Papier Mache Turkey

Wobble, wobble, gobble, gobble...make this adorable wobbly papier mache turkey for Thanksgiving.

See Earth-friendly tips for this craft Earth-friendly tips for this craft

Materials Needed

Oval balloons
Newspapers or paper for recycling
Construction paper
Gift wrap paper
Toilet paper tube
Cardboard (e.g. cereal box)
Poster paint or acrylic paint
White glue
Papier mache paste
Sand
Scissors
Masking tape
Pencil
Wiggle eyes

Safety Guidelines

Watch out for this sign . It means you need an adult's help for the particular step.

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Steps

	1.	Use oval balloons to make a papier mache of the turkey's body (bigger balloon) and head (smaller balloon). The papier mache pieces will dry within 2 to 3 days.
	2.	Position one end of a toilet paper tube on top of the large papier mache's air hole. Trace around the circumference of the toilet paper tube.
	3.	Cut around the marked circumference. Remove the balloon latex as well.
	4.	Insert the toilet paper tube inside the opening. The length of the paper tube protruding from the hole defines the length of your turkey's neck.
	5.	Pour one cup of sand through the paper tube.
	6.	The sand will allow the papier mache to balance and stand on its own. Add more sand if necessary.
	7.	Angle the paper tube slightly upwards before positioning the papier mache head. Use masking tape to hold the head in place. Also check if the neck fits snugly onto the papier mache body. If it's a bit loose, tape the joint betwen the neck and body.
	8.	Draw and cut out a pair of oval shapes from cardboard to make the wings. Tape the wings on either side of the turkey.
	9.	Make a beak out of any color of construction paper: (1.) Form a small semi-circle into a paper cone. (2.) Slightly flatten the paper cone and curve out the tip. (3.) Use masking tape to attach the cone beak onto the turkey's head.
	10.	Make a single layer of papier mache over the areas with masking tape - around the beak, at the base of each wing, at the joint between the neck and head, and the joint between the neck and body. The papier mache will dry in less than an hour.
	11.	You may or may not prime your papier mache sculpture with white acrylic paint or poster paint. Priming totally covers the newspaper print and makes the final color on your sculpture appear brighter and more uniform.
	12.	Once the primer dries, paint your papier mache turkey with the desired colors of poster paint or acrylic paint.
	13.	Glue on a pair of wiggle eyes and a long red teardrop-shaped snood (use construction paper or felt). The snood is the skin flap that hangs over the turkey's beak.
	14.	Draw a line along the middle section of the beak.
	15.	Cut out 8-10 long oval shapes from construction paper, gift wrap paper, or textured paper. The oval shapes should be long enough to be the turkey's tail feathers. Choose red, yellow, brown, orange, and green color shades.
	16.	Glue the oval shapes together in a fan-like arrangement.
	17.	Finally, use white glue to attach the tail behind the body. Your papier mache turkey can cutely wobble from side to side but can balance itself pretty well.

More Ideas

You can make more long-necked birds such as a goose, duck or chicken following the steps above.

For more papier mache animals, you can also visit our Papier Mache Bunny craft.

Earth Friendly Tips

Old newspapers and used paper can be recycled into papier mache projects like this Papier Mache Turkey craft.
When it's time to dismantle or dispose of your craft creation, sort out the materials that you can re-use for future craft projects (e.g. wiggle eyes, pompoms, buttons).

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