This Foam Square Turkey Craft DIY is the perfect project for homemade Thanksgiving holiday decor.
We like that this an inexpensive and easy idea for turning a craft foam dice into a cute turkey that can be displayed on a shelf or as part of a centerpiece.
Foam Dice Thanksgiving Craft.
This is a simple craft idea that is suitable for most ages.
I like that materials for this project can be found at a dollar or discount store as well as online.
Did you see my project for an Easy Felt Turkey Craft Pattern ?
That turkey is a simple sewing project for making a turkey using craft felt.
Both this foam craft idea and that diy felt turkey are simple and easy craft ideas that can easily be used as Thanksgiving decor in a home.
To make this project you will need foam dice that can be painted. You can find a selection of foam dice here.
Tips for making a foam dice craft.
When selecting foam dice to use in this project, select dice that does not have a coating on it. A coating on the dice can make it difficult for the paint to hold on to the dice.
More tips for you
- This project should take about a half hour to make. You can make your active time shorter by painting the dice in advance or by using a fan to help the paint dry a bit faster.
- A hot glue gun is used to make this project. You can use a craft glue instead however, it will take longer for that glue to dry.
- While this project is suitable for most ages, some folks may need a bit of assistance. This is especially true when it comes to cutting and gluing.
How to make a turkey craft project even better.
This turkey is cute just the way it is.
However, you can make your turkey even cuter.
Try one of these ideas.
- Paint your turkey a different color than the brown that is used.
- Give your turkey a craft hat or craft feathers.
- Let little ones decorate the turkey with Thanksgiving stickers.
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What we like about this Thanksgiving craft.
A simple Dollar Store foam dice and jumbo craft sticks transform with paint and wiggle eyes into the cutest Turkey Craft perfect for the Thanksgiving table!
- This project is easy to make. You can make it in about a half hour.
- Most of the materials that are used to make this project can be found at a dollar or discount store.
- This turkey makes for a great decoration as a centerpiece or to place on shelf.
Creative uses for this turkey craft.
- Obviously, you can display the turkey in your home or office.
- Give the turkey to someone as a gift.
- Attach this turkey to a clay pot and add a plant to the pot.
Turkey Craft DIY materials.
- Download the pattern for the face elements.
- Foam Dice. Use foam dice that does not have a coating. Two to 2 ½" size is a good size for this project.
- Jumbo Craft Sticks. The smaller sized sticks do not work well in this project.
- Googly Eyes. Use the larger size.
- For the legs and feet- Wooden dowel 6" and Wooden Stars .
- For the beak- craft felt and craft foam. Colors used on my turkey Brown, Burgundy, Gold.
- Equipment Needed- glue gun, glue sticks, E600 adhesive or similar product, paintbrush, scissors, ruler, pencil, and black marker.
How to make this Foam Square Turkey Craft DIY.
Prep Time: 5 minutes.
Active Time: 20 minutes.
This is a fun activity to create with the kiddos in just about 30 minutes with limited supplies. The perfect place card for the Thanksgiving table.
Step One: prepare for the project.
- Prepare your workspace as needed for this project.
- Gather your materials.
- Remove any packaging, stickers, and debris from the materials that will be used to make this project.
- Download the pattern if you have not done so yet.
Step Two: paint the materials that need painting.
- For the dice- Paint the foam dice with the medium brown acrylic craft paint.
- Craft Sticks - Paint the front, back, and sides of your jumbo craft sticks with acrylic craft paint as follows: burgundy (2 sticks), yellow (1), gold (1), bright orange (1), dark orange (1), and dark brown (1). Then Measure and cut each jumbo craft stick in half (widthwise) using the scissors.
- For the legs and feet- Paint one 6” wooden dowel and two wooden stars with gold acrylic craft paint.
- Apply a second coat of paint to the dried paint if necessary
Expert Tip👉 Use a fan to help speed up the drying process.
Step Three: add detailing to the parts.
- For the feathers- Using a permanent black marker, add the feather markings to each half craft stick by first drawing a line down the center of each stick. Then add the diagonal lines from the center line outward. You can use a ruler or a flat edge to do this more accurately.
- The legs- Once the paint has dried, you can cut the wooden dowel in half to make two three inch legs. Attach the flat end (uncut) of each dowel half to the center of each of the painted stars using a strong adhesive glue. Let glue set according to package directions. You may need to prop it the dowel up if needed.
- The Eyes- Use your glue gun to attach the googly eyes to your dice in the center of the painted dice about a third of the way down from the top.
- Remaining Face Elements- Using the pattern that you have downloaded, with a black marker, trace the turkey beak onto gold craft felt and the turkey waddle onto burgundy craft felt. Cut these elements out and attach them to the face.
- For the wings- Trace the turkey wing pattern onto brown craft felt (you may need to do this twice) with a marker before cutting the wings out.
Expert Tip👉 Refer to my images as needed to help guide you with this project.
Step Four: finish making your craft turkey.
- To attach the legs to the painted foam, start by pushing a pencil point (or similar item) into the bottom of the foam dice to make (one for each leg) indentations where the dowels will be attached to the dice. Add a small amount of glue to the end of each of the wooden dowels and then insert each of the dowels into an indentation that you just created.
- Attach the 'feathers'- Lay out the jumbo craft sticks that, you cut in half previously, with the burgundy stick halves in the center and on the ends. Then 'dry fit' the rest of the feathers in between. Refer to the photo for placement. Use your glue gun to then attach the half jumbo craft sticks to the foam dice to make the feathers.
- For the wings- attach a wing to the right and left hand side of the turkey using your glue gun and glue sticks.
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In case you missed something.
Foam Square Turkey Craft DIY, a simple project for turning foam dice into a Thanksgiving decoration. Dollar store materials, Most ages.
Foam Square Turkey Craft DIY
Equipment
Materials
- 1 Foam Dice
- 7 Jumbo Craft Sticks
- 2 Googly Eyes
- 1 Wooden Dowel - 6 inches
- 2 Wooden Stars
- Craft Felt Burgundy and Gold.
- Craft Foam Brown,
- Acrylic Craft Paint – Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Burgundy, Yellow, Gold, Bright Orange, Dark Orange
Instructions
- Download the pattern if you have not done so yet
Painting
- For the dice- Paint the foam dice with the medium brown acrylic craft paint.
- For the legs and feet- Paint one 6” wooden dowel and two wooden stars with gold acrylic craft paint. Apply a second coat of paint to the dried paint if necessary.
- Craft Sticks - Paint the front, back, and sides of your jumbo craft sticks with acrylic craft paint as follows: burgundy (2 sticks), yellow (1), gold (1), bright orange (1), dark orange (1), and dark brown (1). Then Measure and cut each jumbo craft stick in half (widthwise) using the scissors.
Detailing
- For the feathers- Using a permanent black marker, add the feather markings to each half craft stick by first drawing a line down the center of each stick. Then add the diagonal lines from the center line outward.
- The legs- Once the paint has dried, you can cut the wooden dowel in half to make two three inch legs. Attach the flat end (uncut) of each dowel half to the center of each of the painted stars using a strong adhesive glue.
- For the wings- Trace the turkey wing pattern onto brown craft felt (you may need to do this twice) with a marker before cutting the wings out.
- The Eyes- Use your glue gun to attach the googly eyes to your dice in the center of the painted dice about a third of the way down from the top.
- Remaining Face Elements- Using the pattern that you have downloaded, with a black marker, trace the turkey beak onto gold craft felt and the turkey waddle onto burgundy craft felt. Cut these elements out and attach them to the face.
Complete the project
- To attach the legs to the painted foam, start by pushing a pencil point (or similar item) into the bottom of the foam dice to make (one for each leg) indentations where the dowels will be attached to the dice. Add a small amount of glue to the end of each of the wooden dowels and then insert each of the dowels into an indentation that you just created.
- Attach the 'feathers'- Lay out the jumbo craft sticks that, you cut in half previously, with the burgundy stick halves in the center and on the ends. Then attach the rest of the feathers in between. Refer to the photo for placement.
- For the wings- attach a wing to the right and left hand side of the turkey using your glue gun and glue sticks.
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