With Thanksgiving right around the corner turkeys are on everyone’s mind. Making a fun turkey costume is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. This easy DIY guide will show you how to craft cute turkey costumes for kids and adults using simple household items.
Overview
Crafting adorable turkey costumes is a Thanksgiving tradition for many families. The costume possibilities are endless, whether you want a quick homemade version or an elaborate character costume. With some simple supplies and a bit of creativity, you can whip up turkey outfits the whole family will gobble up!
This guide covers two main approaches:
- Easy paper bag costume
- DIY costume with clothing items
The paper bag method works great for younger kids. Older kids and adults may prefer a costume layered together from real clothes for more comfort and durability. Let’s get started hatching some turkey costume ideas!
Easy Paper Bag Turkey Costume
For little ones, a brown paper grocery bag transformed into a turkey outfit is a simple and clever option.
Supplies Needed:
- Brown paper bag
- Construction paper (orange, red, brown, yellow)
- Glue or tape
- Scissors
- Black marker
Instructions:
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Cut out arm holes from the sides of the bag and a head hole in the bottom.
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Cut construction paper into the shape of feathers, wattle, beak, feet, and snood (dangling thing over beak).
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Glue or tape the turkey face pieces onto the front of the bag. Use marker to add eyes.
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Glue or tape feathers onto the back of the bag. Alternate colors for fun patterns.
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Cut strips of brown paper for headband and glue feathers on. Staple or tape headband together.
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Add the costume onto your child along with orange leggings or pants. Draw on turkey toes!
That’s it! With some simple cutting and gluing, you’ve transformed a basic brown paper bag into an adorable turkey costume. This craft is great for preschoolers and younger elementary kids. Let their creativity run wild to customize their turkey.
DIY Turkey Costume with Clothing
For older kids or adults, a handmade costume using clothing items provides more comfort and durability than paper. Here’s how to DIY a turkey outfit with garments:
Supplies:
- Brown pants (leggings, sweats)
- Brown shirt or sweatshirt
- Red or orange beanie or hood
- Red gloves or socks
- Construction paper
- Tape, glue, safety pins
Instructions:
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Create a snood: Cut a red or orange beanie until it unravels into a long strip. Tape into a circle and attach to headband.
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Make a wattle: Cut a red sock or glove finger, pinch one end, and safety pin to shirt collar.
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Craft a beak and feet from orange paper. Tape beak to face or headband. Tape feet to pants.
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For feathers, cut leaf shapes from brown, red, orange paper. Use tape to attach feathers to shirt, pants, hat.
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Draw or paint on turkey face makeup using black and red face paint.
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OPTIONAL: Stuff pillows under clothes for a plump turkey body shape.
With the clothing items and some homemade paper accessories, you can easily transform into a turkey! This costume is comfortable, customizable, and works for all ages.
More Fun Turkey Costume Ideas
Take your turkey costume to the next level with these extra ideas:
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Attach real feathers to a jacket with glue dots
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Use a yellow poncho as the turkey body
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Wear an inflatable turkey suit for laughs
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Add goggles and cardboard wings for a flying turkey
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Carry around a plush turkey or chicken as a prop
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Stuff your shirt into a colorful pillowcase tutu
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Paint your nails like turkeys or add temporary tattoos
Turkey Costume Makeup Guide
Fun makeup brings any turkey costume to life. Use face paints or makeup to create a turkey face:
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Base: Paint entire face orangey tan
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Eyes: Outline eyes with black liner. Add red or purple eye shadow.
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Beak: Paint nose and upper lip orange. Line bottom lip black.
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Wattle: Paint red circle or line under chin and neck. Blend out.
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Feathers: Paint black curved stripes around eyes and cheeks.
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OPTIONAL: Draw on a black uni-brow or snood dangling from forehead.
Set your face makeup with translucent powder so it lasts all day. Have kids draw their own turkey face for creative fun!
Turkey Costume Accessories
Accessorize your turkey outfit with:
- Feather boa, feather hair clips
- Red or orange baseball cap
- Bandana neckerchief
- Pillow stuffing for plump shape
- Fake leaf clips for feathers
- Face paint, temporary tattoos
- Googly eyes, bubbles, glitter
FAQ – Turkey Costume Help
What clothing items work best for the costume?
Brown sweatpants or leggings paired with a brown or tan sweatshirt makes a good base. Add red accessories.
What if I can’t find brown clothes?
Substitute orange, yellow, or multi-colored clothing. Or wear all black or white and cover with paper feathers.
How do I attach the feathers?
Glue dots, double-sided tape or tiny safety pins work well to attach paper feathers to clothing.
Can I stuff a real turkey for costume shape?
No. Opt for pillow stuffing or padding sewn into a vest instead.
Is face paint or makeup better for the face?
Face paint is best for kids. Makeup allows more precision for adults. Use whatever you have available.
Making homemade turkey costumes is a fun family Thanksgiving tradition that gets everyone excited for the holiday. With these simple tricks, you’ll have adorable turkey outfits gobbling around the whole season long!
Buying a Turkey Outfit
If you dont have the time or inclination to make your own turkey outfit, you can buy the perfect look. Whether you need adorable turkey attire for the littlest member of your family or need an adult-sized version guaranteed to get laughs, there are lots of great options out there. There are even turkey hats for those who need something festive for a “turkey trot” or dont want to commit to a full outfit.
Making Your Own Turkey Costume
With a little time, some creativity, and a few supplies, you can make your own turkey ensemble to fit kids or adults. Expect to spend about two hours on this fun project. Related Articles
- 1 pair of tan womens tights
- 1 pair of brown womens tights
- 1 pair of red womens tights
- 2 large sheets of white foam core board
- 1 piece of wood, about 1/2 inch thick, 8 inches tall, and 3 inches wide
- Staple gun
- Clear nail polish
- 1 brown knit hat with side ties
- Craft felt rectangles in white, black, yellow, orange, red, and green
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- 2 yards dark brown webbing
- Use the craft knife to cut the foam core board into six elongated paddle shapes, each about 8 inches wide and about 24 inches long. The ends should be tapered. If youre making this costume for an adult, make the paddle shapes a bit longer — about 30-36 inches.
- Cut the legs off of each pair of tights.
- Slip one of the legs over one of the paddles. When you reach the bottom of the paddle, twist the excess fabric and tie it in a knot. Add a bit of hot glue to the knot to secure it. Repeat with the remaining five paddles and the rest of the legs.
- Place the piece of wood on a work surface with one of the short ends facing you. Arrange the paddles in a fan shape and adjust until you like how they look. Then carefully use the staple gun to staple each paddle to the wood and to each other. Add hot glue between the paddles to help them adhere. Paint clear nail polish over the staples to keep the tights from running. Allow the glue to dry. You now have a turkey tail.
- When the glue is dry, flip the tail over. Make sure everything is sturdy and reinforce with more hot glue and staples as needed.
- Cut the brown webbing into two equal pieces. Staple each piece to the inside top of the rectangle of wood on the tail. Use at least two staples for each piece. Hold the tail up to the person who will be wearing it and adjust the webbing to the appropriate length so the person can wear the tail like a low backpack. Staple the other end of each piece of webbing to wood at the length you desire. Trim off any excess webbing. Now you can wear the turkey tail.
- Cut two 1-inch diameter black circles from the craft felt. Cut two slightly larger ovals from the white felt. Hot glue the black circles to the middle of the white ovals, and then hot glue the ovals to the front of the hat for the turkeys eyes.
- Cut a smaller diamond shape out of red felt and glue this to the center of the hat, just beneath the eyes. It will be the turkeys beak.
- Cut several more diamond shapes in a similar size from red, yellow, orange, and green felt. Make these into a fan shape and glue them to the top of the hat as the turkeys comb. Allow the glue to dry.
- When youre ready to wear the costume, put on tan, orange, and brown clothing. Slip the straps of the tail over your shoulders like a backpack, ensuring the wood side is against your back. Put the hat on your head and practice your turkey strut.