How to Create Tom Turkey for Thanksgiving

This is a great simple way to make a beautiful, colorful Tom Turkey for Thanksgiving suitable for hanging at less than $1.00 per artist creation!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large bag of multi-color feathers (presently at Jo-Ann Fabrics 2.5 oz. enough for 30 Tom Turkeys for $3.45)
• Light weight orange plastic plates (Halloween sale at Jo-Ann’s for 4/ .89) or colorful paper plates.
• Glue gun and glue sicks, or Elmer’s glue.
• Googly wiggle eyes (10 pair for .49)
• Red, orange or gray brick contact paper or colored construction paper.
• metal pop tab for hanging

1. 
    
   discount plates

   1. Take orange plastic plate or colorful paper plate and arrange your selected colors of feathers in a circle around plate as shown

2. 
    
   discount feathers

   2. I used glue gun and glue sticks to adhere feathers down in chosen selected pattern. However, children cannot use glue gun! It is too easy to get burnt; (I keep a little bowl of cold water close by to stick finger in if I get glue on me). You can use colorful paper plates and an Elmer’s-like glue to let children arrange their own feathers if you so choose.

3. 
    
   picture of back

   3. Also, with glue gun you can put a little glob of glue on top center back of plate and stick a metal pop-top tab in it for hanging.

4. 4. I used red brick pattern red and also orange brick contact paper for head and feet. You could also use a thick colored contact paper with scales or wigglys drawn on it. Head is upside down elongated pear shape and either claws of yellow or stick feet of gray. Then after you are satisfied with your cut-out shapes, trace it on heavy paper and cut out for children to trace around for their use for head and feet. Glue head and feet on top of feathers as shown.

5. 5. Glue wiggly eyes on head. Sign and date on back with magic marker.

Tips & Warnings

• Big and small artist will glow with pride and self-confidence at their creation. I offered children at Thanksgiving also the possibility of making an Indian Headdress with long strip of fabric with feathers glued to back, or a free standing Tom Turkey with Sponge cut in circular shape with feathers stuck in. Feathers are a great fun creative hit!
• Children cannot use glue gun! It is too easy to get burnt; (I keep a little bowl of cold water close by to stick finger in if I get glue on me).