Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and good food. But it’s also a time for decorations! This year, why not try something new with your Thanksgiving tree decorations? You can make or buy them, and they’ll add a festive touch to your holiday décor. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Whether you put your Christmas decorations up November 1st or you wait until after the Thanksgiving holiday, you could be utilizing your Christmas tree all season long. I have seen so many darling Thanksgiving trees all over Pinterest and in some of my friends’ homes, so I thought I would put together a list of easy Thanksgiving tree decorations you can make or buy at your local craft store or Dollar Tree. I personally love fall decor, and this is a fun way to display your family’s attitude of gratitude all season long.
It’s a win-win situation – you get more use out of your Christmas tree, and you can let your creativity flow with how you decorate it! I personally love making decorations with my Cricut machine or Glowforge. There are so many different materials you can use with these machines, from paper and cardstock to metal and wood. There are truly endless options, so dust off those machines and get to work!
If you don’t have a Cricut or Glowforge, no worries – you can create or purchase amazing decorations without them – it might just take a little extra work. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for easy Thanksgiving tree decorations:
1. Hand Turkey Ornaments
These are so easy to make with the whole family! All you need is some construction paper, markers, and googly eyes. Trace your child’s hand on the paper and let them decorate their “turkey” however they’d like. Add a ribbon loop to the top and voila – you have an adorable Thanksgiving ornament!
2. Feathers
You can find these at any craft store, and they come in a variety of colors. I like to use white feathers, but you could use brown or even fall-colored feathers if you want your tree to be really festive. Simply place the feathers in between the branches of the tree. If you want to make sure they stick, you can tie them down with fishing wire or stick them on with glue dots.
3. Burlap Ribbons
These are perfect for adding a rustic touch to your Thanksgiving tree. You can find them at any craft store, and they come in a variety of colors. Simply tie the ribbons around the branches of the tree. You can tie burlap bows, wrap the tree in burlap, or tie knots throughout the branches. It’s a great filler for the tree and will really make it feel festive for fall.
4. Fall Foliage
This is an easy way to add some colorful leaves to your Thanksgiving tree. You can find fake leaves at any craft store, or you can use real fall leaves if you live in an area where fall foliage is abundant. You could also make paper leaves if you want to get creative! Simply place the leaves in between the branches of the tree. If you want to make sure they stay put, you can tie them down with fishing wire or glue dots. You could also make a leaf garland if you’re feeling extra crafty!
5. Gratitude Ornaments
These are so easy to make and are a great way to teach your kids about gratitude. All you need is some clear plastic ornaments and ribbons. Simply have your kids write what they’re grateful for on a piece of paper and insert it into the ornament. Then, add some ribbon, and voila – you have a beautiful Thanksgiving decoration that also doubles as a daily reminder of all the things your family is grateful for! If you have little kids or pets and glass ornaments aren’t your thing, you can make them out of wood, plastic, or metal.
6. Lights
Lights are a must for any Christmas tree, but they’re also perfect for adding a little extra sparkle to your Thanksgiving tree. Your Christmas tree is probably already pre-lit, but if it’s not, you can easily wrap the tree in little twinkling lights to add that extra touch.
7. Pumpkins
Pumpkins are the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving tree! You can find small pumpkins at your local grocery store, or you can pick up some faux pumpkins from the Dollar Tree or your local craft store.
Simply place the pumpkins in between the branches of the tree, and voila – you have a festive fall decoration! You could even make a pumpkin ornament. If you want to utilize bigger pumpkins, you can put them at the base of your tree along with some hay bales. You could also add tree skirts to make it even more festive!
8. Food Ornaments
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a feast, right? Make or buy ornaments of your favorite Thanksgiving staples like turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, fall fruits, or whatever else your family loves. This will be a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving tree!
9. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are the perfect way to add a little bit of color to your Thanksgiving tree. You can find fake sunflowers at any craft store, or you can use real sunflowers if you have them growing in your garden. Simply place the sunflowers in between the branches of the tree!
10. “Give Thanks” Banner
This is a great way to add some extra holiday cheer to your Thanksgiving tree. You can find banners at any craft store, or you can make your own with the Cricut.
All you have to do is print “Give Thanks” on some material (I would recommend burlap or felt) or heavy duty paper, string the letters together, and hang it on the tree. You could incorporate other words and phrases as well, such as “Gratitude,” “Happy Thanksgiving,” or “Thankful” to show off your thankful heart
11. Wood Signs
Wood signs are a great way to add a rustic touch to your Thanksgiving tree. You can find them at any craft store, or you can make your own with the Glowforge.
If you’re making your own, you can use the Glowforge to engrave classic Thanksgiving phrases into the wood blocks. If you want to use the Cricut, you can print vinyl letters and put them on wood blocks as well!
Or, if you want to purchase something instead, you can find darling wood signs at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Target, Walmart, or the Dollar Tree.
There you have it – 11 easy Thanksgiving tree decorations that you can make or buy! I hope this gave you some inspiration for decorating your own Thanksgiving tree this year. This will quickly become one of your family’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions! From hand turkeys to gratitude ornaments, there are so many cute and festive ways to decorate your tree.
It’s a great holiday decor piece that will make your Thanksgiving dinner and harvest season even more special. Plus, it’s so easy to swap out your thankful tree holiday decorations for Christmas ornaments when the time is right for your family. And who knows – maybe next year you’ll want to try a Halloween tree as well! Do you have a favorite decoration that I missed? Let me know in the comments below! Happy decorating!
Whether you choose to make your own Thanksgiving tree decorations or buy them, we hope you have a lovely and festive holiday season! If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure to check out our other posts on Thanksgiving decor. Happy holidays!
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