Thanksgiving is an opportunity to stuff our bellies, watch football and spend time with family. It's also a time to give thanks and be grateful. And what better way to help your kids remember why they are thankful than by taking the time to craft a Pine Cone Turkey together?
This cute little guy can be assembled simply with gifts from nature and items you likely already have at home. Take your children on a walk to collect pine cones and seed pods, then watch their creativity shine as they assemble their turkeys. We guarantee your kids' faces will light up with pride when they see their creation on the Thanksgiving dinner table.
Below you will find a list of essential items required to construct your Pine Cone Turkey, and tips and tricks that will help you along the way. The accompanying photos will walk you through the process step-by-step. Have fun!
Essential Items:
- pine cones—for the turkey's body
- seed pods—for the turkey's head (we used seed pods from a Sycamore tree, but those from any tree would work)
- colored cardstock
- googley eyes
- markers (we like Zig Pens since they offer a fine and thick tip)
- pipe cleaners
- feathers (optional)
- white glue
- hot glue gun
Tips & Tricks:
- If your children are young, be sure to cut out all feathers and beaks before sitting down to work on your turkeys. Little ones have short attention spans, so you want to make sure you can work as quickly as possible.
- Gather all of the essential items in advance in a shoe box, basket or large Tupperware container. This way you will have everything you need at your fingertips.
- Line your workspace with paper for easy clean-up and to avoid damaging furniture or floors.
- You can use craft glue entirely and in place of hot glue; however, drying time will take much longer and items will not stick as well to the pine cone and seed pod.
- When cutting out the beak, we found it is easiest to fold the cardstock in half first, then cut out a shape equivalent to a half of a triangle. This way the crease is sharp and even.
- Scissors can cut pipe cleaners, but be aware the wire can damage the blades. We suggest using a cable or wire cutter if available.
- Feathers may slip if the turkey is moved often. A small dab of hot glue will keep them firmly in place but is not necessary.
Please send Mar Vista Patch photos of your family's Pine Cone Turkeys to be posted on the site! Email the site editor at kelly.hartog@patch.com.
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