By Noreen Doll.
This paper plate pop up turkey is so easy even a toddler could make it with a little help. Of course, their coloring won’t be perfect.
It only requires one paper plate and a way to color it. You can use crayons, markers, paint, even colored stickers or torn pieces of colored tissue paper.
It could be a fun craft for kids on Thanksgiving while waiting for the feast to begin.
A paper plate pop up turkey can be set on the serving table or used as part of the centerpiece.
What You Need
Paper Plate
Crayons, Markers, or Paint
Wiggly Eyes, or Punched White and Black Circles
Tiny Bit of Red & Yellow Card Stock or Craft Foam
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
What You Do
1. With the paper plate right side up, fold the bottom edge toward the top edge less than half way – as shown.
2. Find the center of the shorter half and draw a turkey head and body shape, ending at the fold of the plate.
3. Mark the center of the plate on the fold.
4. Find the center of the plate at the top, and mark off sections for the feathers.
On one plate I used, each feather was about 3 ridges wide. On the second plate the feathers were 4 ridges wide.
I thought 3 ridges made the feathers too narrow, and too many of them. I liked the 4 ridge feathers (the marker colored feathers) better.
5. Cut out the turkey body as shown with the solid black line. Do NOT cut across the fold.
6. To color the paper plate turkey body, bend it toward the feathers. You will actually be coloring the bottom side of the plate.
Lay a piece of scrap paper between the turkey body and the feathers while the turkey body is colored – to prevent the body color from getting on the feathers.
Or fold the rest of the turkey away from the body while it is colored. If the wrong side of the turkey is accidentally colored, no harm done. Just color the other side and it will be fine.
7. Color the feathers.
8. A face can be drawn on with markers, or cut out and glued on.
You may want to set the paper plate turkey up before you add the face, to be sure you put the face on the correct side of the turkey’s head.
The crayoned turkey used Sharpies to make its face.
The paper plate pop up turkey colored with markers had craft foam cut outs glued on its face.
9. To stand the turkey, fold the uncolored pieces of plate on either side of the turkey, under and toward the back.
You may need to make a sharper crease on the fold to get the turkey to stand.
I like the way the paper plate pop up turkey has its body stand out from the feathers.
Tips
I thought markers were too bright/dark, and I preferred crayons, but it’s an individual thing.
I liked the bugged out look of the turkey’s eyes when I used craft foam.
Some kids will want to decide for themselves how wide to make the feathers and want to draw their placement themselves.
Noreen Doll
Greeting Card Gift Boxes
This is great! So simple but so cute. And it is incredibly easy for young ones of all ages to make. Thanks for this tutorial… pinning!
I’d be delighted if you stopped by and said hey at “my place”! Have a great weekend.
Alyssa
http://www.myclevernest.com
What a fun craft to have a little one do for Thanksgiving! I have some paper plates in my disposable dish drawer that are going to become turkeys now! Thanks for linking up with me!
What a fun and simple project for thanksgiving!
So cute, my daughter and niece will have a great time making them on Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing at my Our Favorite Things Link Party.
I love this idea for my grandchildren. They will love this.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-mexican-pizza
Perfect craft for the kids!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
so super cute will be linking to my blog at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Such a great kids craft. I will have to try this one. I will share this on my kids craft blog FB page.
http://www.thecsiprojectkids.com
It is a new blog based on my other one. The CSI Project.
http://www.thecsiproject.com
This is so cute! I’m pinning it so we have something new to try next year.
This is such a perfect craft for younger kids.
I’d love it if you’d stop by and share it at our linky party: http://www.twokidscooking.com/2012/11/sunday-show-and-tell-week-9/
Hope you stop by and link up!
Kelly
Glad you stopped by and shared these! Love ‘em
So cute; what a great simple craft with little ones! You are a featured favorite this week on Saturday Show & Tell on Cheerios and Lattes! We love having you, and can’t wait to see you this weekend!
Mackenzie
cheeriosandlattes.com
So cute — the little ones will love doing this! I’m partial to the four ridges too but I like the marker! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!
This is a great idea. I love any craft using paper plates. I’ll have to try this with my littles.
This is soo stinking cute.. can’t wait to try this with my littlest guy! I’m sure he’s going to love it!
Thanks for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party!
xoxo
Amie @ Pinkapotamus
Hi Noreen,
This is such a great kid craft. I will do this with the two year old staying with us. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday’s Adorned From Above Link Party last week.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Debi @ Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
This is so cute! It would make a great decoration for the table at Thanksgiving dinner.