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.
There’s nothing quite like carving pumpkins to get into the fall spirit. And what better pumpkin carving pattern to try than a festive turkey? Turkeys make for a fun, seasonal design that is sure to impress. This step-by-step guide will walk you through crafting the perfect turkey pattern for pumpkin carving.
Why Carve a Turkey Pumpkin?
A carved turkey pumpkin makes for a stunning centerpiece around Thanksgiving It encapsulates the essence of the holiday in one decor piece. Some key reasons to carve a turkey pattern into your pumpkin this fall include
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Thanksgiving theme – Turkeys and Thanksgiving go hand-in-hand. A turkey carved pumpkin ties your decor together into one cohesive theme.
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Fun and creative – Carving a turkey is more unique and challenging than a traditional jack-o-lantern. It allows your creative skills to shine.
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Makes a statement – A turkey pumpkin will stand out in any display of typical carved pumpkins. It makes a bold statement.
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Great for kids – Carving a turkey is fairly simple, so it can be a great pattern to do with kids for a fun family activity.
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Perfect centerpiece – Place your carved turkey pumpkin as the focal point of your Thanksgiving table to wow your guests.
How to Make the Turkey Pattern
To carve a turkey from a pumpkin, you first need a pattern. Here are some tips for making your own DIY turkey pattern
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Find inspiration – Search online for images of turkey pumpkins to get an idea of styles you might want to emulate.
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Sketch ideas – On paper, sketch out some rough drafts of patterns, considering the size pumpkin you’ll use.
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Use an actual turkey – Study the shape and details of a real turkey to make your pattern more accurate.
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Make templates – Trace your best sketches onto cardboard or poster board to create templates.
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Add details – Cut out shapes from paper to trace onto your templates for feathers, wattle, etc.
Essential Carving Tools and Supplies
Before carving your turkey pumpkin, gather these necessary tools and supplies:
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Pumpkin carving kit – A kit contains essentials like carving knives, scoops, and saws.
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Stencils – If using a pattern template, you’ll need pumpkin carving stencils.
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Templates – Any paper templates of patterns you created.
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Tape – To secure your templates or stencils onto the pumpkin.
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Marker or pen – To trace the pattern outlines onto the pumpkin flesh.
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Petroleum jelly – Rubbing some on the surface first prevents rotting.
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Acrylic paint – For adding color and details after carving.
How to Carve the Turkey Pattern
Once you have your tools, pattern, and pumpkin, follow these steps:
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Clean and prep the pumpkin – Remove any dirt and cut open the lid, scooping out the insides.
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Tape on the template – Secure your pattern paper or plastic template to the front.
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Trace the design – Use a marker to carefully trace the outline onto the pumpkin flesh.
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Carve the outline – Use your carving knives to cut along the traced lines, carving about 1-inch deep.
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Clean up the carving – Trim off any ragged edges and gently scrape out thinner pieces.
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Remove the template – Slowly peel off your pattern, leaving the carved design behind.
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Detail the carving – Use smaller carving tools to add details like feathers, eyes, etc.
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Apply acrylic paint – Paint sections as desired for extra color and dimension.
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Display your turkey – Place a light inside and put your carved pumpkin on exhibit!
Turkey Pattern Carving Tips
Keep these tips in mind for getting the best results from your turkey pumpkin pattern:
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Focus on the basic shape first before adding lots of detail.
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Work slowly and gently to avoid tearing large chunks by accident.
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Make interior cuts before exterior pieces to prevent pieces breaking off.
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Draw feather details lightly and carve in layers for a natural look.
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Use a slow drying acrylic paint for working time to add color.
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Place your pumpkin on a pedestal or lift to display the carved underside.
Fun Ways to Use Your Carved Turkey
A carved turkey pumpkin has many great uses beyond a table centerpiece. Here are some fun ways to use your creation:
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Porch decoration – Place it on your front steps to use as a seasonal welcome sign.
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Fall mantle display – Put it on your mantel surround by autumn garlands and flowers.
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Table place card – Write guests’ names on paper feathers and insert into the feathers.
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Kids’ craft station – Let kids decorate additional turkey feathers to add.
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Filler in flower arrangements – Use it as the focal point in a floral centerpiece.
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Trophy of accomplishment – Keep it out post-Thanksgiving to remind you of your carving skills!
Time to Carve Your Masterpiece
As you can see, carving a turkey pattern into a pumpkin is the perfect way to get into the Thanksgiving spirit this fall. With some creativity and patience, you can craft a stunning turkey pumpkin using the tips and steps outlined above. Get your materials together and carve yourself a masterpiece! Your unique turkey pumpkin is sure to impress family and friends at Thanksgiving gatherings.
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.
PUMPKIN CARVING/HOW TO CARVE A BUTTERNUT TURKEY HEAD / 3D CARVING / Fruit Carvings By Jannet
FAQ
Can you carve pumpkins for Thanksgiving?
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