Thankful Turkey Thanksgiving Craft
These tiny turkeys are a great Thanksgiving activity. Make them ahead of the holiday, or as a way to pass the time while dinner cooks. Quick and cute, they are a fun way for kids and adults to display what they are thankful for; and they make perfect table placeholders!
Supplies
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup water
Red food coloring
Mixing bowl and spoon
7 Popsicle sticks
1 plastic spoon
Scraps of craft foam or colored paper
Double-sided tape or adhesive tabs/dots*
Fine-tip permanent marker
Scissors
2 googly eyes
2 straight pins (optional)
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Here’s how
Mix flour, salt, water and a few drops of food coloring in a bowl. Add water as needed, and knead with hands until the dough has the consistency of play clay.
Shape the dough into a ball and press it down slightly onto the table so it is flat on the bottom.
Cut a small yellow triangle and a wiggly red shape from craft foam or paper. Adhere them and the 2 googly eyes to the back of the spoon to make the turkey’s face. If desired, cut out a small hat and attach it too.
Next, cut an inch off the handle of the spoon (an adult’s job) and press it into the ball of clay, centered and toward the front.
Cut out two little wings and stick them to each side of the turkey using straight pins. (Or, wait until the dough has hardened and use adhesive to attach them.)
Write “Give Thanks” with permanent marker onto a small strip of foam or paper and adhere it to the two wings.
Write things to be thankful for on the end of each Popsicle stick with permanent marker and stick them in a row behind the head to form the tail feathers. (Write on both sides of the sticks to express even more gratitude.)
Last, set it in a safe spot to air dry and there will be at least one turkey that doesn’t mind coming to Thanksgiving dinner!
*White glue will not stick well to the plastic spoon. Use one of the many adhesive tapes or tabs available in the craft or scrapbooking section of stores. They are clean, easy to use and safe for kids, too.
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More ideas
- If the sticks loosen after the dough dries, drop a little white glue at their bases to hold them in place.
- Use self-adhesive craft foam for an even easier project. Adults can pre-cut the foam/paper shapes for smaller kids.
- Make a large version by using more dough, a wooden mixing spoon for the head and paint stirring sticks for the tail.
- Use craft foam, paper or buttons for the eyes.
- Besides marker, the Popsicle sticks can be labeled with alphabet stickers, magazine clippings or computer printed words.
- In place of “Give Thanks” write the name of a dinner guest on the strip to make a place marker for the Thanksgiving table.
Pamela Frye Hauer is an artist, author and mother of two busy little boys. Her most recent book is “Memories in Miniature.”
Photo by Pamela Frye Hauer
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