Thanksgiving Kids Craft: Paper Tube Turkey

This is called crafting by the seat of your pants. Last week Lu's school had a visit from some live turkeys.  When she got home she wanted to make a turkey. Since we had made several Model Magic turkeys already...I came up with this (slightly wonky looking) turkey idea.

You need, a small section of a paper tube, cardboard circles, feathers, and markers. It was easy for Lu to do fairly independently after I cut out the circles and put slits on the sides of the tube.

Fall Leaf Napkin Holders

This is a popular fall craft that is so simple and fun to do. Your grade school aged (on up) children will have fun making these for your Thanksgiving Day table.

Cardboard tube, leaves, glue or mod podge, glitter, paintbrush for glue, scissors to trim.

Cut tubes into rings. 

Paint glue onto ring.

Apply leaf to tube.

Paint some more glue on top of leaf.

Overlap leaves using this method.

Don't worry that leaves are hanging over the edge. 

You can trim them after the glue dries. 

Sprinkle on some glitter (if you like.)

Let dry them dry on some wax paper

Trim leaves.

I took this photo before I had a chance to apply an outer layer of glue for a final seal. You may find letting them dry then going back and gluing down the stubborn edges is more manageable.

Card Board Tube Rocket

Simple Rocket: paper towel or toilet paper tube, card board & paint

Cut out base pieces.

Glue
Cut slits into bottom of rocket
Insert base piece into slits
Cut out a card board circle about 2X as large as tube width
Cut slit halfway through
Form cone shape
Glue or tape
Glue gun cone to top of rocket
Paint (We didn't get to this step. Lu ran off with the rocket.)

Easy Toilet Paper Tube Stamps

Pretty much self explanatory! So simple and yet extra fun when you bend and manipulate the tube into different shapes. Lulu's picture is on the right and Emme's is on the left.


You can also replace the paint with glue! Add sand and or glitter and you have a cool picture. Use a heavier paper if you are going to use glue.

Paper Tube Bugs

Here is a step by step for making a super easy bug from a toilet paper tube. How much of the steps your child can do will depend on their skill level.
Supplies:
Card Board Tube
Scissors
Optional:
Paint or Crayons
Glue
Googly Eyes
Construction Paper
Glitter

Flatten tube

Cut slits along one side of tube approx. 1/2 through. Cut off one piece for antennae.

Fluff up tube then push every other slit in.

Cut the slits that were left up. Leaving the ones that were pushed down.

It should look like this when your done.

Cut a small slit on top for the antennae. Take oval you cut off bug. Snip one of the folded ends, turn inside out so curve face out.

Slide antennae in - you can glue them in place if they don't stay

Flatten and have child decorate. Paint would be a better option - more vivid - but Lu didn't feel like painting.

We glued on some polka dots and googly eyes. Lu wanted to add wings - so I flattened a second tube and cut out a B shape. when opened I had 2 connected wings. Using a box cutter I made a slit on top of the bug and slid the wings in the slit.

A paper towel tube works as well - makes a great millipede!

Have fun crafting with your kids, Mama King