Paper Crafting: Thanksgiving Turkeys

Whether you need something to do with the kids or some inspiration for your next print project, here’s a hands-on activity that literally uses your hand shape. An old-y but a good-y, we’ve also revamped the classic handprint turkey to be a little more dimensional and interactive.

Below are some resources to aid you in making either a card or puppet Thanksgiving Turkey.

1. A template (There’s two!)
2. Printer
3. Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
4. Scissors
5. Glue or tape

This template is printed double-sided, flipped on the short edge.

Turkey Card Instructions

• Print off and color the template. (Download above.)
• Trace each of your hands and color them in.
• Cut out the hands and the template.
• Create the bifold card by folding the two circles together on the pink dashed line.
• Turn the card over and glue the hands to the back.
• Flip turkey back over and fold the neck on the pink dashed lines so that it has some bounce/dimension to it.
• Open the card and write a note to someone you are thankful for!

Turkey Finger Puppet Instructions

• Print off and color the template. (Download above.)
• Trace each of your hands and color them in.
• Cut out the hands and the template. When cutting out the hands, you can cut off the bottom of them so they don’t cover up the finger holes. (Demonstrated at 1:50 in the video)
• Cut out the two circles at the bottom of turkey for your fingers.
• Glue the hands to the back of the turkey body.
• Fold the neck on the two dashed pink lines to create dimension.
• Put your fingers through the holes and gobble, gobble wherever you go!