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Easy Thankful Pumpkin Craft: Fall Crafts for Kids

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Four step process pictures for thankful pumpkin craft for kids

Let’s make a simple Thankful Pumpkin Craft! This Thankful Paper Strip Pumpkin Garland creates a beautiful and simple decoration for home or classroom. My mantel has been decorated with these little paper pumpkins for the past three years, and it’s a tradition I want to continue. As my girls grow, their creativity blossoms. I can only imagine what this little DIY paper pumpkin garland will look like in five more years.

This sweet and simple pumpkin garland is perfect for fall-themed fun crafts and for Thanksgiving! All you need is construction paper and twine to get started (and maybe a stapler). 🙂

Jump to Instructions for How to Make An Easy Thankful Pumpkin Craft for Kids
Paper strip pumpkins threaded on twine and stretching across a mantel to show the finished product of Thankful pumpkin craft for kids.
Here is ours from 2023. The toddlers did it mostly by themselves! 🙂

What Type of Paper Should I Use for this Craft?

Construction paper works lovely for making these paper strip pumpkins. If you desire a more durable pumpkin garland, I recommend using cardstock paper.

Two strips of orange construction paper with thankful items writing on each one and a strip of green construction paper for the vine and stem of the paper strip pumpkin for a thankful pumpkin craft garland for kids to make

How Can I Assemble the Paper Pumpkins?

There are a few ways to assemble the paper strip pumpkins. My preferred method is using a stapler.

  • stapler with staples
  • paper fasteners (Brads)
  • glue
  • tape
  • pipe cleaner

NOTE: If using paper fasteners or pipe cleaners, you will need to add a hole with a hole puncher to each end of the orange paper strips. This will keep kids from hurting their fingers by pushing the paper fastener through the paper.

step three of making a thankful pumpkin craft garland by stapling two pieces of orange construction paper together to make the curved shape of the paper pumpkin

How Do I Make Different Size Pumpkins?

To make different-sized paper pumpkins, use different size strips of paper. Cut the paper horizontally for a shorter pumpkin or vertically for a longer pumpkin. We have changed up the sizes of the pumpkins on our garland; it only makes it cuter and more unique.

Drawing lines on a sheet of orange construction paper using a ruler for guidance to assist young children with cutting straight lines as they practice scissor skills

How Can Kids of All Ages Participate in the Thankful Pumpkin Craft?

For Preschool Age and Below

  • making a gratitude list
  • counting strips of paper
  • forming the first strip of paper into a circle
  • twisting a pipe cleaner on a pencil for the vine
  • tracing a ruler to make a line for cutting straight lines
  • cutting along lines

For Above Preschool Age

  • following multiple-step commands
  • handwriting items of gratitude
  • measuring out lines for cutting
  • adding creativity touches

What Can Kids Learn From this Craft?

Here are a few lessons kids can learn from making this Thankful Pumpkin Craft Garland:

  • developing a habit of making a gratitude list
  • measuring with a ruler
  • creating a simple paper garland with twine
  • improving scissor skills
  • following simple but multiple-step commands
Finished product of a paper strip pumpkin with green vine ready to thread onto twine to complete a thankful pumpkin garland craft for easy diy thanksgiving decorations

How to Add More Creativity to This Thankful Pumpkin Craft?

Here are few ideas to add more creativity to the paper pumpkin garland:

  • use different colors for various types of pumpkins
  • use craft scissors to add a decorative edge
  • use different sizes of paper to make various sizes of pumpkins
  • add ribbon, pipe cleaners, glitter, or tissue paper to add texture
  • add beads, leaves, and twisted pipe cleaners along the garland and between each pumpkin
The tools and materials for making a thankful pumpkin craft garland for kids including sharpie, ruler, stapler, twine, scissors, and construction paper.

How to Make An Easy Thankful Pumpkin Craft for Kids

This sweet and simple paper pumpkin garland is perfect for fall-themed fun and Thanksgiving. All you need is orange construction paper and twine to get started.

Craft Supplies List

  • 3 pieces of orange construction paper
  • 1 piece of green construction paper (green pipe cleaner or ribbon)
  • stapler (with staples)
  • twine for garland (length determined on location of garland)
  • pen
  • scissors

Step-by-Step Instructions for Thankful Pumpkin Craft: A Fall Craft for Kids

  1. First, cut the orange construction paper into strips. Use a ruler and mark every inch for straight lines, or if younger kids are practicing scissor skills.
  2. Next, write something you are thankful for on each strip of orange paper.
  3. Then, gather two strips of orange paper. Place the pieces of paper flat on a surface in the shape of a cross and bring the ends into a circle (like making a paper chain but make the ends meet together). Staple the ends together. This will create the curved edges of the pumpkin.
  4. Next, staple a piece of curled green construction paper to the top of the pumpkin to add a stem/vine. Alternatively, twist a green pipe cleaner around a pencil for the stem/vine.
  5. Lastly, repeat steps 1-4 for each orange sheet of paper or until the desired number of pumpkins. Then, thread all the paper strip pumpkins onto the twine to complete your garland.

Need More Fall Fun Ideas for Kids?

Best Fall Picture Books for Kids

Fall books for kids book covers arranged in two rows with watercolor orange and rustic red pumpkins and leaf banners. Books included images of squirrels, signs of fall, big pumpkins, and fall colored leaves.

Get the complete booklist of the best picture books for Autumn HERE.

Free Pumpkin Investigation Printables for Kids

Pumpkin Investigation worksheets with examples of early learning pages arranged on a white background with watercolor fall images, orange pumpkins, and an orange transparent box with black, bold text.

Get the Free Printable for Early Learning HERE.

Free Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids: Free Family Fun

Bold black text over a transparent white circle and woodland creatures, including a brown bear, orange fox, and happy hedgehog with an autumn branch filled with gold leaves and red berries on the rustic orange background.

Get the FREE Fall scavenger hunt for kids HERE

Thanks for Stopping By!

Lastly, thank you for stopping by! Please say Hi in the comment section and share one of your favorite fall traditions books. My favorite is hunting for red leaves and searching for the perfect pumpkin alongside my girls. If you enjoyed this simple Thankful Pumpkin Craft, please let me know in the comments. Also, make sure to join my mailing list to receive monthly picture booklists, simple craft ideas, and recipes right in your inbox.
For a bonus, here is another one of my favorite ways to make a DIY garland.

HAPPY CRAFTING!

– With Great Joy, Katie

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Four step process pictures for thankful pumpkin craft for kids
The tools and materials for making a thankful pumpkin craft garland for kids including sharpie, ruler, stapler, twine, scissors, and construction paper.
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How to make a Thankful Pumpkin Craft Garland for Kids

This sweet and simple paper pumpkin garland is perfect for fall-themed fun and Thanksgiving. All you need is orange construction paper and twine to get started.

Equipment

  • scissors
  • Stapler (with staples)
  • pen

Materials

  • 3 pieces orange construction paper
  • 1 piece green construction paper
  • twine (length determined on location of garland)

Instructions

  • First, cut the orange construction paper into strips. Use a ruler and mark every inch for straight lines, or if younger kids are practicing scissor skills.
  • Next, write something you are thankful for on each strip of orange paper.
  • Then, gather two strips of orange paper. Place the pieces of paper flat on a surface in the shape of a cross and bring the ends into a circle (like making a paper chain). Staple the ends together. This will create the curved edges of your pumpkin.
  • Next, staple a piece of curled green construction paper to the top of the pumpkin to add a stem. Alternatively, twist a green pipe cleaner around a pencil for the stem/vine.
  • Lastly, repeat until you have the desired amount of pumpkins and thread onto a twine to complete your garland.

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