Easy, frugal DIY Thanksgiving decorations

There’s nothing wrong with the time-honored construction paper handprint turkey. In fact, every refrigerator should have at least one of them hanging on the door at some point. But here are some ideas on Thanksgiving crafts and DIY Thanksgiving decorations that you might not have thought of. All are easy to create and inexpensive to make. We at Charlotte on the Cheap are not talented at crafts, so you can be assured that none of these are difficult.

Paper Bag Turkey

This simple decoration from One Charming Party is easy to make and will be a hit as a centerpiece on the kids’ table. The best part is that it’s filled with popcorn, so also serves as part of the meal.

Supplies:

• 3 to 4 bags of popcorn
• large brown paper grocery bag
• 2 small brown lunch bags
• hot glue gun
• scissors
• white paper for the frills

Directions:

• For the frill, take a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11″ white paper and cut it in half lengthwise. Fold the paper in half lengthwise and make small cuts with a pair of scissors on the folded half to create loops.
• For the drumsticks, make one hand into a fist and stick it inside the lunch bag. With your other flat hand, press on the bag to mold and smash it down into a more rounded shape. Fill the bag 2/3 of the way with popcorn. Gather up the bottom of the bag and twist to keep it tight. Hot glue the beginning of the length of frill and wrap it around the bottom, twisted part of the lunch bag. Then hot glue the end of the white paper frill to keep it in place.
• For the main bag, do the same thing as the drumstick to make the corners rounded. Fill the bag up full with popcorn. Fold the sides of the bag in and tuck the bottom edge under. Hot glue the edge shut. Hot glue the legs onto the sides of the “turkey.”
• If using buttered popcorn to fill the turkey, use parchment or wax paper to line the paper bag to avoid grease marks.
• We used fresh parsley as a garnish on the platter, underneath the turkey.
• After the meal (or even before the meal) have an adult “carve” the turkey with a knife. Dig in!

Pine Cone Vase

Supplies:

• Pine cones
• Spray paint in autumn colors
• Large vase

Directions:

• Spray paint pine cones.
• Let dry.
• Put in vase.

Turkey Veggie Tray

The internet is awash with veggie trays that look like turkeys. There are literally more than 1,000 turkey veggie platters on Pinterest so take your pick. (There are also turkey fruit trays and turkey salami trays in the mix.) Let your taste in veggies be the guiding force, but here’s one example.

Cinnamon spiced candles

Here’s an easy way to upgrade a candle, that will not only look nice, but smell festive too. From Sheknows.com

Supplies:

• Vanilla candles
• Cinnamon sticks
• Rubber band
• Twine
• Ribbon

Directions

• Place a rubber band around the middle of the candle
• Slide the cinnamon sticks under the rubber band, until there are no gaps showing
• Wind the twine around the rubber band 5 or 6 times, until the rubber band doesn’t show
• Tie the ends of the twine in a double not, cut off, and tuck under the other strands of twine
• Wrap a ribbon around the twine and tie in a bow.