Here’s the beauty in these turkey crafts for kids — they can serve as your Thanksgiving centerpiece, too. I don’t think you could have a prettier Thanksgiving centerpiece than this Silk Leaf Turkey, who sports a tail made from beautiful silk leaves in fall colors. He is perched on a repurposed can, but you could also cut a small slice from the bottom of the 3” ball and have him sit right on your Thanksgiving table. I’m also sharing two turkey crafts featured on Crafts ‘n Coffee last year.

Thanksgiving Silk Leaf Turkey by Michelle LeSage.

To make a Silk Leaf Turkey, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: two 3” and one 1-1/2” balls
• Repurposed container (we used a can)
• Acrylic craft paint: gloss brown, yellow
• Wiggle eyes: one pair
• Silk oak leaves
• Craft sticks, two
• Candy corn
• Raffia
• Thick, white craft glue
• Tools needed: Toothpicks; paint brush with stiff bristles; scissors; wood skewer

To make a Silk Leaf Turkey:

1. Paint your container gloss brown. Let dry.

2. Insert toothpicks into the 1-1/2” ball and one 3” ball; this will be your handle while you paint the balls. Paint the balls brown and let dry. (Hint: insert the toothpicks into a scrap piece of STYROFOAM Brand Foam while paint dries.)

3. Paint the craft sticks yellow. Let paint dry.

4. Assemble the turkey: Insert a toothpick into the 1-1/2” ball, and then glue and pick the head onto the 3” body. Insert and glue craft sticks into the bottom of the 3” ball; position the sticks so they are toward the back of the bird.

5. Push the remaining 3” ball into the can. Push the turkey legs into the foam ball in the can. Remove the turkey, add glue to holes, and reinsert the turkey.

6. Cut silk leaves off their stems and insert into the back of the turkey, creating a fan-shaped tail. If needed, make small holes first with the wood skewer, and then insert the leaves. Add a dab of glue, if needed, to hold feathers in place. Insert one leaf on each side of turkey for his wings.

7. Glue on wiggle eyes and a candy corn beak.

8. Wrap raffia around the top of the can and glue in place. Tie an 8” length of raffia into a bow. Glue raffia bow to center. Glue candy corn at random onto the can.

Last year, Patty Schaffer designed the Chalkboard Feather Turkey using chalkboard paint on the paper feathers. You can start a new family tradition, and each year, those around the Thanksgiving table can write a message of thanks on one of the feathers.

Chalkboard Feather Turkey by Patty Schaffer.

If you’re thankful for sweets, the Lollipop Turkey is the project for you! Pull out your scrapbook paper stash and select coordinating scraps to dress him up.

Decorate your Thanksgiving table with the Lollipop Turkey.

I’ll have a few more turkey crafts to share tomorrow. See you then!

Happy crafting!

Sharon