Skip to main content

Sonoma Family Life Magazine

It’s Turkey Time!

By Denise Morrison Yearian

While you are stuffing the turkey and whipping up pumpkin pie, get your children involved in these two festive crafts.

Head Gobblin’ Gear

Items needed: brown poster board, pencil, ruler, scissors, tape, glue, construction paper (yellow and red), medium wiggly eyes.

  1. Cut a 2 ½- by 22-inch rectangle from poster board to make a headband. Tape the headband so it fits snugly around your head. Set aside.
  2. Cut a 3 ½-inch circle and a 5- by 1 ½-inch rectangle from poster board.
  3. Fold the rectangle from step two accordion style, then open up and glue the circle to one end to create the turkey’s head and neck.
  4. From construction paper, cut a small, yellow triangle for the turkey’s beak and a small, red L-shape for the wattle.
  5. Glue wiggly eyes and facial features to the head. Tape the open end of the accordion neck to the interior side of the headband.
  6. Use various colors of construction paper to cut out pointed ovals that measure 1 ½- by 7-inches to create feathers.
  7. Glue feathers to the back interior side of the headband.

Blessing Banner

Items needed: ears of corn, corn cob holders, tempera paints (fall colors), paper plates, roll of white banner paper, markers, tape.

  1. Break several raw ears of corn in thirds so you have a small cob for each color of paint.
  2. Attach corncob holders to the ends of each cob.
  3. Place one color of paint onto each paper plate.
  4. Roll corn in one color of paint then across the top, bottom, and sides of the paper to form the banner’s frame.
  5. Repeat step four using different cobs and colors, overlapping patterns and hues. Let dry.
  6. Across the center of the banner write, “Happy Thanksgiving.” Embellish with festive drawings—turkeys, cornucopias, etc.
  7. Hang the banner in a prominent place.
  8. When guests arrive for your feast, have them write on the banner the things they are thankful for.  

Denise Morrison Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.