Today is Thanksgiving, so today is quite possibly the last day I can post this DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey craft.
Okay fine. Yesterday was probably the last day I should have posted these.
But maybe you can make these toilet paper roll turkeys with any young guests you might have at your Thanksgiving dinner today. They would love making them.
This toilet paper turkey craft isn’t the only toilet paper craft we have on Drugstore Divas. So if it has inspired you to make some more, check out our 10+ Crafts Using Toilet Paper Rolls.
If you need just a little more help to make sure everyone has a happy Thanksgiving this year, check out our list of Thanksgiving Tips For The Easiest Holiday.
DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft
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DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft Supplies:
- Brown paint
- Toilet paper rolls or craft rolls
- Paint brush
- White card stock
- Yellow card stock
- Orange card stock
- Green card stock
- Mustard card stock
- Red card stock
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black marker
How To Make A DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey:
Paint the toilet paper rolls brown.
It’s best to paint one layer up and down, let it dry, then paint a second layer side to side. That way, you’ll cover any gaps or streaks that may occur from only painting once.
Be sure to paint each layer very thin. A toilet paper roll isn’t that sturdy and if you use too much paint, it won’t stand straight up after it dries.
Cut a feather-shaped stencil from the white card stock.
Cut a strip of each of the other pieces of colored card stock.
Use the white card stock stencil to cut out feathers. You’ll want four colored feathers per toilet paper roll turkey.
Glue the feathers on the back of the toilet paper roll and let the turkey dry completely.
Cut out the turkey’s face.
Cut two circles from the white card stock. Draw two small black circles (one in each eye) for pupils.
Cut an acorn shape from the piece of mustard card stock for the beak.
Finally, cut a teardrop shape from the piece of red card stock for the wattle (that’s the red thing under the turkey’s neck … just a little Thanksgiving trivia for you).
Glue the turkey’s face on to the front of the turkey.
Let it dry completely and then you can display your DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey wherever you want.
Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys Place Settings:
If you want to make these functional instead of decorative, you can easily do that.
Take some white card stock and cut a scroll banner out of it. Then, write each person’s name on it. Glue that on the turkey, near the bottom.
Then, set each personalized turkey craft in front of each person’s table setting at the dinner table.
Make A Thankful Turkey:
On Thanksgiving, we all try to take time to give thanks for what we’re grateful for. You can incorporate that into this turkey craft.
Before gluing the leaves down, write down something you are thankful for on each leaf. Be sure to really reflect on these, and, if you’re making these with kids, really have them think about what they’re thankful for.
Then, glue the leaves to the turkey and follow the rest of the craft as is.
Here’s a fun twist on that.
Instead of just having your kids write what they’re thankful for, combine this thankful turkey with the personalized turkey from above. Make a scroll with each person’s name on it. Then, ask your kids to write things they are thankful for — specifically about that person — and have them glue the feathers to each personalized turkey.
Your Thanksgiving dinner guests will absolutely love it, and this turkey craft is definitely something they’ll cherish for years to come.
DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft: Frequently Asked Questions
I love crafting with empty toilet paper rolls because they’re free. I mean, yes, you have to buy the toilet paper to begin with, but the core is just trash usually. So you might as well turn that trash into something crafty.
If you don’t save your toilet paper roll cores (like I do), you can use either a toilet paper roll core or you can actually order craft rolls online.
If you don’t feel like cutting the eyes out of card stock, you can use googly eyes instead.
If you don’t want to use the card stock feathers to turn this into a thankful turkey, like mentioned above, you don’t actually have to make the feathers out of card stock.
Instead, you can purchase craft feathers online. Tape those to the painted toilet paper rolls instead (that’s going to be easier than trying to glue them on).
Another alternative is to take a small, round, paper plate and cut it in half. Let your kids color all over the back of it. If they’re a little older are are good with glue, you can cut out pieces of colored card stock or tissue paper and have them glue that to the paper plate.
Then, when the plate is completely decorated, glue the toilet paper roll turkey to the center of it, making sure the flat end of the paper plate is flush with the bottom of the toilet paper roll.
Purchase a turkey craft kit online:
If you like this turkey toilet paper roll craft, but you don’t want to purchase all the materials to make it, a turkey craft kit is a better option for you.
We found a few really cute turkey craft kits online. Check them out below.
- DIY Angry Turkey Craft Kit (pictured above)
- Make-A-Turkey Stickers Thanksgiving Party Favors
- Turkey Thanksgiving Party Craft Kit
- “I Am Thankful For” Thanksgiving Turkey Craft Kit
- Turkey Coaster DIY Craft Kit
More Thanksgiving Crafts:
If you’re looking for Thanksgiving craft ideas, you might want to check out our Free Printable Turkey Thanksgiving Place Cards too.
DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
Turn toilet paper rolls and card stock into a DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey craft for Thanksgiving. Find out how to make Thankful Turkeys too!
Materials
- Brown paint
- Paint brush
- Toilet paper rolls or craft rolls
- White card stock
- Yellow card stock
- Orange card stock
- Green card stock
- Mustard card stock
- Red card stock
- Glue
- Black marker
Tools
- Scissors
- Paint brush
Instructions
Paint the toilet paper rolls brown.- Cut a feather-shaped stencil from the white card stock. Cut a strip of each of the other pieces of colored card stock. Use the white card stock stencil to cut out feathers. You’ll want four colored feathers per toilet paper roll turkey.
- Glue the feathers on the back of the toilet paper roll and let the turkey dry completely.
- Cut out the turkey’s face. Cut two circles from the white card stock. Draw two small black circles (one in each eye) for pupils. Cut an acorn shape from the piece of mustard card stock for the beak. Finally, cut a teardrop shape from the piece of red card stock for the wattle.
- Glue the turkey’s face on to the front of the turkey.
Have you made this DIY Toilet Paper Roll Turkey Craft? Let us know how it went in the comments.
Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers
Thursday 9th of November 2023
Your toilet paper roll turkeys are adorable!
Jennifer Wise
Saturday 4th of November 2023
These are super cute! I love the idea of writing what you're thankful for on the feathers, too.
Julie
Saturday 7th of November 2020
So cute! I love a good upcycle.
Jed Jurchenko
Friday 6th of November 2020
Cute and creative. And they look easy too. My kiddos will love these.
Anita holland
Thursday 28th of November 2019
This is so cute, thanks for sharing