Easy Paper Thanksgiving Crafts for All Ages

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and giving thanks. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to get creative with easy and fun paper crafts! Whether you’re looking for simple decorations to adorn your home or engaging activities to keep the kids entertained, these three paper Thanksgiving crafts are perfect for all ages and skill levels. Gather your supplies and get ready to add a touch of handmade charm to your holiday celebrations.

Paper Bag Luminaries with Fall Silhouettes

A simple, elegant way to light a path or decorate a mantelpiece (use battery-operated tea lights or votives only).

Materials: Brown or white paper lunch bags, scissors, pencil, flameless LED tea lights or votives, construction paper in contrasting colors (optional).

Instructions:

1. On the front of a paper bag, lightly draw a simple, recognizable fall silhouette shape (e.g., a pumpkin, an acorn, a leaf).
2. Carefully cut out the silhouette, creating a window in the bag.
3. (Optional: Glue a piece of contrasting colored construction paper inside the bag, behind the cutout, to filter the light).
4. Open the paper bag and fold down the top edge slightly to give it a neat cuff.
5. Place the flameless LED light inside the bag.
6. Arrange the luminaries to light up a table or walkway.

Paper Link Gratefulness Chain

This is a variation on a classic craft that specifically serves as a Thanksgiving countdown or gratitude journal.

Materials: Construction paper in fall colors (brown, red, yellow, orange), scissors, glue stick or tape, pen/marker.

Instructions:

1. Cut the paper into long strips, about one inch wide and eight inches long.
2. Write something you are grateful for on each strip. You can pre-write a strip for each day in November, or make them all at once.
3. Form the first strip into a circle and secure the ends with glue or tape. This is your first link.
4. Loop the next strip through the first link, then secure its ends to form the second link.
5. Continue until all your strips of gratitude are linked together, forming a long, decorative paper chain to hang across a doorway or mantel.

Accordion-Fold Paper Fans with Fall Designs

A simple, dynamic craft that makes great hanging or mantelpiece decorations.

Materials: Rectangular sheets of construction paper (fall colors like deep red, rust, gold), scissors, hole punch, twine or ribbon, markers or ink pens.

Instructions:

1. Decorate (Optional): Draw small leaf, acorn, or pumpkin motifs evenly across one side of the paper rectangle.
2. Accordion Fold: Starting at the short end of the paper, fold a narrow strip (about 1/2 inch) over. Flip the paper and fold the strip back, continuing this back-and-forth accordion pattern until you reach the end of the sheet.
3. Create the Fan: Fold the accordion strip exactly in half.
4. Secure: Use a hole punch to punch a hole through all the layers near the folded center edge.
5. Tie: Thread a piece of twine or ribbon through the punched hole and tie it tightly to secure the center fold.
6. Display: Spread out the two open ends of the folded paper to create a half-circle fan shape. Use a piece of tape or glue to connect the two outer ends, forming a full circle. Hang these circular fans individually or string several together on a ribbon for a garland.