Thanksgiving Feast with Friends and Family Playdate

Thanksgiving is a time

For reviewing what we treasure,

The people we hold dear,

Who give us so much pleasure.

Without you as my friend,

Life would be a bore;

Having you in my life

Is what I’m thankful for.

By Joanna Fuchs

This group has been such a joy to my family. I would love to celebrate this wonderful holiday of giving thanks with all of our fabulous friends we have made. Bring your family and please come celebrate with us.
 

Turkey will be our main course and supplied by the hostess. Please RSVP with how many people and what side dish you will be bringing to share. Feel free to bring what you are famous for in your family or something you have always wanted to make, but you couldn't because you had to bring what you are famous for! This is a great trial run for a new recipe as well....we'll happily be your guinea pigs!

*And if you do not cook, you can always bring a cooler with ice, some waters or juice boxes, 2 liters of pop or even some rolls!

We'll have crafts for the kids and holiday music to boogie down to.

Keepsake Craft to do with the kids in the group:

Use paint to make this handprint turkey instead of tracing. Add a few details to the turkey and some fall leaves and you have a beautiful work of art to display at Thanksgiving time.

Supplies:
Paint (various colors)
Foam paint brushes for each color
Paper
Markers
Colored paper for leaves
Glue stick

Instructions:

1. Paint your child's hand with different paint colors. I used brown for the "head and body" (thumb and palm). Use different colors for the "feathers."
2. Let the child stamp their handprint on the paper before the paint dries.
3. Repeat with the other hand.
4. Add details such as legs and a beak with markers.
5. Write the child's name at the top of the paper.
6. Cut out leaves from colored paper.
7. Use a glue stick to attach leaves to the paper.
8. Hang and enjoy!

Pinecone Turkey Craft

This fun and easy Thanksgiving craft is the perfect thing for kids to do while waiting for dinner at your Thanksgiving feast with a few inexpensive materials and some pinecones from the back yard. Your guests will have a blast gathering the pinecones and then turning them into these little turkeys to show off to friends.


Materials:
• pinecone turkey craft pattern
• pinecone
• red tissue paper
• yellow tissue paper
• orange tissue paper
• yellow card stock or construction paper
• brown card stock or construction paper
• glue
• scissors
• wiggly eyes

Instructions:

1. Using the pattern as a guide, cut 3 triangles from each color of tissue paper, using the attached pattern, or create your own. When you’re done you should have 9 triangles total.


2. Gather the base (long side) of the triangle together so that it leaves a point on the other end to form a tail “feather.”

3. Put a dot of glue on the gathered end of the tissue paper.


4. Gather the base of another triangle together (use a different color to alternate colors in the tail). Stick the base of this tail feather into the spot of glue you put on the first tissue paper feather, so the gathered ends overlap and are stuck together by the glue.


5. Repeat the process until you have all 9 feathers fanned out in a half circle, all attached together at the base.

6. Spread some glue on the base of the tail feathers where they’re all overlapping, and press the base into the wide end of a pine cone (see photos). Set the body-tail assembly aside to let the glue dry.

7. Using the pattern as a guide, cut out the turkey’s head from brown card stock.

8. Using the pattern as a guide, cut out the turkey’s beak from yellow card stock.

9. Glue two wiggly eyes onto the top of the head to for the turkey’s face.

10. Fold the beak in half, and glue it on the head, below the eyes with a small dot of glue.

11. Tear off a small piece of red tissue paper and use it to make the gobbler by gluing it around the turkey’s beak.

12. Glue the head to the pine cone. Allow to dry.

Amazing Mom’s Tip:
Let your children help you make these ahead of time and insert a name card between the scales on the pine cone. They can be place holders at the dinner table, and the kids can each take one home for a party favor.

Hand Print Keepsake Holiday Ornament

This is going to be a great

holiday tradition!

When picking out your ornament to decorate, remember your kiddos handprint will be on it so make sure the texture is smooth and a solid color.

Ornaments can be found at Dollar Stores and major retailers.

We'll spray it with a sealant so it'll be a bit more hardy to water and such.




Supplies you'll need:
Solid color ornament (plastic is safer if you can find it)
White tempura paint
Red, Green, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Purple, Blue tempura paints.
Sharpe pen or permanent black marker
Ornament hanger to let hang while drying

Step 1
Dip your child's hand in white paint. Let them grip the ball then release. Let completely dry.

Step 2
You can be as creative as you'd like with decorating the snow people. I like alot of colors so I make each scarf a different color and alternate the colors of buttons.

Step 3
Using your permanent marker, draw on a top hat, coal eyes, button mouth or a big smile, and stick arms.

Step 4
Using the permanent marker or a glitter glue pen, personalize with the year, name of kiddo, or and season greeting.

I found some big plastic ornaments at the local Dollar Store that all 3 kids could fit a handprint on! We make one for each set of grandparents for Christmas gifts.

Tips
Tempura is washable so if you need to wipe off a print when your kiddo couldn't resist playing with the fun texture of paint and the gloss ball - you can as many times as you need to! With my toddlers and baby I let them get the squishies out of their system before I do the real print, I have a wet towel on hand for when they're done and clean up the ball. Then its just a quick grab of the ball and their done!

Foot Print Penguin Keepsake Plate

Playdate Description:
Tis the season to start painting your little ones hands and feet for keepsakes as gifts for the grandparents...and for ourselves!

Bring a plate of your choice to this event and we'll create a very cute Penguin Footprint!

We found plain plates as well as a couple with seasonal borders at our local Dollar Store. These plates are purely decorational so please inform the reciepent to not use this in junction with food!
This is also a perfect craft for any of you moms with more then 1 or 2 kiddo's!

What you will need on hand or to ask the parents to bring:

• A plate to decorate
• Glitter Glue Pens in Red, Gree, and Orange- I've found these at Walmart, the Dollar Store, Michaels, and Target
• Acrylic Paints in Black, White, and Orange - also found at Walmart, Dollar Store, Michaels, and Target. I use Folk Art.
• Google eyes
• Super Glue for the Google Eyes

*Tip: You will want to start this craft immediately to allow for drying between coats and to let the final touch of glitter glue to dry as well.

How to do this craft:

Step One: Paint your kiddo's foot black and make an impression onto the plate. You will most likely need to "fill in" some blank areas since our kids arches are perfect, unlike most of ours! Let the paint completely dry. This doesn't take too long.

Step Two: Using the white paint fill in an oblong circle to show the penguins tummy.

Step Three: While the white paint is out, dip the tip of your pinky in the white and create the brim of the penguins hat with your pinky impressions. Let completely dry.

Step Four: Glue on the googlie eyes.

Step Five: Using the orange glitter glue or paint, dry on a triangle beak. Let dry.

Step Six: Using the glitter glue, draw on a hat in whatever color you choose.

Step Seven: Using the glitter glue make any notes on the plate - Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, etc....

Here is an example of footprints on a plate minus the border:

I saw this idea on a friends blog who also has a ton more fun ideas!

Fun Handprint Art