Paper plate turkey

A turkey plate for kid's goodies. The kid's can make their own too.

Just use a paper plate. Cut about six strips of paper one inch wide from orange or yellow paper or any color the kids would like for a tail.

I like recycling crafts. That's why there are little creases in my strips. I cut up old paper fans to use for the tail.

Make a loop with the first strip, and tape the ends together. Then tape the strip to the back of the plate. Do the same with all the strips overlapping them a little to make a turkey tail.

Next draw a head and neck and feet on the colored paper of choice, and cut them out. Tape these to the plate underneath, and you've got a turkey paper plate ready for thanksgiving goodies.

Leaf prints

If you can find some leaves that aren't too dry, these leaf prints might be fun. The trick is to not get too much paint on the back, so the veins of the leaf turn out well.

The first picture shows how I put red, yellow, and white non-toxic poster paints on paper, and spread them across the paper. Then I put the back of the leaf against the wet paint and onto the paper for the print.

My second method was to lightly coat the back of the leaf with the same paints using napkins to put the leaf on and to wipe my brush clean on. Then put the leaf on paper, and gently smooth across it.

I like the second method the best.

If your kids are getting some good leaf prints, they could put them on paper the size of a place mat. When the prints are dry, the paper could be covered with clear contact paper to protect it and use it for a Thanksgiving place mat.

The leaf prints look pretty on windows too.

Pinecone Fall Leaf Turkey

This turkey is made from a pinecone with fall leaves glued on for tail feathers. Use as many leaves as the turkey tail needs to be full. The ones that are a little fresher and not so crunchy won't fall apart as easily as the crunchy ones.

Draw a head, cut it out, and find a niche in the pinecone to glue it into. Tacky glue is used because it sticks pretty fast. Gluing on the leaves and head can be frustrating if the glue is too runny.

Younger children will need a lot of help from an adult or a helpful older child. The reward may be using the sweet pinecone fall leaf turkey for a centerpiece on the Thanksgiving table.

Fall Leaf Turkey

Here's a turkey made from 2 fall leaves.

Glue the leaves on piece of paper with tacky glue for a quicker stick. Tape could also be used.

Glue or tape an orange circle on top of the leaves.

Trim the leaf stems and use the trimmings for feet. Put a little glue under the legs and feet to fasten.

Draw a head and color.

A finished fall leaf turkey.