Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Items You Already Have

Thanksgiving’s that cozy time when families gather, bellies fill up, and little hands get busy making all sorts of fun. If you’ve got toddlers running around, you know they’re itching to get creative but won’t sit still for long. So why not pull together some thanksgiving crafts for toddlers that don’t cost a dime and use stuff you already have at home?

No fancy trips to the craft store, no breaking the bank—just good ol’ household scraps and some imagination. These crafts keep kids entertained, help build skills like cutting, gluing, and color recognition, and add a splash of homemade charm to your holiday. Plus, seeing toddlers beam with pride over their own creations? Priceless.

Ready to get hands-on? Let’s jump right in.

Why Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Matter More Than Ever

Times are tight, right? Everyone’s watching their wallets more, which makes free or cheap activities a big win. Toddlers don’t care if your paper’s recycled or the glue is dollar-store quality—they just want to have fun and make something with you.

From personal experience, I remember when my cousin’s little guy, just two years old, made a simple paper turkey from leftover mail. His face lit up so big, you’d think he’d made the Mona Lisa. Kids love that feeling—being part of the holiday, making something their own.

These crafts aren’t just about passing time. They help little ones with fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and learning colors and shapes—all wrapped up in joyful messes and laughter. And since they’re made with things you already have, you’re saving money and the environment. That’s a win-win.

Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Recycled Paper Products

Old newspapers, junk mail, and cereal boxes can turn into colorful feathers, pumpkins, or turkey bodies with just a little cutting and coloring.

How to do it:

  1. Hunt through your recycling for newspapers, flyers, and empty boxes.
  2. Cut out simple shapes—feathers, pumpkin outlines, turkey heads. (You might want to pre-cut the tricky bits for toddlers.)
  3. Hand your toddler crayons or markers to decorate the pieces.
  4. Glue or tape them onto a cardboard backing or paper plate to make collages or stand-alone decorations.
  5. Add googly eyes or draw faces with markers.

My nephew once made a turkey collage from old cereal boxes and was so proud he carried it around all day. Toddlers love the different textures and colors, and you get a fun way to reuse what’d otherwise be trash.

Tools: Scissors, glue stick, crayons, recycled paper products.

DIY Turkey Hats: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers with Paper and Tape

Turkey hats are a classic that never gets old—and they’re so simple to make. Plus, toddlers love wearing their own creations like little crowns.

Steps:

  1. Cut a long strip of sturdy paper, enough to circle your toddler’s head.
  2. Cut colorful feather shapes out of scrap paper or old magazines.
  3. Tape or glue the feathers onto the paper strip.
  4. Add a turkey face on the front with paper, markers, or stickers.
  5. Tape the ends of the strip to fit your toddler’s head snugly.

Last Thanksgiving, my son wore his turkey hat to the grocery store and got tons of smiles from strangers. They’re cute, quick, and double as a fun photo prop for holiday pics.

Tools: Paper strips, scissors, tape, glue, markers.

Coffee Filter Turkeys: Soft and Simple Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers

Fluffy, soft, and easy to color on, they make perfect turkey feathers.

Make it happen like this:

  1. Flatten out coffee filters.
  2. Have your toddler color or paint them with markers or watercolors.
  3. Once dry, pinch the middle and secure with a pipe cleaner or twist tie.
  4. Glue or tape the filters onto a paper plate or construction paper turkey body.
  5. Add eyes, a beak, and feet with markers or paper scraps.

My niece loved squishing and swirling colors on the filters; it was almost like finger painting but way less messy. These turkeys make fun table decorations, too!

Tools: Coffee filters, markers or paint, glue, paper plates.

Egg Carton Critters: Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers with Household Trash

Those old egg cartons? Don’t toss ’em! They’re perfect bases for little turkey bodies or other Thanksgiving creatures.

How to create:

  1. Cut apart the egg carton cups.
  2. Let your toddler paint or color them.
  3. Glue on paper feathers, googly eyes, or draw on faces.
  4. Arrange the cups to make little turkeys or critters.

I remember once we made a whole flock of egg carton turkeys—my toddler was so into painting and sticking feathers, we had to keep making more. This craft builds fine motor skills and keeps little hands busy.

Tools: Egg cartons, paint, glue, paper, scissors.

Nature Hunt Creations: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Outdoor Finds

Take your toddler on a short nature walk and gather leaves, twigs, pinecones, and acorns. Then turn those treasures into simple, natural crafts.

Steps:

  1. Collect a bunch of fall goodies outside.
  2. Use glue or tape to stick leaves and twigs onto paper to create turkeys, pumpkins, or leaf collages.
  3. Let toddlers explore textures while they build their nature art.

Last year, my nephew took pride in picking each leaf himself, then proudly showed off his “fall masterpiece.” It’s a great way to combine outdoor time and craft time.

Tools: Leaves, twigs, glue, tape, paper.

Paper Bag Puppets: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers with Grocery Bags

Paper grocery bags can turn into fun puppets with a few simple steps.

How to make:

  1. Grab a plain paper bag.
  2. Draw or glue on turkey faces and feathers using scraps of paper.
  3. Add googly eyes or buttons for eyes.
  4. Use markers to add details like beaks and feet.

Your toddler can then use the puppet for storytelling or just for fun. Puppets bring playtime alive!

Tools: Paper bags, glue, scissors, markers, paper scraps.

Pasta Pattern Art: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Pantry Staples

Uncooked pasta like penne, elbow macaroni, or shells can make cool patterns and textures in art.

How to do it:

  1. Spread glue onto paper in fun shapes or patterns.
  2. Help your toddler sprinkle pasta pieces over the glue.
  3. Let dry, then color or paint over for a more colorful look.

My little one loved the feeling of pasta slipping through her fingers. It’s a great sensory craft that also teaches shapes and patterns.

Tools: Uncooked pasta, glue, paper, paint (optional).

Fall Leaf Collage: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Inspired by Nature

Collecting and gluing colorful fall leaves is an easy, pretty craft.

How to:

  1. Gather leaves in different colors and sizes.
  2. Lay them out on paper in fun shapes—turkeys, pumpkins, hearts.
  3. Let toddlers glue them down.
  4. Add details with markers or crayons.

It’s simple, beautiful, and helps toddlers learn about colors and textures.

Tools: Leaves, glue, paper, markers.

Bottle Cap Turkeys: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers with Upcycled Materials

Bottle caps make tiny turkey bodies or eyes for crafts.

Steps:

  1. Collect clean bottle caps.
  2. Glue feathers or paper scraps around the cap.
  3. Add eyes using googly eyes or drawn-on dots.
  4. Create legs and beaks from paper or pipe cleaners.

Upcycling like this is fun and green!

Tools: Bottle caps, glue, paper, scissors.

Sock Turkey Buddies: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Lost Socks

Got a lonely sock? Turn it into a cuddly turkey!

How to:

  1. Fill a sock with rice or fabric scraps.
  2. Tie the neck off with yarn.
  3. Glue on googly eyes and paper feathers.
  4. Use fabric markers to draw a beak and feet.

These little buddies make great nap-time pals or decorations.

Tools: Socks, rice/fabric scraps, yarn, glue, markers.

Crayon Melt Art: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Broken Crayons

Broken crayons don’t belong in the trash! Melt ’em into colorful art.

How to:

  1. Peel paper off broken crayons.
  2. Arrange crayon bits on thick paper or cardboard.
  3. Use a hair dryer (with supervision!) to melt the crayons.
  4. Let it cool, then admire the colorful melted masterpiece.

It’s messy but oh so cool and satisfying.

Tools: Broken crayons, hair dryer, thick paper.

Tissue Paper Mosaic: Colorful Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers

Tissue paper is great for sticky, colorful mosaics.

Make it like this:

  1. Cut or tear tissue paper into small pieces.
  2. Spread glue on paper.
  3. Help toddlers stick tissue pieces on glue to fill in shapes.

Great for teaching colors and sticking skills.

Tools: Tissue paper, glue, paper.

DIY Pumpkin Stamps: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Cut Vegetables

Cut veggies like potatoes make fun stamps.

Steps:

  1. Cut a potato in half.
  2. Carve simple shapes (like pumpkin faces) into the flat side.
  3. Dip into paint.
  4. Stamp onto paper.

Toddlers love stamping—it’s like printing their own art.

Tools: Potato, knife (adult use), paint, paper.

Rice Shaker Bottles: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Double as Toys

Make noise and craft at once.

How to:

  1. Fill empty bottles with rice or beans.
  2. Decorate outside with tape or paper.
  3. Let toddlers shake and play.

Simple, fun, and noisy!

Tools: Empty bottles, rice/beans, tape, paper.

No-Sew Felt Crafts: Soft Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers with Scrap Fabric

Scraps of felt make soft decorations without sewing.

Make it:

  1. Cut felt into shapes.
  2. Glue pieces together to make turkeys, pumpkins.
  3. Add eyes or feathers with glue.

Soft, easy, and safe for toddlers.

Tools: Felt scraps, glue, scissors.

Paper Tube Owls: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers with Toilet Rolls

Toilet paper rolls can be owls or turkeys.

How to:

  1. Paint or color the tube.
  2. Glue on paper wings, eyes, and beak.
  3. Let dry and play.

Great for recycling and fun.

Tools: Toilet rolls, paint, glue, paper.

Button Sorting Art: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Teach Motor Skills

Use buttons to decorate shapes and practice sorting.

Steps:

  1. Draw a turkey or pumpkin outline.
  2. Help toddler glue buttons inside the shape.
  3. Sort buttons by color or size before gluing.

Fun and educational.

Tools: Buttons, glue, paper, marker.

Yarn-Wrapped Shapes: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Improve Dexterity

Wrap yarn around cardboard shapes.

How to:

  1. Cut shapes from cardboard.
  2. Let toddlers wrap yarn around, securing ends with tape.

Great for hand skills.

Tools: Cardboard, yarn, tape.

Twig Picture Frames: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Made from Nature

Make rustic frames with twigs.

Steps:

  1. Collect twigs.
  2. Glue them onto cardboard square frames.
  3. Add leaves or feathers.

Perfect for holiday photos.

Tools: Twigs, glue, cardboard.

Paper Chain Garlands: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers for Home Decor

Paper chains are classic and easy.

How to:

  1. Cut paper strips.
  2. Form loops and glue ends to link chains.
  3. Decorate with crayons.

Hang ’em for instant festivity.

Tools: Paper strips, glue.

Plate Mask Fun: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Disposable Plates

Turn paper plates into masks.

Steps:

  1. Cut holes for eyes.
  2. Decorate with markers, paper scraps.
  3. Attach a stick or string to wear.

So much fun for dress-up.

Tools: Paper plates, scissors, glue, markers.

Mud & Leaf Stamps: Messy Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Spark Curiosity

Get outdoorsy and messy!

How to:

  1. Use mud as paint.
  2. Press leaves onto mud, then paper.

Nature’s own stamp kit.

Tools: Mud, leaves, paper.

Homemade Dough Sculptures: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Flour & Salt

Make simple play dough to sculpt.

Steps:

  1. Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water.
  2. Knead until dough forms.
  3. Shape turkeys or pumpkins.
  4. Bake to harden or air dry.

Hands-on and squishy.

Tools: Flour, salt, water, bowl.

Bubble Wrap Prints: Creative Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers Using Packaging

Bubble wrap makes cool prints.

How to:

  1. Paint bubble wrap.
  2. Press painted side onto paper.
  3. Lift and reveal fun texture.

Kids love the popping feel too!

Tools: Bubble wrap, paint, paper.

Color Sorting Turkeys: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Build Skills

Sort colored feathers or paper bits to decorate turkey shapes.

Steps:

  1. Cut turkey shape on paper.
  2. Provide colored bits.
  3. Guide toddler to glue colors in sections.

Teaches colors and sorting.

Tools: Paper, colored bits, glue.

Potato Stamping Art: Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Use Real Veggies

Similar to pumpkin stamps, but with potatoes.

Steps:

  1. Carve simple shapes in potato halves.
  2. Dip in paint.
  3. Stamp paper.

Easy and fun.

Tools: Potato, paint, paper.