Thanksgiving Napkin Ring Kids' Craft

When my now-teen son was younger, we set out to make an adorably sweet Thanksgiving craft for the holiday dinner table. I had these little turkey napkin rings in mind. Even though it sounded great in my mind, in reality it ended in tears. My then-4-year-old found the turkeys tough to make and gave up (post-tantrum). The result? I made the turkey craft myself- we needed something festive for the dinner table.

This napkin ring art activity is much easier. Your preschooler can pick one (or all) of these four projects to try. Instead of getting a perfectly crafted Thanksgiving table adornment, these are process-based activities. Even though this artsy adventure is more about exploring than making “something,” the cardboard rings still come out cute enough to add to your Thanksgiving place settings. They’ve got that fall color scheme going on and showcase your little artist’s creativity. As a bonus they are fab fine motor activities!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        A cardboard paper towel tube

·        Tempera paint in fall colors – yellow, red, orange, brown

·        Scissors

·        Craft feathers

·        Gauze

·        Clear drying school glue

·        Thin ribbon

·        Wax paper

·        Tissue paper

·        A paintbrush

Here’s What to Do:

For all four options, cut the cardboard tube into pieces that are two to three inches long.

Option 1- Craft feather/Tissue Paper

1.     Tear fall colors of tissue paper apart into dime-sized pieces.
 

2.     Pour a golf ball-sized pool of glue onto the wax paper.
 

3.     Paint the glue over the outside of a cardboard tube segment.
 

 

4.     Collage the tissue on top of the glue. Your child can dip her fingers into the glue to smooth down the tissue, make it stick and add a hint of shine.
 

5.     Press a craft feather to the front of the napkin ring.

Option 2- Finger Prints

1.     Pour pools of the tempera paint onto wax paper.
 

2.     Dip your child’s finger into the paint. She can press dots onto the tube.
 

3.     Repeat with different colors.

Option 3- Rolling Paint

You know the messy pools of paint that are left over from the fingerprint napkin rings? Have your child roll a fresh cardboard tube piece through them. That’s it!

Option 4 – Gauze Print with Ribbons

1.     Dab a piece of crumbled gauze in the paint.
 

2.     Press the gauze onto the cardboard for a textured print.

3.     Cut two pieces of thin ribbon.

4.     Glue one piece of ribbon to the top and the other to the bottom of the tube segment.

Let the rings dry and set your Thanksgiving table!

Are you looking for more holiday crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas galore!

 

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Thanksgiving Kids' Activities on Pinterest.