Adorable DIY Recycled Book and Magazine Turkey for Thanksgiving

Alyssa loves celebrating holidays and making fun crafts. She is a wife and mom who drinks a lot of coffee!

Book Turkey

On a visit to the local library last week, I noticed what appeared to be a turkey origami project. The librarians explained that a lady had created the art piece out of an old book. It was really neat, and I went home with thoughts of how I could create something similar for my November decor. I decided to use an old book, some magazines, and cardboard to create a recycled book and magazine turkey.

This is a fun and unique craft, but it does take a little time to assemble. Gather up the kids, put on some music, and have an enjoyable crafting afternoon. This turkey is perfect as a table centerpiece or as an addition to your holiday decor.

Materials Needed

• An old, hardback book
• Magazines
• Cardboard
• Construction paper
• A utility knife
• Glue
• Tape
• A pencil and markers
• A ruler
• Newspaper
• Scissors

Step 1

• Get your workspace ready by laying a piece of cardboard down on a flat surface. Put a page of newspaper over the top.

Steps 2 and 3

• Open your book. Using your ruler, measure the length of the pages. Make a mark at the halfway point.
• Draw a line across the width of the page marking your halfway point.

Steps 4 and 5

• Using your utility knife, carefully begin cutting the pages in half. You will be cutting through all of the pages of the book. Either cut or rip the bottom half of the pages out of the book. This is best done a little at a time. I used the ruler as a guide for my first set of cuts. After that, I used the bulk of the cut pages on the top as a guide for cutting the remaining pages in the book.
• Set the extra pages aside. Save them for another papercraft.

Steps 6 and 7

• Remove the cardboard from under your newspaper. Set aside.
• Lay your book flat, cut side away from you. It should be open in the middle.

Step 8

Begin folding the right-side pages. You will take the corner of the page and fold it up and into the center, creating a triangle. Repeat this fold for each page on the right side.

Step 9 and 10

• You will repeat this on the left side. Fold the corner of each page up and into the center, creating a triangle.
• This is the body for your turkey.

Step 11

• Take the piece of cardboard and draw a turkey head and neck. Cut it out.

Step 12

• Cut out a beak from orange construction paper, or color the beak on the cardboard orange. Remember to do this on both sides of the cardboard.

Step 13

• Cut out two waddles from a piece of red construction paper and glue them onto both sides of the turkey. Draw eyes on both sides.

Step 14

• Find the middle of your book. Place your turkey head in between the two pages in the middle. Glue or tape the turkey's head in place.

Step 15

• Fold the pages into cone shapes and secure with tape.

Step 16

• Glue or tape your cone shapes onto the blank spot of your book to create feathers.

Step 17

• You will want to glue or tape your "feathers" together and also to the body of the turkey.
• Attach as many "feathers" as you would like.

Step 18

• Your turkey is complete!
• Place your turkey anywhere in your home to add to your Thanksgiving decor, or place it on your table as a fun and unique centerpiece.

© 2016 Alyssa

Comments

Bonnie on November 09, 2018:

It was so fun for all ages

Alyssa (author) from Ohio on April 17, 2017:

Thank you for the kind words. :)

Ashi on April 17, 2017:

@Alyssa,

oh my god, this is so nicely done. I just loved this idea of yours. I never thought that we can utilise old books or magazines in such a best way. You so creative Alyssa :)

Excellent work.