Looking for a fun addition to the kids table at your Thanksgiving feast? Make this paper bag turkey craft!
Using just paper lunch bags or grocery bags, you can create this centerpiece that will thrill all the littlest guests. Stuff it with popcorn, to double as a kid-friendly Thanksgiving appetizer, or confetti for some added festive excitement! Keep reading for the simple paper bag turkey tutorial.
Supplies Needed for a Paper Bag Turkey
You only need a few simple supplies to make this turkey craft:
- 1 Grocery Bag + 2 Paper Lunch Bags OR 1 Paper Lunch Bag + 2 Smaller treat bags (Either option will work, depending on the size you’d like!)
- “Stuffing” for your paper bag turkey, like confetti or popcorn
- Tissue Paper
- Scissors
- Hot Glue and/or Glue Dots
How To Make the Paper Bag Turkey Craft
Here’s the easy tutorial for making this show-stopping turkey centerpiece:
1. To start, open up one lunch bag (or grocery bag if making a larger version). You’ll want to squash down the corners of the bag, and can do so by putting one hand inside the bag and pressing the other (on the outside) against it.
2. Then, fill your bag up with confetti! (LOTS of confetti.)
3. Roll under the opening of your stuffed lunch bag and carefully fold in the bottom-sides, forming an angle on each side of the rolled edge. Now, set that aside while you work on your turkey legs.
4. For the legs, use the same method to squash down both corners of each treat bag. Fill the legs, if desired, with confetti! Then twist the bottom portion closed.
5. Take a 2-3″ strip tissue paper and cut fringe on one side of it.
6. Adhere one end of the tissue paper strip to the twisted part of your turkey leg with hot glue or a glue dot, then wrap it round and round before finally securing it with another glue dot.
7. Complete your paper bag turkey craft by hot gluing the sides together, or doing so with glue dots. Each leg should fit right along the angled edge of your stuffed lunch bag.
BAM! That turkey is stuffed and ready to go! Set it up in the center of the kids table and wait for the ooohs and aahhhs!
Displaying Your Paper Bag Turkey at the Kids Table
Place your paper bag turkey on a platter in the center of the kids table, just like you would with a real turkey on Thanksgiving!
Confetti Popper Turkey Legs
If you’d like, make some extra turkey legs and set them at each place setting at the kids table for even more festive Thanksgiving fun!
More Thanksgiving Crafts
Make your Thanksgiving even more exciting with these fun crafts, too!
Step by Step Photos by Studio DIY, All Other Photos by Mary Costa Photography
This paper bag turkey craft is sure to be the hit of your Thanksgiving celebration!
For more Thanksgiving DIYs, head on over here!
Paper Bag Turkey Craft
Materials
- 1 paper lunch bag use a grocery bag for a larger version!
- 2 paper treat bags use lunch bags for a larger version!
- tissue paper
- hot glue or glue dots
- scissors
- "Stuffing" of choice – confetti or popcorn
Instructions
- Open up your lunch bag. You’ll want to squash down the corners of the bag, and can do so by putting one hand inside the bag and pressing the other (on the outside) against it.
- Then, fill your bag up with "stuffing" of choice.
- Roll under the opening of your stuffed lunch bag and carefully fold in the bottom-sides, forming an angle on each side of the rolled edge.
- Set that aside while you work on your turkey legs. For those, use the same method to squash down both corners of each treat bag.
- Fill the legs up with confetti or popcorn as well! Then twist the bottom portion closed.
- Take a 2-3″ strip tissue paper and cut fringe on one side of it. Adhere one end to the twisted part of your turkey leg, than wrap it round and round before finally securing it with another glue dot.
- Hot glue a leg to each side of the stuffed lunch bag. Each leg should fit right along the angled edge you created.
Notes
- Make a larger version of this by using a grocery bag in place of the lunch bag, and lunch bags in place of the smaller treat bags!
- If you cannot find treat bags, you can use lunch bags cut to a shorter length for the legs.
- Use brown paper bags for a traditional turkey look and white bags for a more modern version!
Brittni says
Oh my gosh. I love this. And those last few photos of you are so awesome.
Kari says
Love this idea! So fun and bright! A really fun spin on a traditional holiday:)
Charmaine (The Party DIY) says
How cute is this diy
Terrie says
What a fun turkey!! The last time my boyfriend and I didn’t spend Thanksgiving with family, we made Cornish hens for ourselves…much easier than making a turkey =)
Mary Costa Photography says
Awwww you’re the cutest! Thank you for embracing my favorite holiday!! xoxo (P.S. Even if you weren’t doing TGives DIYs I’d never leave haha but I’m so glad you are!!)
Aimee @ Irresistible Pets says
This is so fun!!!
Victoria | Oh So Pretty says
Kelly – you’re seriously AMAZING! Confetti stuffed turkey?! What?! Too much.. I’m definitely doing this for Thanksgiving!!
Happy weekend!!
Stacia says
Sometimes a failed recipe can make for a better memory than a recipe that goes as planned. 🙂
Clare says
Simply amazing!