by Barb Hopkins

Created on: September 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving turkey crafts made from a child's handprint is a great way to create a special keepsake for parents, family or friends. These children's crafts are fun, easy and even use recycled materials. In addition, creating replicas of the same handprint craft each year is a great way to keep a record of your child's growth. Children as young as two years old can create the following handprint Thanksgiving turkey crafts with an adult's assistance. These are also crafts older children will enjoy as they allow for many levels of creativity and personal touches.

* Tom Turkey Table Topper

Materials needed include one toilet paper roll per child, brown construction paper, white construction paper, child-safety scissors, craft glue, hot glue, googly eyes, crayons or washable markers and multi-colored craft feathers. Optional materials include scraps of red, orange and yellow construction paper.

The first step to create Tom Turkey is to trace both the child's hands onto white construction paper. Construction paper is needed for this, as it is heavier than computer or typing paper. The handprints will eventually become the turkey's feathers. Kids that are able can cut out their own handprints. Be prepared for at least one handprint finger to be cut off. It happens, just retrace another handprint and try again. Set the white paper handprints to the side.

Next, wrap the toilet paper roll in brown construction paper. This is the turkey's body. You can staple or glue the paper onto the body. The side without the paper seam should become the front. Have your children glue on a set of googly eyes. While that glue is drying, return to the handprints.

Allow your children to choose a colored feather for each finger, ten in total. Using craft glue, glue one feather about midway on each finger. Set to the side to allow the glue to dry. Return to the turkey's body.

To create the rest of the Tom Turkey's face, use crayons or washable marker to draw on a beak and the red gobbler. You can also use cut pieces from the scraps of yellow and red paper. If using the scraps, glue the beak and gobbler to the turkey's face with craft glue. When the face is complete, draw and then cut out two turkey feet from the scraps of orange paper. To attach to the bottom of the toilet roll, put a dab of glue on the back end of the foot and press it into the inside of the toilet roll so the feet stick out from the bottom.

Finish Tom Turkey by attaching the two handprints with feathers to the back of

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