crafts

DIY Turkey Bowling Game

November 25, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Looking for a fun, low-prep activity for kids to do during a Thanksgiving get-together or an active play time? This simple and fun DIY turkey bowling game will get everyone moving. The crafted turkey-themed bowling pins blend recycling, creativity, and energetic play – a fantastic combination. Download the free printable in the post to make creating the festive bowling pins a breeze.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few simple supplies are needed for this Thanksgiving-themed bowling game. Gather the following to make the pins and play the game:

large, clear juice or water bottles
craft foam sheets
markers
scissors
white glue or glue gun
small rubber or plastic balls

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Making the Turkey Bowling Pins

Children will enjoy helping create the colorful bowling pins for the DIY turkey bowling game, as they are simple to make.

To start off, select clean bottles to use for the body of the turkey pins. Large, clear bottles with solid bases work well. I feature juice bottles that hold approximately 1 ½ litres (6 cups) of liquid.

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Next, cut a round face and three or more tail feathers from craft foam colors of your choice. Feel free to use this printable as a pattern for the foam pieces.

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Bottle Turkey Pattern PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

Then draw a turkey face on the round foam cutouts. Include eyes, a beak, and a teardrop-shaped snood.

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To finish off, use white glue or a glue gun to adhere the round face to the lower front of the bottle, and the tail feathers to the lower back.

The pins are now ready to be set up in a “bowling alley” in your home, yard, or classroom. Children can work as a team or individually to knock the pins down with small rubber or plastic balls.

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Benefits of the DIY Turkey Bowling Game

This handcrafted turkey bowling game offers the following benefits:

hand-eye coordination exercise
practice in turn-taking and working as a team
opportunity to participate in an active, fun activity

Questions about this mini bowling game? Leave a comment below.

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More Thanksgiving Activities

Shop these Thanksgiving printable games in my Etsy shop “Skills N Smiles“:

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Paper Plate Turkey Craft

Turkey Sensory Tubes

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

Coffee Playdough Turkey

Turkey Playdough Tray

[Read more…]

Fall Leaf Crown Paper Crafts

November 23, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall is a beautiful time of year, and in many parts of the world, the leaves on trees turn brilliant red, orange, and yellow colors. If you’re looking for a simple, hands-on way to bring fall hues into your home or classroom, completing one or more of these Fall Leaf Crown Paper Crafts is the perfect project!

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Not only are the leaf crown crafts easy to make and fun to use in pretend play, but they also give participants a self-esteem boost for completing them and offer valuable scissor skill practice.

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Rather than needing to collect leaves from outdoors or use artificial leaves, the paper leaf crowns require only scissors and glue or tape to assemble. This means the crafts take little time, are low-mess, and are super simple to do.

You can find printables for making these fall leaf paper crown crafts in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop. There are four designs to choose from for one low price. A BONUS is that the printable set includes a leaf wand paper craft.

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How to Make the Leaf Crown Paper Crafts

To assemble a fall leaf crown, cut out the front and back designs from the printable of choice. I recommend that children use child-safe scissors.

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Next, glue one end of the crown front to one end of the crown back.

Then fit the crown around a child’s head.

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Glue or tape the other ends together after the paper headband is fitted.

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Note: The leaf crown designs are for children aged three to nine. If a crown isn’t as wide as needed, add a small section of headband.

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How to Make the Leaf Wand Paper Craft

To assemble the leaf wand, cut out one of the designs.

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Then, using tape or a glue gun, affix a small chopstick-sized stick and two or more strips of thin ribbon to the paper leaf cut out.

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Wearing the crowns and selecting a wand to use transports children into a world of make-believe where they can become a forest king or queen, a mighty ruler, or a garden fairy. They engage in satisfying, meaningful, imaginative play.

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More Activities With Leaves

Zucchini Leaf Paint Prints

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Horse Chestnut Leaf Art Activities

Maple Leaf Activities

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[Read more…]

Salt Painting Planet Art

May 3, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This salt painting planet art is super satisfying and oh so simple to do. The salt drip painting technique works well to create Earth or one of the other eight planets.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies, which you probably have around your home, for this stunning planet art activity:

8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper
table salt
white glue
glue paddle
food coloring
paint pots
eye droppers
paintbrush
teaspoon
disposable plate
scissors and pencil
glue stick or glue gun
washable table cover

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Salt Painting Earth Art

The first planet to create is our Earth as seen from outer space. Complete this salty art activity over two days.

Day One:

Protect an art table with a washable or disposable table cover.

Cut out a circle measuring 18 cm/7 inches from 8 ½ x 11-inch or 9 x 12-inch cardstock paper.

Pour white glue into a small container or paint pot.

Set the sturdy paper circle, pot with white glue, glue paddle, and disposable plate on the prepared art table.

Dip the glue paddle into the white adhesive and spread it on the circle in shapes of land forms.

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Using a teaspoon, generously sprinkle salt over areas of the circle that contain glue.

Tip the circle sideways over a disposable plate and shake off excess salt. (The leftover spice can be used for more salt painting planet art projects.)

Let the gluey circle dry overnight.

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Day Two:

Cover an art table with a washable table cover.

Prepare the watercolor paints: Mix a few drops of blue food coloring into a paint pot containing water and a few drops of green food coloring into a second water-filled pot. Or mix a lighter and darker hue in each color for more variety.

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Set the raised salt circle on the art table with two hues of green food coloring. Add an eye dropper or pipette to each pot.

Using the droppers, carefully drip paint onto the salt-covered areas of the circle.

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Then, with a paintbrush, carefully brush blue watercolor paint around the raised salt land forms to represent water.

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Set the painted art project aside to dry.

The earth art looks stunning adhered with a glue stick or glue gun to a black or dark blue 8 ½ x 11-inch or 9 x 12-inch cardstock or construction paper background. Displayed in a group, this salt painting planet art project looks stunning.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Salt Painting Jupiter Art

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Jupiter also looks amazing in a salt painting planet art activity. To create planet Jupiter with this art technique, spread the glue in a stripy design to show Jupiter’s banded, cloud-covered look. Sprinkle on salt and shake it off next. After the spice-covered glue dries, drip red and yellow food coloring paint onto the raised salt areas. Then, carefully brush orange food coloring paint (or orange liquid watercolor paint diluted with water) between the raised salt areas for contrast.

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As with the salt painting planet Earth project, a group of arty Jupiter planets looks stunning when displayed on dark cardstock paper backgrounds.

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The salt painting art with an Earth theme is a great activity for Earth Day. Both art projects are welcome additions for a space theme.

Is this post helpful? Which planet would you create with this technique?

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Origami Heart Wreath

February 28, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This origami heart wreath features skin-toned paper-folded hearts with a 3D effect. Make this exquisite wreath craft during Black History Month or save it for a Celebrate Diversity theme. Changing the color scheme makes it a standout Valentine’s Day craft.

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Origami Heart Wreath Supplies

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Gather the following supplies for this meaningful easy-to-make paper craft:

6-inch x 6-inch origami paper in skin tones
9-inch thin paper plate
1 ½ inch wide wired craft ribbon
scissors
glue gun

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Making the Origami Heart Wreath

To create this heart wreath craft cut the middle out of a thin cardboard paper plate. This leaves a rim of about 1 ¾ inch wide.

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Next, gather 8 sheets of 6-inch x 6-inch origami paper in various skin-toned hues and fold the paper into origami hearts. An easy-to-follow YouTube video by EZOrigami shows how to make paper hearts.

Origami Heart (Folding Instructions)

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Afterward, adhere the hearts on the paper plate rim with a glue gun, leaving a little room on the bottom for a bow.

Finally, fold the wired craft ribbon into a bow and hot glue it on the wreath. 1 ½ inch wide craft ribbon with an animal print is showy and works nicely with the skin-toned hearts.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Related: Origami Heart Valentines

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Black History Month Positive Affirmations

This Black History Month printable set has coloring pages with 18 positive affirmations and 4 editable pages. Many creative patterns inspired by African art are possible, all with basic art supplies. Two bulletin board headers make displaying the stunning finished artwork super easy. Download this easy-to-use printable set at my Etsy Skills N Smiles shop for an everyday low price.

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See the blog post Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art for more infomation.

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Black History Month Mixed Media Art

February 26, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Black History Month is observed in February in the United States and Canada. It is a time to celebrate the creativity and achievements of Black people and their communities by participating in activities and discussions. This Black History Month mixed media art project draws attention to the beauty of black women’s hair. The craft features a unique technique for creating curly hair.

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Supplies To Collect

For this mixed media art project that pays homage to Black History Month, gather the following:

black yarn
brown, orange, and green construction paper
14-inch x 16-inch sheet of white construction paper
1 ½ inch wide wired craft ribbon
white glue
black fine point marker
parchment paper
scissors and pencil
glue stick and glue gun
disposable plate
measuring cup
spoon
tray

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Starting the Mixed Media Art Project

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To begin this art project, draw a side view of a woman’s head on brown construction paper and cut it out.

Next, draw and cut out one ear from the same sheet of paper, and the top of a t-shirt from orange construction paper.

Then draw a few lines on the ear with a black fine-point marker to add detail.

After this step, cut two small triangles from green and orange sturdy paper to fit together as an earring.

Then cut two strips of wired craft ribbon, one measuring 12 inches long, and the other measuring 9 inches long.

Next comes the part that may be the most fun: creating the curly yarn hair. To fashion the hair, complete the following steps:

1) Draw a silhouette outline of the hair in the middle of a large sheet of parchment paper. Then place the parchment paper on a tray.

2) Mix one-half cup of white glue with one-half cup of water on a disposable plate.

3) Using a spoon, press down a long piece of black yarn in the gooey white mixture to completely cover it in glue.

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4) Slowly lift the yarn out of the thinned glue and spread it around the hair outline in swirls. Add a second layer of swirled yarn and gently press it down on the first layer so the yarn sticks to itself when dry. Add a few straight lines at the hairline.

5) Let the sculptured yarn hair dry for one or two days. When dry it lifts off the parchment paper easily.
Note: The glue-soaked yarn hair may look grey at first, but will appear black again as it dries.

This swirled yarn art process was a must-try for me after viewing an informative September 4. 2024 Instagram post by mykidsartbox.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Assembling the Black History Month Art

Now it is time to assemble the gorgeous art activity. Complete the following steps:

1) Select a large piece of sturdy paper to glue all the arty shapes onto. I feature paper cut to a 14-inch x 16-inch size.

2) Position the crafted pieces on the background paper and note where they look best. Drawing light pencil lines to mark the perfect spot for each shape makes this easier and the lines can be erased at the end.

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3) Use a glue stick to adhere the head, ear, triangular earring, and shirt portion to the paper.

4) Carefully affix the curly hair over and above the face with a glue gun.

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5) Fashion two strips of wired craft ribbon into a knotted headband. Cut the ribbon ends to the correct size and fold in the outer edges to fit around the yarn hair above the hairline.

6) Use the glue gun to adhere the headband over and above the bottom edge of the curly hair.

7) Add a caption for Black History Month if desired.

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When making the Black History Month mixed media art project, feel free to work with a color scheme of your choice. What do you think of this activity?

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Black History Month Positive Affirmations

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See the blog post Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art for more infomation.

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[Read more…]