Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and this Thanksgiving footprint turkey with tissue paper stained glass wings is a beautiful way to capture the sweet size of your child’s footprint this season.
This turkey craft for kids was built out of the desire to create something new but use techniques that are familiar familiar. I really believe this craft is accessible for a variety of ages.
Having these works of art hang in the windows this season is such a fun way to decorate and celebrate.Â
Note: This post was originally written in November of 2013. It is now updated with clearer instructions for your convenience.Â
Thanksgiving Footprint Turkey with Tissue Paper Stained Glass Wings
As your kids grow older you will so appreciate having these prints of their feet, hands and fingers. You will look in awe one day about how tiny they were.Â
Now that my kids are older, we took out these memories and compare how much their footprint has grown over the years. As I write this updated post, my 12 year old is wearing a size 8 1/2-9 shoe. She has surpassed me, and to look at these Thanksgiving Footprint Turkey with Tissue Paper Stained Glass Wings compared to her feet now is amazing.Â
As a stay at home mom, I loved having crafts such as this to keep us busy on those rainy fall afternoons. It builded into the excitement of the Thanksgiving season while also contributing to their creative hearts.Â
Materials Needed to Make These Thanksgiving Footprint Turkey with Tissue Paper Stained Glass WingsÂ
Amazon affiliate links included for your convenience.Â
- White paper (1 piece per child…I used stock paper)
- Brown Paper (2 pieces per child…I used stock paper)
- Brown Paint
- Paint Brush or Sponge Brush
- Scissors
- Fall Colored Tissue Paper
- Glue Stick and White Glue
- Wax Paper
- Craft Google Eyes
- Felt, Paper or Foam for gobble and beak
- Pen
- Outline of Feather Frame Printable – Free Printable
Assorted 4 Colors Fall Thanksgiving Holiday Colors Gift Grade Tissue Paper Sheets – 15HOT Fudge Dark Brown Cardstock Paper – 8.5 x 11 inch 65 lb. Cover -50 Sheets from Cardstock WarehousePrintworks White Cardstock, 67 lb, 96 Bright, SFI Certified, Perfect for School and Craft Projects, 8.5 x 11 Inch, 100 Sheets (00540)Apple Barrel Gloss Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors (8 oz), 21058E Gloss Real BrownElmer’s Washable No-Run School Glue, 4 oz, 3 PackKUUQA 700 Pieces Mixed Wiggle Googly Eyes Self Adhesive Googly Eyes DIY Scrapbooking Crafts (Assorted Sizes)
Â
Â
How to Make Thanksgiving Footprint Turkey with Tissue Paper Stained Glass Wings
The first step is to paint feet. The kids really enjoyed painting each others feet. They were laughing and smiling the whole time.
You will want to help your child stand directly onto the white piece of paper. While standing there, press down each toe and the edges of their feet to produce a good print.
I then had to lift my kids up and carry them to the sink, where I washed their feet. While doing this, I reminded them of the Bible story about Jesus washing His disciples’ Â feet. I reminded them it is a symbol of serving others.
I then had the kids fold the brown paper in half. As a reminder, you need 2 pieces of brown paper per child. I used brown stock paper but construction paper would work as well.
Next, you will want to print out the fr4ee feather frame printable I made for you. I had originally done it on green paper, so that’s my template you see above. You can use the printable template or just make your own.
I made it by folding a piece of paper in half and just drawing the feather outline. I then cut out the template and traced it on brown. Make sure to line up the folded part of the template onto the folded edge of the brown paper.
After traced, I cut the brown paper frame. Older kids can do this themselves. I put two pieces of  folded brown paper together to cut the two at the same time to make sure they line up well together and save time.
The kids worked on cutting up little pieces of fall colored tissue paper.
Corban is just learning to use scissors, so this was a great opportunity to practice.
After you cut your brown “frame” for the wings, you will have the leftover inside brown paper. You can use that to cut the right size for your wax paper.
I folded my wax paper in half. Lay the paper with folded edges matching and trace around it, tracing not exactly – but larger than the scrap piece. This extra will give you the overhand to glue to the “frame.”
You will need two of these per child. Again, it is easiest to cut two at a time.
The kids can put glue around the frame. Then, you can lay down the wax paper. We did half at a time so the glue didn’t dry completely. They will want to glue one wax onto one brown feather frame at this time.
The next thing they get to do is glue down the tissue paper onto the wax paper on the inside of the frame.
The kids can add the glue and then lay pieces of tissue paper on top of it. We used purple glue, which made it easy for the kids to see where to lay down the tissue paper. They did little sections at a time.
After the tissue paper is all laid down, the kids can put glue on the edges of the other piece of wax paper and glue it to the top of the tissue paper filled piece of wax paper.
The next step is to put glue on the other brown feather frame and lay it on top to complete the look of the tissue paper feather stained glass part of the craft.
Once the painted footprint is dry, the kids can glue this down to the center. It is meant to look like the turkey body.
The next step is to glue down the eyes. Cut out a little triangle nose out of foam, paper or felt. I used foam. Then, gut out a gobble out of red foam, paper or felt. I used felt.
I love the result of these turkeys, and it really was a great Thanksgiving craft for preschool aged children.
Have fun creating these They Thanksgiving footprint turkey with tissue paper stained glass wings. You will be glad you did. There are so many learning opportunities in project like this.
You create memories, experiences and a keepsake you can cherish as they grow.
Want More Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids?
Please visit my Thanksgiving tab for even more ideas. You can also find thankfulness ideas under my Character Development Tab.
please i am a stainglass craft man i want to work wiht you
[…] Use your child’s footprint and brown paint to make this cute footprint turkey with stained glass wings. […]
[…] Looking for a fancy Thanksgiving decoration? Make a footprint stained glass turkey via Meaningful Mama. […]
[…] Looking for a fancy Thanksgiving decoration? Make a footprint stained glass turkey via Meaningful Mama. […]
[…] a Thanksgiving craft project that will memorialize your toddlers tiny feet for years to come, this footprint turkey craft from Meaningful Mama is a fun one to make together. It’s a cool twist on the iconic handprint […]