This pinecone turkey is such a fun kids craft for Thanksgiving! Painted pinecones become the turkey’s feathers, while pipe cleaners transform into the turkey’s head and legs.
Making a pinecone turkey is such a fun way to keep the kids busy over the Thanksgiving holiday. This quick and easy craft uses minimal supplies and makes an adorable homemade decoration!
How to Make a Pinecone Turkey
Materials:
- Pinecone
- Acrylic paint (red, yellow, orange)
- Pipe cleaners (red and orange)
- Construction paper scraps (yellow and red)
- Glue tape
- Googly eyes (10 mm size)
Equipment:
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Paint the pinecone
- Paint the pinecone tips red, orange, and yellow, making sure to leave some of them brown.Add a second coat of paint if needed. Let the paint fully dry (about 1 hour).
Step 3: Make the turkey's face
- Pinch the end of the pipe cleaner, then roll it tightly into a spiral.
- Continue rolling the pipe cleaner into a tight spiral. When you get to the end, add a dab of hot glue to keep it in place.
- Cut out a small triangle out of yellow construction paper to make a beak.
- Now cut a squiggly line out of red construction paper for the turkey's wattle.
- Apply glue tape onto one side of the beak.
- Attach the wattle to the beak onto the glue tape.
- Add more glue tape to the wattle, if needed, then press the beak (wattle side down) onto the center of the pipe cleaner spiral.
- Apply glue tape to the back of the googly eyes, then attach them to the pipe cleaner spiral above the beak.
Step 4: Make the turkey's legs
- Fold a pipe cleaner down about 3/4 inch and then fold it again in the opposite direction.
- Repeat folding it in another zig zag. You're basically folding it into an "M" shape, then pinching the pipe cleaners tightly to make 2 little "toes" on each foot.
- Repeat on the other end of the pipe cleaner and bend the pipe cleaner into a "U" shape.
- Now bend the toes up at a 90 degree angle so they point upward.
Step 5: Attach the turkey's legs and head
- Apply hot glue to the center of the pipe cleaner, making sure the toes are facing up.
- Attach the pipe cleaner to the bottom of the pinecone.
- Set the pinecone upright. Decide where the turkey's head is going to go, then add a couple dabs of hot glue to the pinecone.
- Attach the turkey's head to the pinecone.
- Your pinecone turkey is complete!
Where can I get pinecones to make my turkey craft?
You can pick up fallen pinecones from your backyard or go on a nature walk. Be sure to brush off any dirt or debris before you craft with your pinecones (and make sure they’re completely dry!).
If you can’t find any pinecones outside, you can also buy pinecones on Amazon, at the dollar store, or at the craft store.
What size pinecone do I need?
Our pinecones were about 2-1/2 inches tall and 2-1/2 inches wide (give or take). Any pinecone from 2 to 4 inches high and 2 to 3 inches wide would work well with the size of the pipe cleaner face.
If you’re using a smaller pinecone, try cutting off some of the pipe cleaner before rolling it into a spiral.
What type of paint should I use?
We used inexpensive acrylic paint, the kind you can get at the dollar store or Walmart. You can also use tempera paint if you prefer to use washable paint.
What if I want my turkey to have more feathers?
If you want your turkey to have more feathers you can attach 3 colourful dollar store feathers to the back of your pinecone. You could also fold pipe cleaners into feather shapes, or even cut out construction paper feathers and attach them to the back of the pinecone.
What is glue tape?
Glue tape, also known as crafter’s tape, is a double sided adhesive that’s a bit stickier than tape. It comes in a roller, much like correction tape and it works on all sorts of materials. We love it because it’s really easy to use, it sticks really well, and you don’t have to wait for anything to dry!
Celebrate fall with this super cute pinecone turkey craft that’s full of autumn colours. Make just one or make a whole flock!
Here’s even more turkey craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon |  Barnes and Noble |  Books- A- Million |  Indiebound |  Indigo |  Amazon Canada
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