We’re at the height of our autumn harvest here in Indiana, which means that now is the perfect time to gather all the natural materials that you’ll need to make your Thanksgiving nature crafts.
From colorful leaves to acorns to pretty gourds, you’ll find plenty of beautiful things in the great outdoors to make the following festive Thanksgiving nature crafts:
1. apple cider slushie. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving somewhere warm? If you are, switch our your usual hot apple cider for these apple cider slushies!
2. cinnamon stick place card holders. These place card holders are guaranteed to fit your color scheme, and they’ll smell great! All you need to make them are cinnamon sticks and twine.
3. dried bean turkey. Make those tired old dried bean mosaics a little more festive this autumn. For bonus points, include popcorn kernels, including the colorful kinds, if you can find them.
4. Gourdo Greenface. This DIY pumpkin version of Mr. Potato Head will keep the kids happy while you cook. Make it extra eco-friendly by using as many components as you can from the recycling bin.
5. jar lid pumpkin pies. These mini pies make a cute contribution to a dessert buffet.
6. leaf-carved pumpkin. Forget to carve your Jack-o-lanterns? It’s easy to make them Thanksgiving-themed instead!
7. maple leaf turkey. Maple leaves make great turkeys! Press them first to make them last longer.
8. nature walk turkey. Take a nature walk with the kids, then challenge yourselves to make the biggest, best turkey that you can.
9. pinecone place cards. Use upcycled papers or cardboard to make this project even greener.
10. pumpkin place cards. You’ll be able to find small pumpkins on sale after Halloween. Put them to great use here!
11. pinecone turkey. The washi tape makes these pinecone turkeys especially cute and unusual.
12. pumpkin turkey. To make this project more eco-friendly, use cardstock or recycled cardboard instead of craft foam.
13. rock turkey. You can either paint the entire turkey, or use colorful cardstock for the tail feathers.
14. thankful tree. Change up this gratitude-inspiring craft by using real leaves.
15. turkey leaf lanterns. Leaves make beautiful luminaries, and a surprisingly non-cutesy turkey!
The turkey leaf pumpkin is super cute!
Since the weather hasn’t cooled down yet, that apple cider slushie will be perfect!