17+ Thanksgiving Paper Plate Crafts For Colorful Autumn Decor And Easy Family Fun
This collection brings together Thanksgiving paper plate crafts that turn familiar round bases into turkeys, pumpkins, leaves, and other autumn-inspired shapes. The projects lean into bold color, simple silhouettes, and layered paper details that read clearly at a glance.
Several pieces focus on strong visual contrast, such as brown bodies against bright feather fans, pale plate bases covered with textured foliage, and warm orange pumpkins with clear stems and leaves. That makes the set especially appealing for image-led craft browsing and seasonal inspiration.
Together, these crafts offer a varied look at Thanksgiving making, from decorative wall pieces and garlands to face crafts and tabletop accents. The shared paper plate format keeps the collection cohesive while still allowing each project to feel distinct and festive.
Paper plate hedgehog leaf craft
This round craft combines a soft face on one side with a spiky, leaf-speckled fringe that fills the rest of the plate. The tan and brown palette gives it a warm autumn feel, while the small leaf accents make the texture feel seasonal and lively.
What You Need
- paper plate
- brown paper strips
- tan paper or felt
- black paper circles
- pink circle cutout
- leaf cutouts in fall colors
- glue
How to Make It
- Attach brown paper strips around the upper plate edge to create a similar spiky body.
- Add the tan face, black nose and eye, pink cheek, and smile on one side of the plate.
- Glue leaf cutouts onto the fringe for a fall-inspired finish.
- Use child-safe scissors and avoid small parts for young children.
Paper plate turkey centerpiece
This turkey has a rounded body, a bright folded fan tail, and a playful hat that gives it a strong tabletop presence. The layered plates add volume, while the tail colors bring a clear burst of Thanksgiving color.
What You Need
- paper plates
- colored paper in fall tones
- black paper
- yellow paper
- red paper
- glue
How to Make It
- Form the turkey body from paper plates and attach folded colored tail sections behind it.
- Add black hat pieces, eyes, beak, and wattle to the front.
- Finish with folded paper feet at the bottom.
- Watch sharp paper edges and use non-toxic glue.
Acorn paper plate wall hanging
A simple teardrop acorn shape stands out here with a layered cap and a smooth tan body. The two-tone design keeps the shape easy to read, while the scalloped top adds just enough texture to make it feel seasonal.
What You Need
- paper plate
- brown construction paper
- tan paint or paper
- scissors
- glue
How to Make It
- Cut the plate into an acorn body shape and cover it with tan paper or paint.
- Cut brown scallops for the cap and glue them in layered rows across the top.
- Add a narrow brown stem at the top and let it hang or display flat.
- Cut carefully around small curves and allow glue or paint to dry fully.
Sunset pumpkin paper plate scene
This painted plate reads like a little autumn landscape, with a bright moon, dark tree shapes, and pumpkins along the bottom. The orange and purple sky creates a strong backdrop that makes the silhouettes stand out clearly.
What You Need
- paper plate
- paint in purple, orange, yellow, black
- paintbrushes
- black marker or paint pen
- pencil
How to Make It
- Paint the plate with a sunset sky and bright moon background.
- Draw or paint the tree, birds, pumpkins, shoreline, and grass in dark foreground shapes.
- Trace details and deepen contrast with black marker or paint pen.
- Protect the work surface from paint and use ventilation if needed.
Layered owl paper plate decoration
Large eyes and layered feather shapes give this owl a bold, front-facing look. The brown, tan, and orange papers work together to create a textured chest and a balanced fall color story.
What You Need
- paper plate
- brown, tan, and orange paper
- white paper circles
- black paper circles
- orange paper
- glue
How to Make It
- Use the paper plate as the owl body and add pointed ear tufts at the top.
- Layer feather shapes across the lower body in mixed fall colors.
- Finish with large eyes, a small beak, and orange feet.
- Keep small eye pieces away from young children and use child-safe scissors and glue.
Autumn leaf wreath ring
This wreath uses layered leaf cutouts around a paper plate ring, creating a full circle of warm color. The open center keeps the piece light and airy, while the dense overlap gives it a festive, finished look.
What You Need
- White paper plate
- Colored paper in red, yellow, orange, and brown
- Twisted cord or rope
- Scissors
- Glue
How to Make It
- Cut the paper plate into a ring and trim colored paper into leaf shapes.
- Glue the leaves around the ring in overlapping layers.
- Attach the cord at the top for hanging.
- Use child-safe scissors for cutting and keep glue off the hanging cord ends.
Paper plate turkey face
This turkey face pairs a brown head with a white plate base and a fan of bright feathers behind it. The simple features keep the expression easy to read, while the wide feather spread makes the whole craft feel bold and balanced.
What You Need
- White paper plate
- Brown, red, yellow, and orange paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Scissors
How to Make It
- Cut feather, beak, wattle, and foot shapes from colored paper.
- Glue feathers behind the plate and add the face pieces.
- Attach the feet below the plate to finish the turkey.
- Avoid small parts for young children and use glue in a well-ventilated area.
Sunflower paper plate craft
Bright yellow petals frame a textured brown center in this cheerful flower design. The green stem and leaves balance the wide flower head and give the craft a clean, easy-to-recognize silhouette.
What You Need
- Paper plate
- Yellow paper
- Green paper
- Small brown textured pieces or pom-poms
- Glue
- Scissors
How to Make It
- Cut yellow petals and green stem-and-leaf shapes.
- Glue petals around the plate and fill the center with brown pieces.
- Attach the green stem and leaves below the flower head.
- Check that small brown pieces are not a choking hazard and use scissors carefully when shaping petals.
Scarecrow plate face portrait
A pointed hat, yarn hair, and button eyes give this scarecrow a playful, storybook look. The mixed textures and simple facial shapes make the face feel layered without becoming busy.
What You Need
- White paper plate
- Brown paper or felt
- Tan ribbon or burlap strip
- Yarn
- Buttons
- Orange and black paper
- Glue
- Scissors
How to Make It
- Cut a hat shape, hair strands, nose, cheeks, smile, and small flower pieces.
- Glue the hat and band above the plate, then add yarn hair and button eyes.
- Finish by attaching the nose, cheeks, smile, and flower accent.
- Buttons can be a choking hazard for small children, and yarn ends should be secured so they do not shed.
Paper plate lattice pie
This pie craft uses a crisscross top, a crinkled edge, and a red center to create a strong seasonal dessert look. The repeating strip pattern gives the surface rhythm, while the edge treatment helps the whole piece read as a pie at a glance.
What You Need
- Paper plate
- Brown paper or kraft paper
- Red paper or red paint
- Glue
- Scissors
How to Make It
- Cover the plate center with red paper or painted red filling.
- Cut brown paper into strips and weave or layer them into a lattice.
- Crinkle the remaining brown paper around the rim to form the crust edge.
- If using paint, protect the work surface and let glue or paint dry before handling.
Paper Plate Turkey Face
A round brown body, simple eyes, and a fan of autumn leaves make this turkey feel especially full and festive. The leaf halo adds width behind the face, while the warm palette keeps the design grounded in fall colors.
What You Need
- brown paper plate
- autumn leaves
- white paper
- black paper
- yellow paper
- red paper
- orange paper
- glue
- scissors
How to Make It
- Arrange autumn leaves in a fan behind the paper plate and glue them in place.
- Cut and attach eyes, beak, wattle, and feet from the colored papers.
- Place the face on the plate, then add the feet below for a turkey body.
- Use child-safe scissors if kids participate and secure small paper pieces to reduce choking risk.
Laced Paper Plate Pumpkin
This pumpkin stands out through its simple orange circle, curved yarn lacing, and small stem and leaf accents. The laced lines bring movement to the center of the shape, giving the craft more texture than a plain cutout.
What You Need
- orange paper plate
- orange yarn
- brown stick or paper stem
- green paper
- hole punch
- scissors
How to Make It
- Punch holes around the plate edge and thread orange yarn through them.
- Attach the brown stem at the top and add two green paper leaves.
- Supervise yarn threading for younger children and punch holes carefully.
Paper Plate Turkey Garland
This turkey design has a wide feather burst, a centered face, and long legs that give it a playful hanging look. The alternating fall colors keep the silhouette lively, while the body stays easy to read against a pale background.
What You Need
- brown paper plate
- colored paper in orange, yellow, red, brown
- white paper
- black paper
- glue
- scissors
How to Make It
- Cut feather shapes from the colored papers and glue them behind the plate in a fan.
- Add the face pieces and attach long orange paper legs below.
- Keep cut edges smooth and use glue on a protected surface.
Cardboard Fence Pumpkin Patch
Three layered pumpkins sit together like a tiny harvest scene, with a fence behind them and grass details around the base. The mix of sizes and the bright orange color make the cluster feel full and anchored in place.
What You Need
- orange paper plates
- brown cardstock or cardboard
- green paper
- brown paper or cardstock
- green pipe cleaners
- yellow paper strips
- glue
- scissors
How to Make It
- Cut pumpkin ridges and stems from orange and brown materials, then assemble three pumpkins.
- Add green leaves and curly tendrils near the stems.
- Set the pumpkins on green paper, then add fence and grass details around them.
- Watch for sharp cardboard edges and supervise cutting of small curved pieces.
Fall Tree Paper Collage
This paper tree uses a round canopy of crumpled fall colors above a simple brown trunk. The loose leaves at the base help the piece feel like a full autumn scene instead of just a tree shape.
What You Need
- white paper plate
- brown paper
- red tissue or paper
- orange tissue or paper
- yellow tissue or paper
- glue
- scissors
How to Make It
- Cut a brown trunk and branch shape, then glue it below the plate.
- Crumple red, orange, and yellow paper into small leaf clusters and glue them onto the plate.
- Scatter a few extra paper leaves around the base for fallen foliage.
- Crumpled paper can be a choking hazard for very young children, and non-toxic glue is best for kids.
Paper plate turkey headband
A tall fan of colorful feathers rises above a simple turkey face, making this craft fun and easy to spot. The brown base keeps the center grounded while the bright feather shapes add height and movement.
What You Need
- paper plate
- brown paper strip
- colored paper or cardstock
- googly eyes
- marker
- glue
- scissors
How to Make It
- Cut a paper plate into a half circle and attach it to the brown paper strip as a headband front.
- Cut feather shapes from colored paper, draw vein lines, and glue them behind the plate.
- Add googly eyes, a yellow beak, and a red wattle to finish the turkey face.
- Use child-safe scissors for cutting, keep small googly eyes away from very young children, and let glue dry before wearing.
Painted maple leaf cutout
This large leaf shape uses blended warm colors and dark vein lines to create a clear autumn display. The jagged edges and short stem help it read immediately as a maple-style leaf against the light background.
What You Need
- leaf-shaped paper or cardstock cutout
- red, orange, yellow, and green paint
- paintbrush
- brown marker or paint
- light wood or white background surface
How to Make It
- Paint the leaf cutout with blended warm colors, keeping a mottled autumn look across the surface.
- Add a brown stem and vein lines with marker or paint.
- Place the finished leaf flat on a light wood or white background for display.
- Protect the work surface before painting, allow paint to dry fully before moving, and use non-toxic paint for children.
Bring Warm Autumn Shapes To Your Thanksgiving Display
These paper plate projects work well because they combine easy-to-recognize fall imagery with simple layered construction. Turkeys, acorns, leaves, sunflowers, and pumpkins all stand out through color contrast, round silhouettes, and textured surfaces.
The collection also shows how one basic material can support many different visual styles, from playful character faces to more decorative seasonal pieces. That variety makes it easy to choose a craft that suits a home display, classroom activity, or family craft session.
For readers looking for Thanksgiving paper plate crafts with clear visual appeal, this collection offers plenty of seasonal ideas rooted in warm colors, strong shapes, and approachable designs.