Grab your scissors as we have another wonderful paper turkey craft idea to share with you.
You can create this one with or without our turkey paper craft template, which is available for download at the conclusion of the guide.
Fall is the ideal season to create turkey crafts with kids, and this newest offering is ideal for kindergarteners to do.
We certainly can’t help but notice the amazing classroom display composed of numerous paper turkey crafts.
We have created a printable template that is very helpful when working with younger children whose scissor skills aren’t yet advanced enough to cut out intricate and rounded shapes.
Thus, give the younger children the template to color in, and give the older children brown paper to cut out their own turkeys.
Gobble, gobble! It’s Thanksgiving time, and what better way to celebrate than by creating your own festive paper turkeys? These feathered friends are not only adorable but also surprisingly easy to make, even for crafting novices. So, grab your colored paper, unleash your inner origami master, and let’s get folding!
Gather Your Supplies:
- Colored paper: Choose vibrant colors like red, orange, yellow, or brown to bring your turkey to life. You can even use patterned paper for a touch of whimsy.
- Scissors: Sharp scissors will ensure clean cuts for precise folding.
- Glue stick: This will help secure your turkey’s feathers and other intricate details.
- Optional: Googly eyes, markers, or other embellishments to add personality to your turkey.
Step-by-Step Folding Instructions:
1. The Body:
- Start with a square piece of paper, colored side facing up. Fold it in half diagonally, forming a triangle.
- Unfold the triangle and fold the top point down to meet the bottom edge. Crease well.
- Fold the left and right corners of the triangle inward, aligning them with the center crease. You’ll now have a diamond shape.
- Fold the top point of the diamond down to meet the bottom point. Crease firmly.
- Unfold the last fold partially, creating a small gap at the top. This will be your turkey’s head.
2 The Tail Feathers:
- Take the bottom point of the diamond and fold it upwards, aligning it with the top point. Crease well.
- Unfold the last fold slightly, creating a small gap at the bottom. These will be your turkey’s tail feathers.
3. The Head and Beak:
- Fold the small gap at the top (the turkey’s head) downwards, forming a beak.
- Use a marker or glue on googly eyes to give your turkey a cute expression.
4. The Feathers:
- Cut out several small, rounded shapes from your colored paper. These will be your turkey’s feathers.
- Glue the feathers onto the back of the turkey’s body, arranging them in overlapping layers for a realistic effect.
5. The Finishing Touches:
- Use markers or crayons to add details like eyes, a wattle, and feet.
- You can even create a festive background for your turkey by drawing a cornucopia, pumpkins, or other Thanksgiving-themed elements.
Tips and Tricks:
- Use different colored paper for the body and feathers to create a more vibrant turkey.
- Experiment with different folding techniques to create unique tail feather designs.
- Get creative with embellishments! Use buttons, glitter, or even fabric scraps to add personality to your turkey.
- Make a whole flock of turkeys in different sizes and colors for a festive Thanksgiving centerpiece.
There you have it! Your very own paper turkey ready to grace your Thanksgiving table or adorn your holiday decorations. This simple yet satisfying craft is a fun activity for adults and children alike and it’s a great way to get into the Thanksgiving spirit. So, gather your supplies, unleash your creativity, and let the turkey-tastic fun begin!
How to Make a Paper Turkey Craft
What you need:
- brown construction paper OR our free printable template for a paper turkey craft (available at the conclusion of this tutorial)
- a sheet of yellow paper (regular print paper is fine)
- sheet of orange paper
- a sheet of red paper
- sheet of white heavier or construction paper
- coloring supplies
- scissors (a paper trimmer comes in quite handy as well, particularly if you’re a teacher planning to use this as a lesson plan)
- glue
Step by Step Tutorial
Print out our paper turkey craft template or cut out a turkey shape out of brown paper.
Cut a whole bunch of yellow paper strips. The more the merrier!
When it comes to paper strips, we adore using paper trimmers because they make the process so simple and quick that teachers can prepare this activity for a larger class.
We made ours about a “thumb” wide by cutting them along the width of A4 or letter-sized paper, so there’s no need to be extremely exact.
Now move on to orange paper. Cut, cut, cut.
And lastly cut red paper.
Glue the ends of paper strips together to make “teardrop” shaped loops.
Now to make the turkey tail. Start with the yellow paper strips and glue them in a half-circle shape.
Now make another half circle shape inside the yellow one with the orange strips.
And one with red ones.
Color in the turkey craft template.
Glue on the turkey feet if you are going to use them.
Once the glue has had time to solidify, generously coat the back of the turkey body and press it down to the tail.