Textured Turkey Craft

If you need a longer-term craft project that involves gradually creating a textured turkey decoration, look no further. Taking your time is key. It makes a perfect Thanksgiving craft for children four years and up.

What you'll need:

• Oak tag paper
• Yellow, red, orange, and brown construction paper
• Glue
• Brown tissue paper cut into one inch squares

How to make it:

THE BODY

1. Trace the outline of a turkey on aak tag paper. Have the children cut it out.
2. Children then take squares of brown tissue paper, crumple, and glue onto turkey. (Draw ovals for eyes beforehand so that children don't put tissue paper there).
3. Set aside to dry.

FEATHERS

1. Outline feathers on oak tag. Depending on size of body decide how many you need. (At least four to use all colors)
2. Next, pre-cut strips of paper the width of the feather and about one inch long.
3. Take about 1/4 of the paper on the top, and fold it down. Glue the remaining part on the feather. So what you have will be the tip of the paper folding down towards you.
4. Do the same thing with another strip of paper. Bend the tip, then glue HALFWAY down the first strip. So you'll have overlapping strips of paper (going down the feather), with the tips folded towards you.
5. After feather is completely covered with strips to the bottom, and glue has dried, you have children cut slits lengthwise into the folds. Then ruffle them a bit to get some texture in it.
6. Use a different color for each feather.
7. Finally, glue finished feathers onto the body. Use a marker to make the eyes, and improvise on the beak and legs. You can use black marker on the eyes and use glitter to outline circle.

Tips:

Although not difficult, this project does require some time to complete. Plan on using it as an all week project. Also plan on doing a little preparation work before you have the kids start the project. It may seem overwhelming, but if done slowly, it's really not. The end result is wonderful though!