12 DIY Dollar Tree Crafts for Thanksgiving (Some as Low as $1.25)

While food is a definite make-or-break for Turkey Day, don’t underestimate the power of great decor — like these DIY Dollar Tree crafts for Thanksgiving you can create for cheap. Make impressive stuff for your holiday table (kids’ table included!) by taking a trip to your local dollar store and following these instructions.

As long as you’re in the mood to save money on Turkey Day, how about a free Thanksgiving turkey? In addition to saving money, save time on the big day with these practical Thanksgiving hacks to help your day be less stressful and more enjoyable with your family and friends. Start by inventorying what craft supplies you already have or look for free items on groups like the Buy Nothing Project on Facebook.

If you do shop for craft supplies, make sure you know how to get an amazing Dollar Tree haul. Since every store has different inventory, I’ve noted an alternative store for the craft supply.

Download the free Krazy Coupon Lady app to be in the know about only the best Dollar Tree deals.

Here are 12 Dollar Tree Thanksgiving crafts for the big day:

1. Make a Pilgrim hat crayon holder for your Thanksgiving table.

To make the hat, use a sharp knife (or an X-Acto knife, $4.14, Walmart) to cut the bottom out of a black paper cup (20 for $3, Party City). Cut a buckle and hat brim out of cardstock paper ($0.79, Michaels) and glue them in place. To get a perfect circle, use a small bowl or a roll of packing tape as a template.

2. Use a Dollar Tree chalkboard to give your dinner guests a special place to share what they’re thankful for.

You’ll need to prep your Dollar Tree chalkboard easel ($1.25) before applying any stickers or designs to the surface. To ensure words erase from the chalkboard completely, place a piece of chalk on its side and rub it in one direction over the entire board. Repeat this process in the other direction. If you don’t do this, any words you write on this chalkboard may not be erased fully.

At the end of your Thanksgiving celebration, send the chalkboards home with your guests or hang on to them for future Thanksgivings.

3. Turn tree branches into expensive-looking faux fall foliage with Dollar Tree leaves and hot glue.

Amazon sells fall foliage for around $20 per set. Make your own by grabbing a $1.25 bunch of faux leaves from Dollar Tree or pruning a few branches from an outside tree. Apply hot glue to the base of each leaf and attach them to the end of each branch.

4. Make DIY Dollar Tree turkey pudding cups the kids will gobble up.

Dollar Tree inventory varies by location, but if yours is like all the dollar stores I’ve been to, you’ll find $1.25 googly eyes, felt sheets, and harvest feathers — all perfect materials to create turkey pudding cups. They’re not just DIY Dollar Tree Thanksgiving decorations; they’re delicious snacks kiddos will want to dig into.

5. Play pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe.

First, paint Amazon foam pumpkins ($9.39 for 12, $0.78 each) with two different colors of chalk paint ($2.59, Amazon). Personally, I used my leftover mini pumpkins from Halloween.

Then using a ruler, lay out strips of orange glittery washi tape ($7.75, Walmart) on the surface of your table in a grid pattern to create nine even boxes. Finally, challenge a family member to a game of Tic-Tac-Toe.

6. Snack on ice cream cone cornucopias.

To make your Thanksgiving cornucopia, drip a small amount of water inside an ice cream cone ($2.49, Target), being careful not to wet the sides. Place the tip of the cone in hot water for 30 seconds and then put it in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds.

Once the tip of the cone has softened, use a clean pencil to curl the cone tip.

Once the cone has hardened again, fill it with candy and use plastic wrap and a string to finish it off.

7. Transform ordinary Dollar Tree spice jars into fall salt and pepper shakers.

Transfer fall-themed stickers ($7.79 for 200 at Amazon) to the outside of each mini glass shaker ($1.25). Using painter’s tape, mask off the top to prevent any paint from getting inside.

Following the direction on your spray paint can ($5.98, Walmart), paint the surface of each shaker. Once they’ve fully dried, carefully remove the sticker to reveal your design! Fill each shaker with salt or pepper (or cinnamon and nutmeg for your favorite fall drinks).

8. Make a candy-stuffed turkey gift out of tissue paper, googly eyes, and a foam beak.

Head to Dollar Tree and get a pack of $1.25 solid-colored tissue paper that has red, yellow, and orange included. Or look and see what you already have. Make this a cheap craft by using some of your favorite and leftover ribbon from Christmas to tie the tissue paper together.

Add googly eyes ($1.25) and cut triangle shapes from felt sheets ($1.25) for the nose. Attach an optional gift tag made from construction paper and a white chalk pen ($1.25 each). If you’re feeling extra thankful, use these DIY Dollar Tree gifts as Thanksgiving party favors for all your family and friends.

9. Mark wine glasses with simple acorn charms.

Get into the holiday spirit and remix plain wine glasses with just a few discount finds (or random items at home. Instead of buying new glasses, decorate the plain ones in your cabinet.

For this craft, use styrofoam acorns ($9.99 for 100, Amazon), Mod Podge ($1.25), glitter, hot glue, and floral wire ($1.25) to create this craft.

Paint the styrofoam acorn with Mod Podge, then roll it in glitter. Once the acorn has dried, cut a piece of floral wire two to three inches long.

Gently push the wire halfway through the styrofoam part of the acorn. Secure it in place with a dab of hot glue.

Gently wrap the wire with the acorn attached to the stem of your wine glass.

Then fill it up with good wine you got for cheap with these wine coupons and deals.

10. Glue leaf and pumpkin placemats together for an easy Dollar Tree craft table runner.

Use felt placemats ($1.25 each) to create a new dinner table decoration — a table runner. I’ve also seen felt pumpkins for $16.99 for 12, $1.42 each, but also look for cheap fall placements at thrift stores.

Simply apply a few dots of hot glue to the underside of the corner of one placement and attach it to another. Repeat the process until you have a runner with six to seven items, depending on the size of your table.

Need new dinnerware before guests arrive? You’ll eat up these dinnerware deals.

11. Decorate your home by making a 15-minute fall wreath.

Use hot glue to secure the end of the burlap ribbon ($1.25) to a styrofoam wreath ($1.25). Wrap the burlap until it covers the wreath and secure it again.

Dress up the wreath by hot gluing styrofoam pumpkins and faux fall leaves to the burlap. It’s that simple.

12. Turn a dish scrubber into a pumpkin with leaves and a twig.

Who knew how adorable copper wire scourers, 3 ct ($1.25) could be? Use real or faux fall leaves (50-count for $1.25) and a twig and place them directly in the middle to resemble a mini pumpkin. Place these shiny pumpkins strategically throughout your home or Thanksgiving table.