How to Make a Fun Turkey Craft Using Cardboard

Thanksgiving is a great time to get creative with arts and crafts. If you’re looking for a unique DIY decoration, making turkeys out of cardboard is a fun project to try. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to craft a cute cardboard turkey that looks great displayed on a table or hung on the wall.

Materials Needed

• Cardboard (cereal boxes or shipping boxes work well)
• Craft paint
• Feathers
• Googly eyes
• Glue (hot glue gun or tacky glue)

Step 1: Cut Out the Cardboard Turkey Pieces

First, use cardboard to cut out the following turkey shapes:

• Large oval for the body
• Smaller oval for the head
• Triangle for the beak
• Dual ovals for the feet
• Long rectangles for feathers

Cut the edges of the ovals into rounded or scalloped patterns for a decorative look. For the feathers, cut various lengths and shapes.

Tip Cereal boxes like Cheerios provide nice thin cardboard for these pieces Sturdier shipping boxes work better for the body

Step 2: Paint the Turkey Pieces

Before assembling your turkey, paint each piece with acrylic craft paints.

Here are some color suggestions:

• Body: Brown, tan, cream
• Head: Red, orange, yellow
• Beak: Yellow, orange
• Feet: Orange
• Feathers: Multiple colors

Use your creativity to make the turkey as vibrant or natural-looking as you want. Add dots, stripes, or other designs for extra flair.

Step 3: Attach the Head and Feet

Once the paint is dry, use hot glue or tacky glue to attach the head and feet to the turkey’s body. Overlap the neck a bit so the head sticks out above the body slightly.

For stability, you can cut a slit in the body to insert the neck rather than just gluing the surfaces together.

Step 4: Add the Feathers

Glue or tape the feather shapes all around the turkey’s body with the longest feathers towards the back and the shorter ones near the head and chest.

Vary the angles and overlap the feathers for a natural look. Group together feathers of the same colors.

Step 5: Attach the Beak and Eyes

Finish off your turkey by gluing on the beak, googly eyes, and any other embellishments you want. Consider adding:

• Pom pom for a wattle
• Toothpick legs
• Paper feet
• Glitter
• Sequins
• Ribbon

Get creative with different accessories to make your turkey unique!

Displaying Your Cardboard Turkey

• Sit your 3D turkey on the Thanksgiving dinner table as part of the festive decor.

• Attach a string or ribbon to hang as wall art.

• Line up a row of colorful turkeys along a mantel or shelf.

• Suspend turkeys from the ceiling or a doorway.

• Use small turkey cut-outs as napkin rings.

Cardboard Turkey Craft Tips

• Let kids customize their own turkey with chosen colors and designs.

• Use texture paint or glitter glue for more dimension.

• Cut feathers in various shapes like rounds, points, zigzags.

• Incorporate other recycled items like bottle caps, fabric scraps, or buttons.

• Shape the wings out of cardboard and secure with brads to make them posable.

• For durability, coat with decoupage or sealant after painting.

• Draw outline shapes on cardboard and let kids cut their own pieces out.

• Use wads of foil or stuff cardboard scraps to add 3D form to the body.

• Recycle cardboard egg cartons for tiny decorative turkeys.

• Find inspiration from nature photos of real wild turkeys.

Additional Creative Cardboard Crafts

Beyond turkeys, cardboard is a versatile craft material for DIY projects. Here are more fun ways to reuse cardboard boxes:

• Make life-size cardboard cutouts of kids or adults.

• Construct cardboard crowns, masks, or animal heads.

• Design cardboard dollhouses, forts, cars, or rockets.

• Craft animals like cats, bears, or dinosaurs.

• Shape aquatic creatures like sharks, whales, or fish.

• Form flowers, trees, cacti, and other plants.

• Build cities with cardboard buildings and bridges.

• Create musical instruments like guitars and drums.

No matter what you make, let cardboard spark your imagination. With simple cutting, painting, and gluing, you can create almost anything, whether for playtime fun or decorative crafts to display. This Thanksgiving, try your hand at making a One-of-a-kind 3D turkey as the centerpiece of your holiday decor.