Holidays on a Budget -Cardboard Tube Pilgrim Craft

I know this is kind of last minute for this Thanksgiving, but this is a craft the kids ca do while they are waiting to eat.   All you need is some cardboard tubes, construction paper or cardstock, and either glue or tape.  

   

You will need black, white, a flesh color, and a hair color. For the boy pilgrim we chose yellow hair, and the girl pilgrim an orangish red. 

Depending on the size tube you use, you will be blocks of black and the flesh color that are long enough to fit around the tube. It is okay if they are big enough that they overlap a bit. 

Wrap the flesh colored paper around the tube first. Secure in the back with either glue or tape.  Wrap the black paper around the tube and secure with glue and tape as well. You may cover part of the flesh paper.  You want the flesh color to be smaller than the black because Pilgrims have smaller heads than their bodies. Overlapping also looks neater than sizing to fit, and trying to match the lines. 

Add a face with either crayons, markers or colored pencils.  I used colored pencils. Add a collar for the boy pilgrim with a piece of white paper with a small triangle notch cut out.  

Add a face to the girl pilgrim.  Add some pieces of paper for her hair.  It does not have to be this detailed, this is just how my daughter decided to make hers.  Add a collar similar to the boy pilgrim but you can round the edges if you like.  

The hats are probably the most difficult part of the pilgrim. To make the boy hat, roll a piece of black paper and glue it to a flat circle on top of the boys head. Add a top circle to the hat. I found it to get it to hold together, glue works the best in this step. Add a hat band with a small strip of paper.  The best paper to use for the girls hat is printer paper because it is thinner and much easier to mold than heavier papers.  I cut a square that was about 5 inches by 5 inches. I folded it in half and then fit it to the girls head.  I secure it with scotch tape in the back of her head to hold it in place. 

As it is now after midnight, I can officially say... 

I hope you have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! 

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Last Minute Pilgrim Hat Crafts

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and you just realized that the table is missing something.  Perhaps you would like a place card, or maybe a simple centerpiece.  Here are a couple of ideas, that you can make in a pinch.  The Pilgrim Hat Place card is simple to make.  You just need a styrofoam cup, some black pant, and a little bit of paper.   I used white craft foam for the hat band, because it was a little easier to wrap around the hat.  The buckle is a piece of gold paper.  I attached the name card to a toothpick, and then pushed it through the bottom of the cup.  

I made the Pilgrim Hat Centerpiece from a clay flower pot that you can find at most stores for about $1.50.  I painted it black, and then added the hat band and buckle. You can just place the hat on the table as is.   If you prefer a little bit of color, turn the hat upside down and fill with your favorite gourds or flowers. 

Both of these crafts take just minutes to make, and can easily be made tonight and used tomorrow.  

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Pilgrim and Indian Thanksgiving Place Cards

I had planned on sharing a post about the Pumpkin Cake Pops that I made for my women's group this week.  Instead of having delicious cake pops to share, they turned into a what not to do post.  I do not normally make cake pops by hand, but I felt pretty certain I knew what I was doing.   Tip #1  Do not make cake pops after 10 p.m. when you are tired.  Tip #2 Do not assume you remember the recipe when it is not something you have made numerous times, 

Things were going very well until this step. This is where I should have checked the recipe.  Instead of adding only 3/4 cup of frosting to the cake crumbs, I added the entire can. Ooops!  I thought the balls seemed a bit sticky when I was rolling them.  I had planned on chilling them overnight, so I put them in the refrigerator and went to bed.  The next morning, I realized my mistake when my cake balls were still super sticky.  I took a bite, and immediately had a sugar buzz!  They were still edible, but instead of cake pops, they are basically frosting pops. covered in chocolate.  I will be trying this recipe the correct way, and will hopefully be posting it within the next week. 

So instead I am going to reshare one my favorite Thanksgiving crafts.  My Pilgrim and Indian Thanksgiving Place Cards 

Both are easy and a lot of fun.  They also go great with their friend  Turkey Place Cards. 

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