How Do You Make A Hand Turkey Out Of Construction Paper?

Gather Materials

To make a hand turkey craft out of construction paper, you will need the following materials:

• Construction paper in various colors like brown, red, yellow, orange (for turkey body, wattle, feet, etc.) https://www.simpleeverydaymom.com/turkey-handprint-craft-for-kids/
• Scissors for cutting out handprint and other shapes
• Glue stick or tacky glue for attaching pieces
• Googly eyes or marker for eyes
• Piece of poster board or cardboard for backing (optional)
• Black marker for outlining handprint or adding details

Make sure you have all the needed supplies before starting the hand turkey craft. It’s a good idea to protect the work surface with newspaper or scrap paper too.

Trace Your Hand

To start, place your hand flat on the construction paper with your fingers together and thumb spread out like a fan. Make sure to leave enough room at the bottom for the feet and tail. Use a pencil or crayon to trace around your hand, going across the wrist from one side to the other. You want to trace the outline of your full hand shape to form the turkey’s body. According to the instructables source, “Starting on one side of your wrist, trace with the black crayon or pencil around your hand until you reach the other side of your wrist.” Be sure to trace slowly and carefully to get the full shape of your hand. Once traced, you’ll have the basic hand turkey shape to build upon.

Cut Out the Hand Shape

Now it’s time to cut out the hand shape. Follow the traced line carefully and cut out the hand shape. Make sure to cut just inside the line so no pencil marks show on the final turkey. Use scissors to carefully cut out the hand shape. This source recommends cutting just inside the line so no traces of pencil remain.

Be patient and take your time cutting out the shape for the best results. Cutting out the hand shape is a key step in creating your hand turkey, so precision here will pay off later. If needed, have an adult assist with the cutting, especially for younger children. The goal is to end up with a neatly cut out construction paper hand shape, ready for the next steps.

Add Details to the Hand Shape

Once you have cut out the hand shape, it’s time to decorate it and add the details that will turn it into a turkey. Here are some easy ideas for customizing your hand turkey:

Glue on googly eyes to make your turkey look lively and fun. Googly eyes come in different sizes and colors, so pick some that you think will look good on your turkey. Place them on the palm area of the hand to make the eyes.

Cut out construction paper feathers in fall colors like brown, orange, red or yellow and glue them onto the fingers of the hand to make the feathers. Try cutting feathers in different shapes and sizes for a more dynamic look. Arrange the feathers sticking out from the fingers.

Use an orange or yellow marker to draw on a beak at the bottom of your palm. Make it as long or short as you want. Then draw on a red wattle hanging off the beak for extra charm.

Get creative and add any other details you want like feet made from construction paper or a paper gobble hanging from your turkey’s beak. The great thing about hand turkeys is you can customize them however you want.

Create the Feet

Cutting out and gluing feet onto the bottom of the hand turkey is an important step to give your turkey character. According to the WikiHow article “3 Ways to Make Footprint and Handprint Turkeys“, you’ll want to cut out two large oval shapes from construction paper to serve as the feet. Make sure the ovals are big enough to create the sense of proportion you want for your turkey. Glue these ovals onto the palm area of the traced handprint, at the bottom, to create your turkey’s feet.

You can get creative with the feet too. The Instructables article “Make a Hand Turkey” suggests drawing two straight lines first, then drawing three toes at the end of each line to form the basic feet shape. Add as much detail as you’d like!

Make the Tail

The tail is an iconic part of the traditional hand turkey art project. To make the tail, you’ll need some construction paper in fall colors like brown, red, orange and yellow.

Cut long, thin strips out of the construction paper to create the tail feathers. Making feathers of varying lengths and widths will give the tail a more realistic look. You’ll want about 5-10 feathers for the tail.

Next, take the wrist area of the hand turkey shape you already cut out. Apply a glue stick or other adhesive to the wrist. Then, glue the tail feathers onto the wrist so they fan out from the wrist to create a colorful turkey tail.

Press down on the feathers to make sure they adhere fully to the wrist. Let the glue dry completely before moving on to the next steps. Now your hand turkey has a beautiful tail made from construction paper feathers!

Personalize Your Turkey

This is where you can get creative and add your own personal touches to customize your hand turkey.

Consider using construction paper, markers, googly eyes, feathers, pom poms, sequins, glitter, and more to decorate your turkey. You can add details like a pilgrim hat, bow tie, colored wattle, or happy expression.

Bow ties are a popular embellishment. Simply cut a small rectangle of construction paper, fold it in half into a triangle, and glue under the neck ^[1]. Top hats also look festive – cut a strip for the band, a wide oval for the top, overlap and glue them ^[1].

Get creative with feathers for the tail – fringe construction paper strips, use real feathers, or explore other craft materials. Pom pom balls in fall colors make cheerful accents. Googly eyes add personality.

Let kids choose designs, colors, and decorations so they feel ownership over their turkey art. This step personalizes each turkey and shows off creativity.

Attach to Wall or Fridge

Once your hand turkey is complete, it’s time to display it! Use magnets or tape to attach your hand turkey to the refrigerator or other metal surface for all to see. Magnets allow you to move your turkey around and put it back up each year. Clear tape or mounting putty also work for adhering your hand turkey to surfaces like walls or windows. Position your hand turkey prominently so everyone can admire your creation. Make sure little hands can’t reach it to pull it down!

According to Good Housekeeping, displaying your hand turkey on the fridge or wall is a fun final step that enables you to “showcase your masterpiece for the rest of the family.”

Clean Up

After you have finished making your hand turkey, be sure to clean up properly. This includes throwing away any excess construction paper, scraps, or other materials used to make the turkey [1]. Make sure to put away your scissors, glue, markers, or any other supplies in their designated storage spaces so they are tidy and organized for next time [2]. It’s also a good idea to wipe down the table or working surface you used to get rid of any glue, marker, or other residue [3]. A quick clean up ensures your supplies don’t get lost and makes it easy to start your next craft project.

Enjoy Your Creation

After creating your turkey, take a moment to sit back and appreciate your homemade hand turkey.

Making crafts by hand provides a sense of satisfaction and pride. It also provides an opportunity for creativity and self-expression. Display your unique turkey proudly so others can admire it too.

Reflect on the fun experience of crafting with the little hands of a child. Cherish the special memories created while making holiday crafts together. Keep the turkey as a memento to look back on for years to come.

Your handmade turkey serves as a representation of Thanksgiving themes like gratitude, family, and home. Let it be a visual reminder to count your blessings and make meaningful connections.

Hand turkeys also encourage appreciation for the simple joys in life. It does not need to be perfect or extravagant to have value. The time and care put into it is what matters most.

According to this source, making turkey crafts incorporating themes and sensory elements provides a wonderful bonding activity for families. Enjoy your special creation this Thanksgiving.