This fun and easy turkey craft toilet roll turkey is made with a cardboard roll, paint chip samples and tissue paper. It’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to make as a Thanksgiving table topper for your holiday dinner table.
It might seem a bit early to be sharing Thanksgiving crafts, but in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving more than a month before they do in the U.S., so my American friends and followers might just want to pin this idea for next month.
Related: Older kids will love our Cardboard Roll and Paper Plate Gratitude Turkeys Craft.
P.S. You can see all of our turkey crafts here, and tons of cardboard roll crafts here.
To make fun and easy turkey craft, you’ll need:
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Supplies:
- toilet roll tube (or carboard from a tube of paper towel or wrapping paper)
- red crepe paper
 or tissue paper - googly eyes
- paint chip samples
- brown paint
- glue
- stapler
 or 
Ok, forgive me for the lack of children in the photos today.
We got started crafting in the basement, and it occurred to me, when the 1 and 4-year-old were well and truly into the paint and glue, that I had left my camera upstairs; so just pretend that this post is full of adorable hooligans crafting happily.
Making your toilet roll turkey
Cut your cardboard roll to the size that you want it. Â We took our toilet rolls down to about 3 inches.
Paint the toilet roll brown. Â Not necessary of course because toilet rolls are already a greyish-brown which is a very turkey-appropriate colour, but painting makes every project more fun, so why not?
While your paint dries, cut a few paint chip samples into “feathers” (I just cut narrow ovals with pointy ends).
When your paint is dry (a blast from a hairdryer helps speed that process up), Â help your child staple the feathers to the back of the cardboard tube. Â The hooligans LOVE the stapler, but going through this many layers required some extra muscle, so I placed my hand on the stapler along with both of theirs and we worked together to secure everything in place.
Lastly glue on your turkey’s eyes and beak (cut from a yellow paint chip sample) and a bit of crumpled, red tissue paper “wattle” under the turkey’s beak.
Note:Â For the record a turkey does NOT have a red comb on top of its head like ours do in the photos. Â For some reason, I thought they did, but when I googled an image of a real turkey, to show the hooligans, after we’d made our craft, I discovered I was wrong.
Oopsy!
More Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids:
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
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Jessica L.
Cute! So, do you think the paint department guys are catching on to the use of paint chips for crafts? I was at Lowes yesterday picking out paint chips, and I tend to be very indecisive, so I was grabbing a ton. The man in the paint department walked up to me and instead of saying “may I help you?” he said “what are you doing?” I explained I was going to be picking out paint colors, but I have a hard time deciding. I mean, what else could I possibly be doing with all of those paint chips? 😉 I really am choosing paint colors. But I’ll happily hang onto them for other uses, once my decision is made. 🙂
happyhooligans
Haha! Maybe, Jessica. That’s why I just ask if they have any swatches that they’d be willing to part with for our crafting purposes. There are colours that aren’t popular for room painting, but are great for crafting with – think bright blues, reds, greens, oranges etc.
Enter the Greenhouse
I love the honesty and humour you add to your posts!
happyhooligans
Well, thank you!
Natasha
I love your crafts! Any ideas for those paint sticks from paint department?
happyhooligans
We’ve never actually used them for crafting, Natasha. Good idea though! I’m sure if you google “paint stick crafts” you’ll probably find lots of ideas.
elizabeth
jus love the u love ur kids..the hooligans ..i jus love the name..hahah..and off course the craft ideas u share with us…love u…god blessss u…alwasy looking forward to ur posts…keep up d gud wrk…..love to see ideas about classroom decors from u ..i handle grade 1…
Chelsey @ Buggy and Buddy
As usual you’ve come up with just the cutest craft ever! In love with these turkeys!! Thanks so much for linking up to Discover & Explore!
crayonboxchronicles
Just too cute for words! I love your obsession with owls and toilet paper tubes. So many crafty ideas you share. Thank you for sharing on our Facebook page. Pinned!
Rebecca
I love the paint chips! I have featured this on The Sunday Showcase as well!
bettycupcakes
Paint chips are such a fun, free craft product- yay for Home Depot! hanks for sharing at the Foodies and Crafties Soiree!
Kallee Anne
You are one of my feature picks from the Foodies & Crafties Soiree at http://www.creativesouthernhome.com. Love the use of paint chips!
happyhooligans
Thank you, Kailee Anne!! I’m so glad you liked them! Happy Thanksgiving!
Gosia
How fun, love it! pining to my Thanksgiving crafts:)
Thanks for sharing at Foodies & Crafties Soirée!
Gosia | Kiddie Foodies
Kerry
made these but used fallen leaves instead of paint chips. thanks for the great idea.