I really wanted to get at least one Fall craft done this year. I’ve just loved all these handprint turkeys crafts I’ve seen on Pinterest and wanted to make one with my boys.
Sometimes it’s not the easiest (getting handprints of all three boys), but I made it work!! I just love all the handprint crafts I’ve done with the boys. It’s one of my favorite craft projects to do with the boys.
I decided to use canvas for this craft project, but you can use cardstock as well. I got a pack of googly eyes at the Dollar Tree and some white acrylic paint for my canvas. And, of course all the colors for my turkey!!
Making a turkey out of a handprint is a classic and fun fall craft that is perfect for preschoolers and elementary school kids Not only is it easy and inexpensive, but it also allows kids to express their creativity In this simple tutorial, I’ll walk you through different ways to make handprint turkeys, from using basic art supplies to getting messy with paint. Let’s gobble up some handprint turkey fun!
Supplies You’ll Need
- White paper or cardstock
- Paint (optional)
- Markers, crayons or colored pencils
- Glue or tape (optional)
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Scissors
Tracing Your Hand
The first step is to trace your hand on a blank piece of paper. Place your hand firmly on the paper with fingers spread apart. Trace around the outline of your hand and fingers using a pencil or marker. Make sure to get the outline of your thumb too. This will form the turkey’s body and feathers.
If using paint it’s best to trace your hand first before painting so you have an outline to follow.
Adding Color
Now it’s time to transform your traced hand into a colorful turkey using crayons, markers or colored pencils. Here are some suggestions:
- Color the palm area brown or yellow for the turkey body
- Color each finger a different color for feathers – try red, orange, green, blue
- Draw a small black circle on the thumb for an eye
- Draw a orange triangle at the tip of the thumb for a beak
- Add details like feet, wings, grass lines under feet
Get creative with colors and details! Let your child color their turkey however they’d like.
Paint Option
For more messy fun, use washable paint instead of crayons. Dip your child’s hand in brown paint and have them “stamp” their handprint onto paper. Once dry, let them add color details with additional paint colors using their fingers or a brush.
Add googly eyes, a beak and wattle cut from construction paper when the paint dries. The possibilities are endless!
Cut and Paste Turkey
For a collage-style turkey, use scissors and glue to create your design. Cut colored paper into different turkey parts – triangles for feathers, oval body, googly eyes, orange beak. Let your child glue the pieces onto their original hand tracing.
Creative Variations
- Glue buttons, pom poms or other textures for feathers
- Use candy corn for a beak and feet
- Stickers or glitter to jazz it up
- Cut out leaves and add a tree branch
- Make turkeys with their feet to form a line of waddling turkeys
The great thing about handprint turkeys is how easy they are to customize to your child’s liking. Encourage them to choose colors, textures and accessories they find fun and interesting.
Displaying Handprint Turkeys
These fall crafts make great Thanksgiving decorations. Here are some ways to show off your turkey creations:
- Hang on the refrigerator or on a wall
- Tape turkeys to windows and doors
- Display on mantles, shelves or countertops
- Group multiple turkeys in a collage boarder
- Send to grandparents or friends
Once you get gobbling, you’ll want to make an entire flock of these cute handprint turkeys! With simple supplies and imagination, you and your kids will have a blast creating turkey art to celebrate Thanksgiving in style.
Step 3 – Stamp Their Handprint
I gently pressed each of my boys hands on the canvas and gently lifted their hands up (making sure not to smear the paint).
I was struggling with my one year old and getting his handprint. My little bear kept wanting to make a fist. You can see a couple spots where the brown started mixing with the other colors.
Step 2 – Paint Their Hand
I put my paint colors in an egg carton (I save every one of them). Then, I painted the middle of the boys hands brown and each of their finger tips a separate color.
Quick tip: Use egg cartons when painting with multiple colors. It keeps them from running into each other.
Turkey Hand Ideas For Thanksgiving! ✋ | Arts and Crafts for Kids | Danny Go!
FAQ
How do you make a handprint turkey?
To make a handprint turkey: 1) Paint your little one’s hand with washable paint. (You can do the fingers in different colors if you want.) 2) Press the hand (with thumb out) onto a piece of paper or paper plate. 3) Add a googly eye, wattle, beak, legs, etc… That’s it — a fantastic craft and an adorable keepsake.
What is a hand turkey?
For the uninitiated, hand turkeys are made by tracing an outline of your hand or painting and stamping it, then transforming the fingers into fanned feathers and adding an eye, beak, and gobble to the thumb, often in autumnal hues.
How do you make a turkey out of paint?
- Cover your workspace and gather your materials.
- Cut the sponge into strips. …
- Pour small amounts of paint onto a paper plate. …
- Dip the sponge into the paint and dap onto the paper plate. …
- Set the paper plate aside to dry.
- While the paper plate is drying, cut out the face/body, beak, and wattle for the turkey.
How do you draw a Turkey with a pencil?
Firmly place one hand, palm down and fingers spread apart, on the sheet of white computer paper. Starting on one side of your wrist, trace with the black crayon or pencil around your hand until you reach the other side of your wrist. Using the black pencil or crayon, draw a line from start point to end point to finish the body of the turkey.
How do you make a handprint Turkey?
If you’re younger and aren’t sure how to create one, the steps are simple. You can create your turkey by using construction paper or by using finger paint. If you follow the techniques and get creative, you can make a handprint and footprint turkey that you can be proud of. Trace your feet on a piece of construction paper.
What is a family handprint Turkey?
This darling Family Handprint Turkey is an easy paper craft for the kids to make, and they will love that you are involved too! This cute twist on the handprint turkey uses handprints from not just your child, but you too! Parents and kids will make this adorable paper project together. Whether you are a family of three or ten, doesn’t matter!
Can a toddler make a Turkey handprint?
If you’re doing this turkey handprint craft with a toddler, preschooler, or early school aged child, then you will want to be the one to paint the colors on your child’s hand. Older kids can paint their hand themselves if you want them to.
How do you make a Turkey with construction paper?
Use orange and red construction paper. You can either create an outline for these features and then cut them out, or you can just cut out a triangle and round teardrop free hand. Use orange construction paper to create the beak for your turkey. Use red construction paper for the wattle of the turkey. Draw two eyes or glue on googly eyes.
How do you make a Turkey with paper hands?
You can use liquid glue or a glue stick. Glue the paper hands onto the back of the body of the turkey. Arrange the hands behind the turkey to get a feeling for what it will look like once it’s done. Stack your traced out hands on an angle and glue them together so that the feathers look like they are spread out.