creates a lasting outdoor tribute.
Key Materials: Smooth, clean rocks, acrylic paint pens or paint, clear sealant spray (for parents).
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I highly recommend using a set of multi-surface acrylic paint pens. They give you so much more control than a brush, making it easy for kids to write words like “Hero” and “Thanks” clearly.
Image-3: A collection of beautifully painted rocks with patriotic designs sitting on a patch of grass.
DIY “Poppy Pin” for a Veteran 🇺🇸
This simple craft holds so much power. It gives children a tangible object that helps them start a conversation and express their thanks in person. It can be a little nerve-wracking for a child to approach someone, but handing them a poppy they made themselves makes it so much easier.
Details: Easy | ~15 mins
Best For: An icebreaker to personally thank a veteran.
Key Materials: Red felt or red cupcake liners, black buttons, safety pins, hot glue gun (adult supervision).
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a bulk pack of red felt squares ensures you have plenty of material to make pins for everyone in the family, plus extras to give away. The felt gives the poppies a lovely, soft texture.
Image-4: A child carefully gluing a black button onto a red felt poppy, with a finished pin on a denim jacket lapel.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Symbolic & Educational Crafts
“Story of the Poppy” Coffee Filter Craft 🇺🇸
There is something so magical about this craft, and kids are always captivated by it. Watching the colors on the coffee filter blend together with just a spritz of water is the perfect visual to accompany the story of “In Flanders Fields.” It makes the lesson behind this important symbol so much more memorable.
Details: Easy | ~20 mins + drying time
Best For: Visually explaining the meaning of the poppy.
Key Materials: White basket-style coffee filters, washable markers (red, orange), green pipe cleaners, small spray bottle with water.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: While any coffee filters work, a large box of basket coffee filters is ideal. Their round, ruffled shape naturally mimics the delicate petals of a poppy flower.
Image-5: A vibrant, slightly damp coffee filter poppy held up to a window, showing the beautiful blended colors.
“Flags of Our Family” Tribute Flag 🇺🇸
I developed this idea to help my own kids understand that veterans aren’t just historical figures; they are people we know and love. This activity makes the concept less abstract by connecting it directly to their own family. It becomes a beautiful, personalized tribute to your family’s own history of service.
Details: Easy | ~25 mins
Best For: Connecting the holiday to your own family’s history.
Key Materials: White paper with a flag outline, red and blue crayons or paint, star stickers.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A package of assorted gold and silver star stickers makes this project extra special. Each shiny star represents a loved one, making the flag a truly treasured piece of art.
Image-6: A child pointing to a specific star on their hand-drawn flag, with a photo of a grandparent in uniform nearby.
“Ribbon of Remembrance” Wand 🇺🇸
This one is perfect for the littlest patriots in your home! It’s a simple, kinetic craft that fully engages their motor skills while introducing them to patriotic colors. You can talk about what red, white, and blue stand for as they happily wave their wands.
Details: Easy | ~15 mins
Best For: A perfect activity for toddlers and preschoolers.
Key Materials: Wooden dowel or stick, ribbons in various patriotic colors, scissors.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A multi-pack of assorted red, white, and blue satin ribbons is perfect for this. The variety of shades and textures makes the finished wand look beautiful as it streams through the air.
Image-7: A child running in the backyard, with the colorful ribbons of their wand streaming behind them.
“Medal of Gratitude” Paper Plate Craft 🇺🇸
This project is all about empowerment. It allows a child to create and bestow their very own honor, which reinforces the idea that their gratitude is important and valuable. Watching a child proudly present their “Medal of Gratitude” to a loved one is a moment you won’t forget.
Details: Easy | ~30 mins
Best For: Empowering kids to give a special ‘award’ of thanks.
Key Materials: Small paper plates, gold or silver paint/glitter, thick ribbon, stapler or glue.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: To get that authentic medal look, I suggest using a set of metallic gold craft paint. It gives the paper plate a wonderful shimmer and makes the “award” feel official and important.
Image-8: A proud child holding up their shiny, decorated “medal” hanging from a blue ribbon.
“Service Branch Symbol” Stamping 🇺🇸
This is such a fantastic hands-on art project for teaching an important lesson. It helps kids understand that the term “veteran” includes brave people from many different parts of our military. As they stamp the anchor for the Navy or the star for the Army, you can talk about the different jobs our service members do.
Details: Medium | ~35 mins
Best For: Teaching about the different branches of the military.
Key Materials: Sponges or large potatoes, kid-safe paint, large poster board or craft paper.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that a pack of multi-sized craft sponges works wonderfully for this. They are easy for an adult to cut into shapes and simple for kids to grip and stamp with.
Image-9: An overhead shot of a child’s hands pressing a sponge anchor dipped in blue paint onto a piece of paper.
“Luminaries of Remembrance” Jars 🇺🇸
I just love this craft because it extends the lesson of Veterans Day into the evening. It creates such a beautiful, peaceful moment for family reflection. Lining our porch with these glowing jars has become a quiet tradition for us to honor those who have served.
Details: Easy | ~30 mins + drying time
Best For: A beautiful family tribute for Veterans Day evening.
Key Materials: Clean glass jars, tissue paper (red, white, blue), Mod Podge or watered-down glue, battery-operated tea lights.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: For safety and peace of mind, a 24-pack of flameless LED tea lights is a must. They provide a warm, realistic flicker without any of the worry, so you can enjoy the beautiful glow all evening long.
Image-10: A glowing set of three luminaries on a porch step at dusk, casting a soft, patriotic light.
Quick Tips for Meaningful Crafting
- Start with a Story: Before you begin, try reading a kid-friendly book about Veterans Day like “Hero Dad” by Melinda Hardin. This helps set the stage and introduces the concept of service in a gentle way.
- Make it Personal: If you have a veteran in your family or circle of friends, talk about them! Show your child their photo and share a simple, positive story to make the idea of a veteran real and relatable.
- Focus on Feelings: Use open-ended questions while you craft. Ask things like, “What does being brave mean to you?” or “How does it feel inside when we say ‘thank you’ to someone?”
- Deliver the Gratitude: The lesson is complete when the gratitude is shared. Make a plan to mail your cards or drop off your projects at a local veterans’ organization. This shows your child that their actions can make a real difference.
Why is the Poppy a Symbol for Veterans?
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance after World War I. These resilient flowers grew on the battlefields of Western Europe, and their vibrant color represents both the sacrifice made by soldiers and the hope for a peaceful future. When your child makes a poppy craft, they are creating a powerful symbol of gratitude that connects us to heroes from long ago.
I hope these ideas inspire you and your family to create something special this Veterans Day. These are more than just crafts; they are keepsakes of gratitude, conversation starters, and small tokens of immense respect for our nation’s heroes. By making something with our hands, we show the love and thankfulness that is in our hearts.
Which of these gratitude projects will you and your family try first? Let me know in the comments below
