Craft Tutorial: Apple Turkeys

Around this time last year, the girls made Apple Turkeys at their preschool. The Apple Turkeys were so cute that I made my own version. It’s Apple Turkey time again, so I thought I’d repost my tutorial.

Craft Tutorial: Apple Turkeys

Last week, the girls made apple turkeys at school. When I picked them up, I saw a whole table full of them, waiting to go home along with their proud owners. We had to cross the parking lot to get back to the car, so the girls and I had a “discussion” on logistics i.e. how do I hold both of their apple while holding both of their hands to get to the car? And by “discussion”, I mean me making suggestions followed by loud vetoes by two little turkeys in particular. We made it to the car eventually.

Anyways, they love their turkeys so I knew I’d be making more this week for Turkey Day as they’d want to show their creations off to Grandma and  Grandpa. They made their turkey tails with candy. My version makes them with feathery lettuce instead of candy to make a cute but a little more grown-up centerpiece.

Materials:

• Apples
• Lettuce: Use something with narrower leaves with a thick stalk. We found this duo of red and green “artisan” lettuce at TJs. Romaine would work too.
• Toothpicks
• Scratch paper to make a template for the head.
• Paper to make the head and hat. Scraps are great.
• Glue, Scissors

Directions:

It’s best to do the lettuce part the day of. I actually made these last night and left them out on the table, only to wake up to wimpy turkey tails this morning! But you can make the head earlier.

Cut out the template for the head on scratch paper. Keep in mind the size of your apples and keep it proportionate. I shaped their heads simply, like a butternut squash. I have one facing front, and one facing to the side. Then trace onto your paper and cut two pieces.

Put glue on each head and sandwich a toothpick in between.

I used a mailing envelope to make the beaks.

Cut out the hats in a contrasting color. I just free-handed a pilgrim hat. Ok it looks like a top hat. I also used a small hole punch for the eyes.

Repeat everything for the front-facing turkey. I used a Paper Source catalog for the hat. From the spring. Hoarding for craft purposes is okay.

Cut your apple along the side, at an angle so the apple doesn’t roll around. Your kid(s) may or may not suck on the cut-off apple piece all day long and you may or may not throw it away in secret after it has turned brown and icky. Practice looking innocent when they start looking for it.

For the lettuce tails, stick a toothpick through the stalk as straight-down as possible. Do about 3 or 4.

Poke the head onto the apple towards the front. You’re done.

Took me longer to write this post than to make them!

There are a zillion things you can use for the tails. The lettuce are quite delicate and maybe not as easy to work with for kids. You can use all kinds of treats skewered onto the toothpicks to make them more kid-friendly. Maybe I’ll go get some marshmallows.

Happy Thanksgiving from my little turkeys (ignore the burnt one).