Simple can be just as good

For Thanksgiving, we did not have the onslaught of friends and family most people do. We had just the four of us and a yummy meal. Our dining table has long been given over to crafts so what were we to do? Our six year old came up with the best idea ever, of putting tv trays together to form a table in front of our couch.

That got me thinking, so I threw a bed sheet over the tables and we grabbed a few items to decorate. Was it the most glamours Thanksgiving table ever? Not to most, but to my son it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Some times simple can be just as good.

Make a Cornucopia

 

The Cornucopia (also know as the horn of plenty) is symbol of abundance and nourishment and has become a Thanksgiving icon. With just a paper plate, twine and generous amounts of glue you can make your own cornucopia as part of a center piece or a few to fill with yummy goodies like popcorn as a snack.

Simply roll the paper plate into a horn and tape. Next grab the glue and be generous with it as you start at one end of the horn and wrap it with twine. This craft is not for the toddler set as it takes some patience, time and LOTS of glue. When you get to the other end, secure the twine with tape till the glue dries.

Once I had my paper plate wrapped in twine, I turned it over a pop bottle and added even more glue over the top of the twine. I left it on the bottle to dry over night. The next day my cornucopia was very firm and sturdy and ready to be filled. Since we were out of popcorn, I used beans to give you an example. I will have to pop by the store for my popcorn!

This craft is an item you can store and use for years to come. Who knows, maybe one day they will end up on the Thanksgiving tables of the grown children who helped make them!

Paint chip turkey

Here is a new twist on our toilet paper turkey we did last year. This year we raided the paint department at our local home improvement store! We cut the multi color paint chips to remove the names of the colors and then glued them on to our toilet paper tube. Next we added wiggle eyes, a paper beak and a red piece of pipe cleaner for, as my son calls it, the gobbler. I think Mr. Turkey is looking very colorful this year!

Make your own Mayflower

Thanksgiving is almost here and it is time to make your own Mayflower!! This craft is too cute and all you need is some paper, paint, and your child's hand! It is a craft and a keepsake all in one. 

Simply paint your child's hand brown and press it to the paper. Next cut out some sails to glue on. Once that is dry, let your child add clouds and the ocean. You will have a wonderful picture to hang for the holiday!

 

 

Make some haystacks

Fall is here and Thanksgiving is almost upon us! It always bugs me how we move from Halloween to Christmas, neglecting a very important holiday like Thanksgiving. Oh sure you eat and watch football but do you decorate?

Well now it is time to get crafty and decorate! Check out these super easy haystacks! They also can be used as name card holders for place settings at your thanksgiving meal! Let make a few shall we......





Materials

• Yellow construction paper
• brown pipe cleaner
• Scissors
• White construction paper (optional)
• Straw (optional)
• Tape (optional)

Cut your yellow construction paper in half the long way. Now cut the edges on both sides to "fray" it. Now simply roll it up! Secure your haystack with a section of pipe cleaner (cut pipe cleaner.) Fluff out your top and bottom and you have a haystack!

If you want to use them as place settings, simply cut a straw to the desired height. Write the name on some white construction paper and tape it to the straw. Kids will love making these and they will add a festive touch to your decorating! And imagine everyones delight when they learn your child made the name holders for the dinning table!

Do you have a "kid's table?"

I know many people have a separate "kid's table" at Thanksgiving dinner. Here is a fun Bubble Guppy Table Setting Pack for the little ones! It will not only entertain but make their table a little more cozy!

Dora Thanksgiving coloring book

Does you child like Dora? Well here is a printable coloring book to help keep them busy this Thanksgiving while your trying to get dinner on the table.

Fun Thanksgiving game "Crossing the sea"

Here is a fun game to play about Thanksgiving, Not only great for family fun, but classrooms too!

Toilet Paper Tube Turkey!

I love this cute and very easy to make Toilet Paper Tube Turkey craft! We all have toilet paper tubes, if not, wait, you will as soon as the last person uses you current roll up! You can make a whole flock of these adorable little guys.

Teaching kids about being thankful

Thanksgiving is near and it is a great time to teach little ones about being thankful and using their manors to say thank you. This cute interactive story/game "The Thankful Old Troll" From Dora is a good way to share those ideas.

What are you thankful for craft

Here is a craft idea from Disney that I have simplified material wise for my MAD Family Fun Friends. It is not only beautiful but meaningful too! You can use it as a center piece as well.

Materials

• Flowerpot
• Sand or stones
• Bare tree branch
• Colored construction paper
• Scissors
• Marker
• Straightened paper clips

Instructions

• Fill a flowerpot with sand or stones and set in a shapely bare tree branch.
• Next, cut a pile of leaf shapes from colored construction paper.
• As your guests arrive or your family members, have them take a leaf and, with a marker, write their name and the date on one side and something they're grateful for on the other.
• To decorate your tree, push a straightened paper clip through the stem of each leaf and hang it in place.

Pilgrim Hat Craft

So I wanted to make Pilgrim hats with my son, so I googled the idea. Do you know how many different ways there are to make a Pilgrim hat!?!??! I finally found one that was simple and didn't require me to go buy anything extra.

Don't worry if you don't have poster board for the band, just use multiple layers of construction paper to give the band some sturdiness. And if you don't have gray paper, just use white or have your child do some coloring!

Have fun with this and I would LOVE to see some photos of you all in your hats!

Sit still with math skills

Don't you love going to restaurants that have activity placemats to keep your kids busy till the food hits the table? Well here are some printable math skill placemats you can use at Thanksgiving while the kiddos wait for all the grub to hit the table!

Shhh, don't tell them they are learning!