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Paper Plate Pop Up Turkey

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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

Crafty Journal

 

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Comments

  1. 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

  2. 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!

  12. 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

  23. Oh yes! I was looking for a fun craft project for my preschool class to do at Thanksgiving. This will be GREAT! Thanks so much for sharing it on Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

  24. What a fun and easy thanksgiving turkey craft! I will be doing this for the kids at our family dinner this month. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!

  27. What a cute idea. Love that even toddlers could do this. Thanks for linking up to the Ducks ‘N A Row blog hop. I’m co-hosting this month. Can’t wait to see what you link up next week.

  31. What a sweet craft and you’re right, that this would be perfect for the kids while waiting for the meal. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.

  35. I adore this! My twins (7) and my baby (4) would love making these!

    Thanks for linking up to The Mommy Club Party. Check out your feature her over on my site!

  44. These are so cute and easy. Even though I don’t have little ones, I would love to make some. Your post was the most viewed at the last In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party!
    See you tonight!

  47. This is a great idea and cute too! I’ll have to try this with my kids. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Snickerdoodle! 🙂

  50. My grands have done this before and it is such a fun project! Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

  52. This is so cute and easy for the kids to do! Thanks for sharing t! They will love it!

  54. Going to try this with the granddaughter!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Hope to see you again this week! Pinned!

  58. This is such a good idea and it could be adapted to make other birds too…I might make a peacock (and I won’t let my 3 yo near it!).

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