Every fall, my daughter is obsessed with pumpkins. We buy more winter squash and pumpkins than we need because she loves all the different shapes and sizes. After all, you can only eat so much butternut squash soup and pumpkin pie.
A couple years ago we worked together to create this cute pumpkin turkey centerpiece for Thanksgiving. Every year, we make one! We used a small “sugar pie” pumpkin, which you can find at most grocery stores; we paid $1 for ours at Trader Joe’s. 99) and craft supplies that we happened to have on hand.
This is a fun fall project that kids of all ages can do with help from an adult. It fits perfectly on the dining table. My kids and I like to write what were thankful for on the paper tail feathers, too.
We made a template for the turkey’s head, wings, and feathers that you can download here. It’s set up for an 8-inch paper size. 5 x 11-inch letter size sheet of paper.
When fall arrives, there’s nothing I look forward to more than pumpkin carving. As soon as October hits, I start brainstorming creative designs to carve into pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving decor. While jack-o’-lanterns are fun, lately I’ve become obsessed with carving turkey patterns into pumpkins for the perfect autumn centerpiece
In this article, I’ll share how to make the ideal turkey template and carve it into a pumpkin this season With my tips and step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to craft a gorgeous turkey pumpkin that will wow your family and friends
Why Carve a Turkey Pattern Pumpkin?
Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to carve a turkey pumpkin, let’s look at what makes turkeys such a fantastic choice for fall pumpkin carving:
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Thanksgiving Theme – Nothing says Thanksgiving like a turkey! Carving this icon into a pumpkin ties your autumn decor together perfectly.
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Fun and Creative – Turkeys offer more unique challenges than typical jack-o’-lantern faces. It allows you to get creative with the design.
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Makes a Statement – A carved turkey pumpkin will stand out amongst any display of ordinary carved pumpkins. It makes a bold statement as the focal point.
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Great for Kids – Compared to some patterns, turkeys are fairly straightforward to carve. Kids will have fun doing this project with parental supervision.
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Beautiful Table Centerpiece – Place your finished turkey carving as the centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table to wow guests.
How to Make the Turkey Carving Pattern
The first crucial step is creating the turkey pattern itself. Here’s what I recommend for DIYing the perfect pumpkin turkey template:
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Find Inspiration Online – Search for images of carved turkey pumpkins to get an idea of different styles and poses.
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Sketch Rough Drafts – On paper, sketch some concepts for your own patterns, keeping in mind the pumpkin size.
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Study Actual Turkeys – Look at photos or videos of real turkeys to make your design true to life. Focus on their shapes and details.
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Make Templates – Transfer your best sketch to cardboard, construction paper, or plastic to create a sturdy template.
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Add Details – Use paper and scissors to cut out shapes for feathers, wings, wattle, snood, and eyes to trace.
Essential Tools for Carving Your Turkey
To carve your turkey pattern, you’ll need these basic pumpkin carving tools:
- Pumpkin carving kit (with knives, saws, scoops)
- Template(s) you created
- Tape to secure templates
- Marker or pen for tracing
- Petroleum jelly to prevent rotting
- Acrylic paint for details
Optional handy extras include carving stencils, a mini fan brush, and a pedestal to display your finished piece.
Step-by-Step Guide to Carving the Turkey
Once you have your tools prepped and pattern template ready, follow these steps:
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Clean pumpkin and open lid, removing seeds and fibers.
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Tape template securely to pumpkin’s front.
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Use marker to trace outline pressing hard enough to imprint.
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Carve carefully just inside traced lines about 1-inch deep.
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Refine carved areas and remove any remaining pieces.
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Slowly peel off template to reveal carved turkey shape.
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Enhance details like feathers, eyes, wattle with small knives.
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Paint sections for color if desired. Let dry before displaying.
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Place candle inside, light up, and showcase your turkey!
Tips for Carving Success
Keep these tips in mind when tackling your turkey pattern to ensure pumpkin carving success:
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Focus on overall shape before intricate details.
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Work slowly and gently to avoid ripping chunks.
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Make interior cuts first to prevent exterior breaks.
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Layer light feather details instead of digging deeply.
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Choose thick yet pliable pumpkins like Jarrahdales.
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Set your pumpkin on a pedestal to showcase the carving.
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Use acrylic paints which dry slower for more working time.
Creative Ways to Use Your Carved Turkey
A carved turkey pumpkin has many fun uses for seasonal decor beyond dining tables:
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Display it on your front porch steps as a fall welcome sign.
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Place it on your mantel surrounded by autumn garlands and flowers.
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Use it as the focal point in the center of a harvest floral arrangement.
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Write guests’ names on paper feathers and insert into the carved ones for place cards.
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Let kids embellish additional turkey feathers to add on for craft time.
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Keep it displayed post-Thanksgiving as a testament to your stellar carving abilities!
Time to Carve Your Masterpiece
As you can see, carving a turkey pattern into a pumpkin is the ultimate way to welcome autumn and Thanksgiving with style. All it takes is some creativity, patience, and the right tools and guidance.
Follow my tips to craft your own unique turkey template. Then utilize the step-by-step carving directions to transform your pumpkin into a dazzling work of art. Your family and friends are sure to gobble up this impressive turkey carving!
How to make it
- Put the template on plain paper and print it out. Then, cut out each shape. These will help you make the turkey parts that will go on the pumpkin.
- Trace around the feather template to create nine tail feathers. We made three of each in brown, orange, and yellow. For each one, kids can use crayons or markers to draw a feather-like shape.
- Alternate the colors of the tail feathers and spread them out into a half-circle. Hold the feathers together at the bottom with the double-stick tape. Make sure you use enough of this tape to hold the feathers to the pumpkin. Also, tape the middle of each feather to the one next to it. This will help them stay in place.
- Stick the feathers to the back of the pumpkin while it’s standing up straight. Peel off the backing from the tape at the bottom of the feathers.
- Now, draw and cut out the pieces that make up the head and face. Use the template as a guide to glue the face pieces to the head with the glue stick.
- Put the head on the pumpkin with double-stick tape so that the middle of the head rests on the stem and the bottom of the neck is about halfway down. Tape it down in both spots.
- On the wings, you can draw feathers if you want. Then, trace and cut them out. Tape them to the sides of the pumpkin.
That’s all there is to it! Take a moment to admire your hard work and get ready for Thanksgiving.
Wow Your Guests With This Festive Turkey Pumpkin Carving Tutorial For Thanksgiving!
FAQ
Can you carve pumpkins for Thanksgiving?
What pumpkin should I carve?
How to carve a pumpkin for pumpkin pie?
How do I make a pumpkin Turkey craft?
To make your pumpkin turkey craft, you’ll need: The most important supply is the pumpkin itself. Choose a smaller pumpkin if making with young kids. For older kids/adults, a regular carving pumpkin works too. Gather the remaining art supplies and you’re ready to create!
How do you attach a turkey figure to a pumpkin?
To attach a turkey figure to a pumpkin, you can use foam mounting tape or double stick tape. Download and print out the template on plain paper and cut out each of the shapes. Use these to create the parts of the turkey. Trace around the feather template to create nine tail feathers.
How do you decorate a pumpkin for Thanksgiving?
It’s time to prepare for festive Thanksgiving pumpkin carving with fresh autumn motifs—from pine cones and pheasants to fall foliage—to bring in the cozy harvest vibe. Place them indoors or out to welcome the season for gathering. Our free, printable templates can also be carved onto an artificial pumpkin for a longer-lasting display.
What are the different types of pumpkin carving stencils?
1. Sunflower Pumpkin Carving Stencil 2. Wine Glasses Pumpkin Carving Stencil 3. “Party’s Here” Pumpkin Carving Stencil 4. “Gather” Pumpkin Carving Stencil 5. Falling Leaves Pumpkin Carving Stencil 1. Vintage Camper Pumpkin Carving Stencil 2. Campfire Pumpkin Carving Stencil 3. Cute Owl Pumpkin Carving Stencil 4.
What can you do with pumpkins for Thanksgiving?
Bring to Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s house or give as favors at parties. Include a package of candy or bake pumpkin pie in mini pumpkins for a fun edible version. So put those pumpkins to use this season by crafting a decorative turkey!
How do you paint a turkey head?
Add yellow and red paint for accents. Yellow represents the tip of the feathers and red adds a wattle/snood. Allow paint to dry fully before moving on. Open your Model Magic clay and begin shaping a turkey head. Form an oval fat teardrop shape for the head using white clay. For the beak, shape a triangle out of orange clay and flatten it.