Who says Thanksgiving is just about the yummy food? There are so many fun and creative crafts out there to celebrate this special season with your family and these Thanksgiving Clay Pot Turkeys are no exception!
Using Clay pots that you may already have lying in storage to make these Thanksgiving Clay Pot Turkeys is a great way to get your kids involved in decorating the house and to keep them busy and stimulated this Autumn.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Feathers of Fun: Craft a turkey with colorful clay pot feathers that’ll bring festive cheer!
- Simple & Mess-Free: Easy to make with just a clay pot, paint, and a few accessories.
- Perfect Table Decor: These turkeys are adorable as a centerpiece or place setting.
Here’s what you are going to need to make these adorable clay pot turkeys:
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Patterns provided in my download
- 4” Clay PotsAcrylic Craft Paint – Milk Chocolate
Craft Felt - Gold, Burgundy, Prickly Purple, Sandstone, Olive, Pumpkin
- 2 ½” Wooden Ball Knobs
- Ribbon – Gingham Green and Orange
- Paint Brush
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- White Gel Pen
- Straight Pins
🖌️ How To Make A Clay Pot Turkey
- Step 1: Gather all the supplies needed. Start by removing the stickers from the bottom of the clay pots.
- Step 2: Download, print and cut out all patterns I have provided here.
- Step 3: Basecoat the clay pots and wooden ball knobs with acrylic craft paint and allow to dry. You can always apply a second coat of paint if you feel that it is necessary.
- Step 4: To speed up the painting and drying process, place the ball knobs on a paintbrush handle so the entire surface can be painted at once. Once your pots are dry, attach the head to the body with your hot glue gun.
- Step 5: Trace the beak patterns on gold felt and the waddle patterns on burgundy felt and then cut them out.
- Step 6: Attach these cut-outs to the turkey head with your hot glue gun. Draw on the eyes and eyebrows with a black permanent marker and then add highlights with the white gel pen.
- Step 7: Pin the large and small turkey feather patterns onto the craft felt (Prickly Purple, Sandstone, Olive, Pumpkin) with the straight pins and then cut these out. Tracing and cutting will also work for this step.
- Step 8: Layer the small turkey feathers on top of the large turkey feathers and attach them with the hot glue gun.
- Step 9: Measure and cut four turkey legs 12” long by 1” wide using your gold felt and then knot each leg loosely in the centre. Trace and cut out four turkey feet and attach to the bottom of each leg with the hot glue gun.
- Step 10: Adhere the layered feathers to the back of the turkey body with hot glue at the base.
- Step 11: Attach the felt legs to the inside bottom center of the turkey body with hot glue.
- Step 12: Measure a 12” length of gingham ribbon and tie in a bow around the turkey’s neck. Trim ends into a fishtail by cutting a small triangle out of each end.
These Thanksgiving Clay Pot Turkeys only take 30 minutes to make including the added assistance you can get with the measuring, tracing and cutting from the kiddos!
These lively clay pot turkeys will make an excellent decorative addition to any shelf or mantlepiece in the house. And if you are feeling extra giving this season, why not make a few extra and gift them to those special in your life.
Looking for other Autumn-inspired crafts to do with the kids? I’ve got loads of exciting crafts to try that will make you want to run out to your local craft store immediately. Have a look here for some fun ideas!
💡 Pro Tip: Opt for washable acrylic paints to make cleanup easier, especially when crafting with young children.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Enhance Feather Texture: Use a combination of felt and fabric for the feathers to add texture and depth, making the turkey's tail more visually interesting.
- Secure Feathers Effectively: Instead of relying solely on glue, consider using a hot glue gun for a stronger bond when attaching the feathers to the back of the clay pot.
- Add Personalization: Incorporate the names of family members or guests on the turkey's feathers using fabric paint or markers to personalize each piece.
- Create Movable Legs: Attach the turkey's legs with small brads or paper fasteners, allowing them to swing slightly for a more dynamic appearance.
- Incorporate Seasonal Scents: Add a small sachet of cinnamon or cloves inside the clay pot to give your turkey a delightful autumn scent.
- Use Natural Elements: Integrate small pinecones or acorns into the feather arrangement to bring a touch of nature and authenticity to the craft.
💭 FAQs
Yes, you can use pre-colored clay pots in shades like brown or terracotta, which still give a natural turkey look without the need for painting.
You can add extra texture by using fabric or paper feathers in various sizes and colors. This will help create a more colorful and three-dimensional effect.
Yes, you can personalize the turkey by adding small name tags, turning it into a fun and functional place setting for your Thanksgiving table.
Did you make this craft? Leave a review and comment below! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Download Template
Grab your free Printable Clay Pot Turkeys Template here!
Thanksgiving Clay Pot Turkeys
Equipment
- Paint Brush
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- White Gel Pen
- Straight Pins
Materials
- Patterns provided in my download
- 4 ” Clay PotsAcrylic Craft Paint – Milk Chocolate
- Craft Felt –
- Gold Burgundy, Prickly Purple, Sandstone, Olive, Pumpkin
- 2 ½ ” Wooden Ball Knobs
- Ribbon – Gingham Green and Orange
Instructions
- Gather all the supplies needed. Start by removing the stickers from the bottom of the clay pots.
- Download, print and cut out all patterns I have provided here.
- Basecoat the clay pots and wooden ball knobs with acrylic craft paint and allow to dry.
- You can always apply a second coat of paint if you feel that it is necessary. PRO TIP: To speed up the painting and drying process, place the ball knobs on a paintbrush handle so the entire surface can be painted at once.
- Once your pots are dry, attach the head to the body with your hot glue gun.
- Trace the beak patterns on gold felt and the waddle patterns on burgundy felt and then cut them out.
- Attach these cut-outs to the turkey head with your hot glue gun.
- Draw on the eyes and eyebrows with a black permanent marker and then add highlights with the white gel pen.
- Pin the large and small turkey feather patterns onto the craft felt (Prickly Purple, Sandstone, Olive, Pumpkin) with the straight pins and then cut these out. Tracing and cutting will also work for this step.
- Layer the small turkey feathers on top of the large turkey feathers and attach them with the hot glue gun.
- Measure and cut four turkey legs 12” long by 1” wide using your gold felt and then knot each leg loosely in the centre.
- Trace and cut out four turkey feet and attach to the bottom of each leg with the hot glue gun.
- Adhere the layered feathers to the back of the turkey body with hot glue at the base.
- Attach the felt legs to the inside bottom center of the turkey body with hot glue.
- Measure a 12” length of gingham ribbon and tie in a bow around the turkey’s neck. Trim ends into a fishtail by cutting a small triangle out of each end.
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