DIY Yarn Turkey

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What a cute idea! 

Materials
Two foam balls: one big and one little. The exact sizes are up to you, but a 9-inch ball and a 4-inch ball would work. They will eventually be the body and the head of your turkey
Two balls of yarn: one light brown, one dark brown
Felt: orange (for the beak) and red (for the waddle)
Two glue-on googly eyes
Wooden craft sticks
Brown, orange, red and yellow craft paper
Toothpicks
Crayons or markers
Glue

Instructions

  1. Cut a 1-inch sliver off the larger ball to make a flat base for your turkey. Then, wrap the larger ball in dark brown yarn. (Tie a knot at the bottom. Some crafters recommend a shot from the glue gun to be sure it holds.) Wrap the smaller ball in the lighter yarn, securing with a knot and glue
  2. Using a wooden craft stick, skewer and connect the big ball to the small ball. Be sure to balance it so that your turkey does not tip forward
  3. Make your turkey’s face: glue on the eyes, cut and glue two triangles for the beak and a red teardrop for the waddle
  4. Cut feather shapes from your craft paper — be sure they are large enough for guests to write on. Bend each one in half lengthwise to create a seam. Glue a toothpick to the bottom third of each feather

On Thanksgiving Day, have guests write things they are thankful for on the feathers and stick the feathers into your turkey to create his fan-shaped tail. If your group is small, spread your feathers out so that they fan across the turkey body. If you have a big group, it’s fine to have multiple fan layers.

Where should your grateful turkey sit? Some families may opt to make this a table centerpiece, giving it a place of honor at the meal. But there are other options that make sense.

  • Consider placing the turkey and its feathers on a table near the front door and ask each guest to complete a feather upon arrival.
  • Really shake things up and sit the turkey, its feathers and its message of gratitude on the coffee table by the football game. It’s a good reminder that the holiday isn’t all about a favorite sport.
  • Finally, if your kids’ table is mostly school-age kids, let the turkey be their centerpiece.

Tip: Consider making time during the meal to discuss your gratitude feathers.

Source: Homemadesimple.com