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56 Fun DIY Thanksgiving Crafts for Adults to Make This Year

You'll be thankful for these pretty decor ideas.

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preview for 4 Thanksgiving DIYs to Celebrate Fall

Roast turkey, gravy, and the rest of the Thanksgiving menu are just a tiny fraction of the fun to help you celebrate Turkey Day! Why not round out your festivities with one (or a few) of these DIY Thanksgiving crafts for adults? Try your hand at crafting a Thanksgiving centerpiece, a welcoming Thanksgiving wreath, or other cozy, autumn-inspired Thanksgiving decorations. Our easy Thanksgiving crafts for both adults (and kids with a little adult supervision) will get your home ready for holiday entertaining—and an added bonus—they'll help to bring the family together for a little quality time together. Whether you need a few quick and easy printable Thanksgiving crafts or you are looking for a longer weekend project, the Thanksgiving arts and crafts projects we've put together will help you spiff up your home and branch out from the "been there, done that" project ideas you often see around this time of the year.

Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving gift to bring to your host? Look no further: A pumpkin pie necklace or mulling spices kit are sure to delight, and the present will be even more meaningful when they realize you made it yourself. Or perhaps you're looking for something pretty and handmade to decorate your dinner table. Rejoice, crafters; we've got tons of DIY Thanksgiving table settings ideas here, from cake stands, rope cornucopias, oversized wreaths, and photo place cards. With a few supplies from the craft store, or a trip around the yard to see what her nature has to offer, and a bit of imagination, there's nothing you can't do or craft!

1

Moss and Mini Pumpkin Wreath

fall wreath made from dried moss, lichen and mini white pumpkins hung on a brown barn wall

Create a textural wreath by incorporating different types of moss, such as Spanish moss, preserved forest moss, and dried tree lichen.

To make: Cover a 12- to 16-inch foam wreath form with clumps of moss and lichen, attaching with hot-glue. Glue tiny bits of moss and lichen around the stems of mini white pumpkins, then secure to the wreath with floral pins and wire.

2

Blanket Poof

foot pouf made from plaid fabric set in a cabin in front of a rocking chair and window

Gift guests (or the cook!) a comfy place to rest their weary feet with this handcrafted pouf made from an old wool blanket.

To make: Start by cutting a blanket into six 16-inch squares. Topstitch the pieces together in a cube, leaving a 6-inch opening. Stuff with shredded memory foam filling, and stitch closed. Add a decorative blanket stitch along the outer edges, if desired

3

Pretty Plummed Pumpkins

a small and medium pumpkin covered in feathers set in front of a taller pumpkin that is filled with flowers and feathers

Feathered friends lend their plums to help create these fancy pumpkins. Perfect for your fall tablescape all season long!

To make: Hollow out a tall gourd such as a Hubbard squash, and slice a sliver off the bottom to help it stand. Place a piece of damp floral foam inside and fill with feathers, foliage, and flowers (here, roses and ranunculus). For the festooned pumpkins, use hot-glue to cover with long turkey (large) or pheasant (small) feathers. For the larger pumpkin, finish with wispy green chicken feathers around the crown.

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4

Bead-and-Wheat Wreath

wreath made from craft beads and dried wheat and grass on a whitewashed background

This classic stunner will look great on the door all season lone. Hang it as soon as the weather starts to turn cool and leave it up to greats guests as they arrive from the Thanksgiving feast.

To make: Make six to eight bundles of dried wheat and/or dried pampas grass, holding the ends together with brown floral wire. Starting at the bottom, use wire to attach bundles to a beaded wreath form (each subsequent bundle will cover up the wire of the previous bundle). Cover the wire of the last bundle with jute ribbon. Use a second length of ribbon to hang the wreath.

5

Apple Place Card

a green paper leaf placecard set on a blue trasnferware plate

Welcome family and friends to the Thanksgiving table with a sweet little apple place card.

To make: Cut out an apple-shaped leaf from green craft paper and write the diner's name on it. Attach the leaves to the apple's stem with hot glue or poke it into the apple with a pushpin.

6

Braided Rope Wreath

wreath form wrapped in rope topped with a braid made from rope with a bow made from upholstry jute webbing

The natural hues of this braided twine wreath insure that it will fit right in in any setting. Hang on the front door or above the buffet.

To make: Wrap a wire wreath form in thin jute rope. Cut six long lengths of the same rope you used to wrap the wreath form. Hot-glue one end of three lengths together. Repeat with the second set of three lengths. Braid rope bundles together. Hot-glue braid to the wreath form. Attach an oversize bow, made from upholstery jute webbing, with hot-glue.

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7

Flower Tower

three stacked white pumpkins with fall flowers tucked into the space where the pumpkins meet

Create a stunning centerpiece for your fall table of buffet with a stack of pumpkins and loads of seasonal flowers.

To make: Start with three white pumpkins that stack nicely. Remove the stems from the bottom and middle pumpkins. Insert three wooden skewers into the bottom of the middle pumpkin, then pierce the skewers into the top of the bottom pumpkin to help hold them together. Repeat with the top and middle pumpkins. Using long floral greening pins, attach small pieces of damp floral foam where the pumpkins meet. Insert flowers (here, dahlias, ranunculus, and roses), foliage, and privet berries around each tier.

8

Felt Flower Wreath

wreath made from a grapevine wreath form topped with felt flowers displayed on a green door

Make or buy felt flowers in fall colors that coordinate with your front door paint or table setting to create a wreath that surely impress the neighbors and Thanksgiving guests.

To make: Make or buy felt flowers and leaves. Hot-glue flowers and leaves to a grapevine wreath form and hang with a length of ribbon.

SHOP FELT FLOWERS

9

Wheat Wreath

wreath made from dried wreath hung on a brown door

Use two different varieties of crafting wheat to make a wreath that has an added layer of texture and color. Make a big one for the front door or a few smaller ones to scatter about the table

To make: Attach pieces of dried wheat (trimming the ends as needed) to a wooden craft ring with hot-glue, overlapping the pieces as you work your way around the form.

SHOP WHEAT

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10

Pumpkin Napkin Fold

orange linen napkin folded into the shape of a pumpking iwth a real pumpkin stem on top set on a plate on a set table

Start with orange linen napkin or one that fits your table's colors, and whip it into a sweet pumpkin with a few simple twist and turns. Set once at each place setting and add a paper place card, if desired.

Get the tutorial here.

11

Leaf Etched Pumpkins

an assortment of pumpkins with etched leaves on one side layed out on a wood bench infrom of a brown barn wall

Take inspiration from nature to create these pretty leaf etching.

To make: Start by tracing leaves on a pumpkin with a pen. Use a thin linoleum cutting tool to etch each leaf outline and stem, then a wider linoleum tool to remove the skin inside the etched outlines, exposing the flesh.

12

Up Cloche and Personal

use vintage flower frogs to hold photos upright, then place beneath glass cloches and bell jars

Use vintage flower frogs to hold family photos upright, then place beneath glass cloches and bell jars. If your frog doesn’t have tines, fashion a holder by wrapping craft wire around a 3/4-inch dowel a few times, leaving a 1- to 2-inch tail that you insert into a hole of the flower frog. For a more organic feel, incorporate earthy elements such as moss, rocks, and pine cones.

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13

Transferware Plates and Pumpkin Display

pumpkins decorated to look like brown and white transferware
Becky Stayner

Grab the Mod Podge. A simple trip to the color copier is all it takes to “transfer” your collection to a pumpkin.

To make: Simply make a color copy of a your favorite plates and trays, then cut the paper into strips and adhere to a pumpkin or gourd with the Mod Podge.

14

Time in a Bottle

black and white photos in glass jars sitting on a brown table in from of a green wall

Create a glassware version of a gallery wall and give thanks to the generations that came before, by arranging a grouping of “photo” bottles on a mantel or side table.

To make: Gently roll photographs and insert into assorted vintage glass bottles. (If the photo edges remain curled, use a long wooden skewer to help unroll the photo until it’s flat again.)

15

Decoupaged Plates

black and white photos decoupaged into the middle of decorative plates

This photo display will welcome guests and show grandma just how much you love her!

To make: Use original or make copies of vintage photos. Cut out to fit the inside rim of a plate. Use satin or glossy Mod Podge to attach photo.

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16

Pumpkins Nestled in Glass Cloches

mini and small pumpkins under the glass of vintage clouches and bell jars
Becky Stayner

Fill ‘em up. The domes provide the perfect spot for displaying a selection of Jack Be Little gourds. To easily fill, hold the cloche or bell jar upside down and fill with pumpkins. Set the base on the opening (you can also use cutting boards or cake stands), and turn right side up.

17

Vintage boppin and Spool Pumpkin Perch

small pumpkins perched on vintage sewing bobbins and spools
Becky Stayner

Get stacking. Perch petite pumpkins on top of wooden spools and bobbins for a 60-second mantel or centerpiece upgrade.

18

“Face” Cards

vintage photos inserted into a slit that has been cut into one end of a spool set on a placesetting

Allow Thanksgiving family and friends to enjoy a walk down memory lane with a cute photo placecard.

To make: Simply cut a shallow, 1/4-inch-deep channel into the top of a wooden spool (a fine-tooth blade hacksaw will do the trick). Insert a small photo, and place at the relevant setting.

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19

Storied Stirrers

copies of vintage photos wrapped around drink picks resting in glasses ice tea

Create one of a kind drink stirrers using vintage family photos.

To make: Preserve your original vintage pictures and make copies on glossy photo paper (scaling the image down to about 1- by 1-inch). Cut out the copied photographs, leaving excess paper on the left-hand side to wrap around drink picks, then use hot-glue or double-sided tape to attach.

20

Colander Stack

mini pumpkins and colanders nestled in stacked colander
Becky Stayner

Build a tiered centerpiece for your festive holiday table.

To make: Cut floral foam to fit into the bowls of the bottom and middle colanders. Make your stack by pushing the top two colanders (footed work best) into the foam. Use mini pumpkins and bittersweet to fill the top tier and the spaces between the colanders.

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