Every fall, my daughter is obsessed with pumpkins. She loves all the different shapes and sizes of pumpkins and winter squash, so we end up buying more than we can really use (theres only so much butternut squash soup and pumpkin pie you can eat).
A couple years ago we worked together to create this cute pumpkin turkey centerpiece for Thanksgiving. Weve made it a tradition to make one every year! We created it using a small “sugar pie” pumpkin (available at most grocery stores—we got ours at Trader Joes for $1.99) and craft supplies that we happened to have on hand.
This is a fun autumn project that’s easy to make for children of all ages (with a parents help), and it looks fanstastic on the dining table. My kids and I like to write what were thankful for on the paper tail feathers, too.
To help you out, we made a template for the turkey head, wings and feathers, that you can download here; its formatted for a standard 8.5 x 11-inch letter size sheet of paper.
Thanksgiving is approaching, which means it’s time for some festive, turkey-themed crafts! A fun project to do with kids is making a turkey pumpkin. This easy pumpkin craft transforms a regular pumpkin into a cute turkey decoration using simple materials like paint, Model Magic clay, and googly eyes
In this DIY tutorial, I will provide step-by-step instructions on how to make an adorable turkey pumpkin that will dress up your Thanksgiving table Follow along as I explain how to paint the pumpkin, shape the clay turkey features, and assemble everything to create a fabulous fall craft your whole family will love.
Supplies You’ll Need
To make your pumpkin turkey craft, you’ll need:
- Pumpkin (mini or regular size)
- Acrylic paint in orange, brown, red, yellow
- Paintbrushes
- Disposable plate for paint
- Model Magic clay (white or terra cotta)
- Googly eyes
- Hot glue gun
- Felt (for feet and wattle)
- Scissors
- Black marker
The most important supply is the pumpkin itself. Choose a smaller pumpkin if making with young kids. For older kids/adults, a regular carving pumpkin works too. Gather the remaining art supplies and you’re ready to create!
Step 1: Paint the Pumpkin
First pour acrylic paint colors onto a disposable plate for easy access while painting. Cover the entire outside surface of the pumpkin with orange paint as the base.
Once dry, use brown paint to add patchwork accents around the pumpkin. Paint on squiggly lines, dots, triangles – anything goes! This gives the look of a rustic, feathered turkey.
Add yellow and red paint for accents. Yellow represents the tip of the feathers and red adds a wattle/snood. Allow paint to dry fully before moving on.
Step 2: Shape the Turkey Head
Open your Model Magic clay and begin shaping a turkey head. Form an oval fat teardrop shape for the head using white clay. For the beak, shape a triangle out of orange clay and flatten it. Set aside.
For feet, roll and flatten four small balls out of terra cotta clay. Bend slightly to look like turkey feet. Set aside to firm up.
Step 3: Make the Wattle
Cut a 1-inch wide strip of red felt to create the turkey’s wattle. Trim into a teardrop/snood shape. Or freehand cut a wattle shape out of red Model Magic.
Step 4: Attach the Face Features
Once the clay has firmed up slightly, glue on the face features:
- Glue on the orange beak to the white head using hot glue
- Glue on two googly eyes just above the beak
- Use a black marker to add pupils to the eyes
- Glue the red wattle below the eyes on the head
Allow glue to fully set and harden.
Step 5: Attach the Head and Feet
Hot glue the completed turkey head to the top of the painted pumpkin. Press down firmly.
Then, glue on the terra cotta feet on the bottom sides of the pumpkin, pointed toes facing out.
Step 6: Add Final Touches
Use a brown marker to add an inverted V shape above the eyes to finish off the turkey’s face.
Cut a small orange circle out of felt for the snood and glue on. Add any other embellishments like curled feathers, leaves, berries, etc.
And that’s it – you now have an adorable DIY turkey pumpkin for Thanksgiving! Display on your mantel, table, or front porch for a fun fall decoration.
The great thing about this kid-friendly craft is you likely already have most of the supplies on hand. Let the kids get creative painting the pumpkin in their own unique feathered design. Customize the turkey’s features with different colored clay, fabric, and embellishments.
Sculpt and attach the head early and allow it to dry overnight for best results. If you can’t find Model Magic, try air dry clay as an alternative. Add festive fall leaf garland around the pumpkin for extra seasonal flair.
These homemade turkey pumpkins make wonderful holiday gifts too. Bring to Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s house or give as favors at parties. Include a package of candy or bake pumpkin pie in mini pumpkins for a fun edible version.
So put those pumpkins to use this season by crafting a decorative turkey! Your Thanksgiving table will be cheery and complete with this simple, yet beautiful, turkey pumpkin creation made with love. I hope you’re inspired to make this project yourself or with kids. Have a crafty, happy Thanksgiving!
How to make it
- Download and print out the template on plain paper and cut out each of the shapes. Youll use these to create the parts of the turkey to attach to the pumpkin.
- Trace around the feather template to create nine tail feathers. We made three of each in brown, orange, and yellow. Kids can use their crayons or markers to draw a feather-like pattern on each one.
- Arrange the tail feathers in alternating colors and fan them out into a semi-circle. Use the double-stick mounting tape to hold the feathers together at the bottom. This tape will also hold the feathers to the pumpkin, so make sure you use enough. You’ll also want to tape each feather to the one next to it about midway along, which helps keep them in place.
- Peel the backing from the tape at the bottom of the feathers and adhere it to the back of the pumpkin, with the pumpkin sitting upright.
- Now trace and cut out the head and the face parts (the beak, wattle, and eyes). Use the glue stick to glue the face parts to the head, using the template as a guide.
- With the double-stick tape, adhere the head to the pumpkin, with the bottom of the neck about halfway down and the middle of the head resting on the pumpkin stem. Tape it down in both spots.
- Trace and cut out the wings—you can draw some feathers on them if you like—and tape them to the sides of the pumpkin.
Thats all there is to it! Now step back and admire your creative handiwork and get ready for Thanksgiving.
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FAQ
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