How to Make a Painted Turkey Shirt With Handprints

Making a turkey shirt with painted hand prints celebrates Thanksgiving and the autumn season. The shirts can be made using any combination of colors and can be personalized with your own message. Have your children continue the tradition of making these shirts each year at Thanksgiving so you can see their growth in the size of the hand prints.

Things You'll Need

• White T-shirt or sweatshirt Fabric paint (brown, blue, green, yellow and red) Disposable plate and 4 small plastic cups (or 5 plates) 4 paint brushes Permanent marker or fabric pen

Instructions

1. Pour the brown paint into the disposable plate. Pour the blue, green, yellow and red paint into small cups or plates.

2. Lay the shirt down flat on the work surface and smooth it out.

3. Press your palm and thumb into the brown paint. Be careful not to get any of your fingers in the paint.

4. Make the body of the turkey by placing your palm and thumb down firmly near the middle of the shirt. Wash the paint off your hands and allow the shirt to dry before proceeding.

5. Use paintbrushes to put the other colors of paint on your fingers. Paint your pointer finger blue, middle finger green, ring finger yellow, and pinky finger red. Then press your hand down firmly on the shirt just above where the brown paint is. Your fingers will make the turkey feathers. Wash hands thoroughly. Allow the shirt to dry.

6. Use permanent marker or fabric pens to draw the feet, eyes, beak and wattle.

7. Write your name, "Happy Thanksgiving!" or other saying underneath the turkey, if desired.

8. Allow shirt to dry for at least 24 hours before wearing.

Tips & Warnings

• You may choose to use fall-themed colors for the turkey "feathers." Paint the tip of each finger yellow, the midsection orange and the base of the finger red.

• Use fabric paint so the design will stay intact when the shirt is washed. Place a piece of cardboard or thick paper between the layers of the shirt if the paint is particularly thick, heavy or gloppy, to prevent the paint from seeping through.