Today we are sharing a fun and fantastic paper quilled thanksgiving turkey craft idea which is super easy and fun to make. Thanksgiving is an important time of the year and a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for.
Whether your in the USA celebrating Thanksgiving or in the UK taking part in harvest celebrations, this is a great craft idea to make in the classroom or at home as a fun art quilling project. Enjoy.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Swirly Feather Fun: The quilled paper feathers are so colorful and eye-catching—kids will love making the spirals.
- Festive Table Decor: Makes an adorable homemade touch to your Thanksgiving table or mantel.
- Holiday Keepsake: It’s a sweet craft you’ll want to pull out year after year for those cozy fall vibes!
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Quilling paper strips – fall colours
- White stationary paper
- Black sharpie
🖌️ How To Make Thanksgiving Turkey Craft
- Step 1: For this project select fall coloured quilling strips. Before getting started with the quilling lets prepare the canvas. Prepare a piece of white stationary paper and also prepare a piece of green craft paper (1 or 1.5 inch wide and length the same length as of the white paper). Glue the green paper along any one side (lengthwise) of the canvas paper.
- Step 2: Select craft papers for the turkey and trace the patterns from the template on the selected papers. Use scissors to cut out the traced patterns.
- Step 3: Use craft glue to join the parts together to form the body of the paper turkey.
- Step 4: Take a 10 inches long quilling strip and coil it with the help of the slotted quilling tool. Take out the coiled strip from the slotted tool and allow the coil to loosen freely.
- Step 5: Take the loose coil and press any one side of it to form teardrop shapes.
- Step 6: Now press the opposite side of the previously pressed side to form a basic eye shape. Glue the open end to secure the shape.
- Step 7: Use the same technique to create more basic eye shapes. Make as many as you need to create the turkey. Also create 3 loose coils; 2 for the turkey’s feet and 1 of any colour. All items ready? Gather the paper prepared in step one and all the other quilled items.
- Step 8: Take any 1 coloured basic eye shaped pieces and glue them on the paper by creating an arch pattern. Take a different coloured basic eye shape and glue them on the 2nd layer; also form an arch shape.
- Step 9: Glue the 3rd layer using different coloured eye shaped pieces and also glue the single coloured loose coil 1 inch below the eye shaped pieces. Finally, glue the paper turkey on the loose coil (below the arch pattern). Add more details if you want to and then allow the glue to dry.
Happy crafting! I do hope you enjoy this paper quilling project.
💡 Pro Tip: Mount the completed quilled turkey on a contrasting background, such as a dark-colored cardstock, to make the vibrant feather colors stand out and give the artwork a polished presentation.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Curve Direction: Shape feather coils slightly upward on one side to give the appearance of natural lift, making the turkey’s tail look fuller and more dimensional.
- Anchor First: Attach the central feather coil first, then work outward symmetrically on both sides—this keeps the tail balanced and prevents visual slanting.
- Body Contrast: Choose slightly tighter coils for the body to contrast with looser feather shapes, helping the central turkey form stand out clearly in the design.
- Staggered Angles: Tilt each feather coil outward by a few degrees rather than placing them straight up; this fanned angle gives the illusion of motion and spread.
- Space Between: Leave thin, equal spacing between feathers to avoid crowding, which can flatten the effect and make shapes lose their individual identity.
- Final Alignment: Before gluing down the face or feet, hold the design at arm’s length to spot alignment issues—small shifts make a big difference in expression.
💭 FAQs
Kids begin to notice how color, shape, and spacing work together to create balance. It helps them trust their eye when placing or adjusting small design pieces.
When coils unwind or don’t stick right away, children must try again calmly. This helps them manage setbacks without giving up or getting upset.
Quilling often involves using both hands at once — one to twist, one to hold. This coordination improves how children use both sides of their body together.
Crafts like quilling develop subtle wrist flexibility, especially through circular motions. This movement strengthens small joints often overlooked in general play.
Download Printable
Get your free Printable Turkey Template today!
Easy Paper Quilled Thanksgiving Turkey Craft
Materials
- Quilling paper strips – fall colours
- White stationary paper
- Black sharpie
Instructions
- For this project select fall colored quilling strips. Before getting started with the quilling lets prepare the canvas. Prepare a piece of white stationary paper and also prepare a piece of green craft paper (1 or 1.5 inches wide and length the same as the length of the white paper). Glue the green paper along any one side (lengthwise) of the canvas paper.
1. Select craft papers for the turkey and trace the patterns from the template on the selected papers. Use scissors to cut out the traced patterns.
2. Use craft glue to join the parts together to form the body of the paper turkey.
3. Take a 10 inches long quilling strip and coil it with the help of the slotted quilling tool. Take out the coiled strip from the slotted tool and allow the coil to loosen freely.
4. Take the loose coil and press any one side of it to form teardrop shapes.
5. Now press the opposite side of the previously pressed side to form a basic eye shape. Glue the open end to secure the shape.
6. Use the same technique to create more basic eye shapes. Make as many as you need to create the turkey.
7. Create 3 loose coils; 2 for the turkey’s feet and 1 of any color.
8. Gather the paper prepared in step one and all the other quilled items.
9. Take any 1 colored basic eye-shaped pieces and glue them on the paper by creating an arch pattern. Take a different colored basic eye shape and glue them on the 2nd layer; also form an arch shape.
10. Glue the 3rd layer using different colored eye-shaped pieces and also glue the single-colored loose coil 1 inch below the eye-shaped pieces. Finally, glue the paper turkey on the loose coil (below the arch pattern). Add more details if you want to and then allow the glue to dry.
More Fall Crafts You Might Like:
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I would like the pattern of your turkey body. I signed up for the newsletter, but still can't get the turkey body. Thank you
https://www.theinspirationedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Turkey-Craft-Template-1.pdf