Materials and Necessities

• A paper plate gives the opportunity to create many memorable pieces. Before you start your craft, check out store flyers for discounts and look for what materials you have at home. Art supplies can add up to a lot of money if you don't bring a shopping list. By deciding what type of craft you want to make, you can eliminate many other options.
  Some fun and easy crafts to make from a paper plate can be a turkey, or turkey face. With a bag of feathers, google eyes, glue stick and paint, your little turkey can be quite the masterpiece. Designing a Thanksgiving pie can also be very easy for those who are less art oriented and still want to participate. It is also an good project for young kids to do. Construction paper, crayons and glue will do just the trick.
  
  

Hands-On Projects

• The decision to use paint will require a larger surface for this art project. You will also need to purchase brushes, and in this case the sponge tip brushes are the best. Spreading out a plastic cloth or using newspapers will save you plenty of clean up time as well. Providing smocks can prevent stains on clothing if they are oil based; whether you are a child or an adult, arts and crafts can get messy.
  A fun project for young kids is to create a pie. First draw a line around the edges of the plate to represent the crust. After that, using paint, crayons, or markers, draw lines horizontally, vertically, and diagonally until you get about eight spaces, or slices. Use what materials you want to color in the pie. If you want a peach pie or apple pie, trace a moon-shaped object or stencil onto pink, yellow or green construction paper. Cut out your fruit slices, and glue them onto the plate. You can even use scissors to cut out a piece to simulate a part was eaten.
  One great Thanksgiving paper plate project involves the main course, a turkey. Color the plate brown and use Popsicle sticks as legs. Cut out a face and beak with brown and yellow construction paper. Using a glue stick, attach the face and beak to the brown paper plate. Take a variety of colored feathers and glue them to the back of the plate to give the appearance of a turkey's tail.
  Another plate craft can emulate a Pilgrim or American Indian. With black paper, cut out a hat shape and using a ruler and white crayon, draw a thick horizontal line between the brim and top. You can use silver glitter to design the hat's belt if you want. Using colored yarn, you can cut single pieces and glue them on for hair. Next, draw a nose and mouth, then by using a marker or google eyes, place them onto your Pilgrim's face to give him life. To make an American Indian, use feathers for the headdress and glue them either behind or in front of the plate. Cut out a thick line for the headband. Use black or brown yarn for the hair.