How to Make the Perfect Thanksgiving Puzzle Using Craft Sticks

Make Thanksgiving Day a fun day! Kids can make their own Thanksgiving craft stick puzzle. They are easy to create—even the youngest artists can be successful. Puzzles encourage eye/hand coordination, problem-solving, and fine motor development. And, creating their own is a sure ego boost.

You’ll need only a few supplies:

• Craft sticks (regular size)
• Liquid craft glue
• Paint brush
• Temporary tape
• Craft knife
• Thanksgiving artwork

Let’s make a Thanksgiving Puzzle:

1. Lay out twelve craft sticks side by side. Measure the width and height of the sticks to determine the size of the artwork for  your puzzle.
2. Make sure the craft sticks are neatly aligned, then use a piece of temporary tape to hold them in place. Painter’s tape or Scotch tape works well.
3. Prepare your puzzle artwork. You can source a Thanksgiving image online, use a magazine picture, or draw your own picture. Add about ½” to the width and height of the measurements from Step 1, and cut your artwork to this size.
4. Dilute the craft glue with just a couple drops of water. I used 1 teaspoon of glue and 3 drops of water.
5. Paint the untaped side of the craft sticks with the diluted glue.
6. Cover the glued sticks with your Thanksgiving picture. Set aside to dry thoroughly.
7. Remove temporary tape. Trim the edges around the craft sticks with a craft knife. Depending on the age of the young artist, this step and the next might need to be done by an adult.
8. Cut the individual craft sticks apart.
9. Mix up the puzzle pieces, and have fun putting the puzzle back together.

Your children will surely enjoy making and playing with this fun Thanksgiving craft stick puzzle. Be sure and visit the Bowdabra blog every Friday for another fun kid’s craft or art project!