Puffed Up Turkey

Hi friends,

We’re back with another fun turkey. Since our holiday gatherings might be smaller, I thought we could double up on the turkey. At least this turkey won’t add any extra pounds. Lol. Even though Thanksgiving is next week, it kind of feels like it’s over. It could be that it’ll be so different from our previous gatherings, only visiting with a tiny fraction of family. To help boost the kid’s mood, as they’ll be missing their cousins and extended family, I plan to have lots of activities to keep them entertained. These turkeys will be an easy addition to what I have in mind- a coloring Thanksgiving-themed table cover, word searches, card games, a family movie or 2, and snacks of course. What do you have planned? These could be a fun addition to your family day. Check out our puffed up turkeys, they don’t take much, use balloons, and are easily customizable.

*Click on photos for closer look

 

What You'll Need

  1. Red, Orange, Brown, Black, and Tan/Ivory Construction Paper

  2. Balloons (any color)

  3. Gorilla Glue

  4. (2) Craft Sticks (per turkey)

  5. (1) Rubber Band (per turkey)

  6. Googly Eyes

  7. Scissors

    Optional: Glue Stick

 

The Steps

 
  1. Decide on 2 colors.

  2. Turn the outer color lengthwise and make 3/4 inch to 1 inch accordian folds.

  3. Turn your inner color lengthwise and fold up, leaving a 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch edge.

  4. Fold the inner color into smaller accordian folds, about 1/2 inch.

    *optional- You may glue the inner piece to the outer piece, making sure the ridges fit properly and leaving 1 1/2 inch of the outer piece exposed.

5. Gather the 2 pieces, making sure the inner piece rests properly within the outer piece and leaving 1 1/2 inch of the outer piece exposed.

6. Rubber band the pieces together, about 1/2 inch above the end of the inner piece, and 3 times.

Repeat all the steps for more than 1 turkey

7. Cut your beaks from orange paper and the waddles from the red, then set aside.

8. Blow up your balloons about half way and tie.

9. Carefully spread the center fold of the inner paper and tuck the knot of the balloon into the rubberband from above.

10. Apply a dab of gorilla glue to the eyes, beak, and waddle and add to the balloon.

It doesn’t take long to dry.

11. Turn the turkey around and carefully lift the rubberband layers, tuck 1 craft stick in, leaving 1 inch over the rubberband, and laying flat diagonally.

12. Carefully spread the paper folds behind it to stablize it.

13. Leave one rubberband layer between the sticks and add the 2nd craft stick under the top layer, diagonally as well.

That’s it!

Aren’t these cute?! You can use any color combo for the feathers and/or balloons.

Here’s a side view of the turkey and the craft sticks.

Gobble Gobble!

Happy crafting!

Amanda and Naomi

To share: take a photo of your craft and let us see it! Click on photo submission and submit the photo.