I made this with my kids after pinning it from I Heart Crafty Things. Thanks for the great idea, Rachel.
The first thing I did was wrap the Kleenex box with a brown paper bag. I got creative on how to wrap it on the top. I cut slits on one pair of opposing sides and just tucked and taped. Then, I folded the other two and tucked them in and taped them down.
I made a printable for you so you can cut out a template for the feathers and shape of the turkey body. Simply trace onto different patterned, fall colored stock paper. I personally like to use the different patterned paper, but you can always just use plain stock or construction paper in fall colors as well. Kenzie was able to help me trace the template. I need to hold it down at times, but she’s getting pretty good at it.
The next step is to trace the turkey body. Then, add glue and attach the body to the front of the Kleenex box.
I cut up all the feathers.
The next step was to glue on the feathers. We did the first ones with glue, and then we ran out of glue. I know – tragedy. We used double stick tape the rest of the time. Can I just say, I love double stick tape!? Fabulous. Always a good alternative, and I use it quite a bit. I helped with the placement of the feathers. We used a total of 10 feathers – five on the first layer and five more layering behind.
Your turkey is complete.
The final step is to print out the “I am thankful for…” printable I made for you. I used the image from the fall tree we made on canvas. Cut these up. You can have the turkey thankfulness box hanging around the rest of November so family members can document the things they are thankful for throughout the month. The other option is to bring it out and put it in a prominent place on Thanksgiving day so extended family or friends can participate also.
I love your twist with the box covered in a brown paper bag! So cute! Thanks for linking back to me and giving me credit. I am loving your blog! Your hankful wreath is to die for cute!!
This is very cute! Thanks for sharing!
We just made ours! Thanks for sharing! Too cute!
Yeah – I’m hoping you all had fun making it.
where is the template for the turkey and her wings>
That’s a super good question. I think I need to dig out my old computer. I can’t find it at all. Dropbox had issues, and it broke my links. Most I have saved on this computer and have been uploading them a different way. I can’t find this one but will try and find it and fix the link. So sorry, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write back.
Have you found the link for feathers and body? Want to make this for our Thanksgiving this year.
Thanks
Yes! I don’t know why I didn’t have it in there before. I’ve added it now. Beginning blogger error. Here’s the link: https://meaningfulmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Thanksgiving-Turkey-Printable-3.pdf Have fun with it! I was out of town so sorry this took so long.
Where u able to find the templates?
Oh – man. I forgot to get back to you. I looked on my old computer and couldn’t find them. Then, I got distracted. A bunch of my links to dropbox went haywire for some reason. I’m so sorry. I think you’ll have to eyeball it. Make one that you like and then just trace it. Have fun with the craft.
Thanks so much for this great little craft, jodidurr! My granddaughter and I just finished ours, and it sits splendidly on a high shelf, waiting for Thanksgiving. I cut a large-size Kleenex box in half and slid one side into the other for the body, and it fit exactly into a brown paper lunch bag! We copied your turkey but added three wavy lines in front for feathers, and also “wing” lines on the sides, and outlined the turkey and his eyes with dark brown marker. My granddaughter named him “Stuffy”, and wants to keep him after Thanksgiving! I also appreciate the thankful cards; I made a little stand out of them to match one set of the feathers, and it sits next to him with pencils ready for us to write what we are grateful for. My first one is for sister crafters who SHARE! Happy Thanksgiving!
How did you enjoy it during Thanksgiving? I hope it was a lot of fun and a huge blessing for your family. Thanks so much for checking in to let me know you were doing this activity with your granddaughter. It’s so much fun to hear when people are doing my projects. You also made some great sounding adaptations to the original craft. I love it when people use their own creativity.
We had a wonderful time with the “thankful turkey”, as we called him. After our main meal and before dessert, we took out the notes of gratitude and took turns reading them and guessing who wrote them. Most were, appropriately, expressing gratitude for family, friends, and freedom, but when someone read out “Michael’s!”…well, they all knew I was the author of THAT note! I have a great picture if there is some way to send it to you. Thanks again for the great ideas and especially the little printable notes. I’ll be a frequent visitor to your site!