Adorable DIY Recycled Book and Magazine Turkey for Thanksgiving

Updated on November 16, 2016
Alyssa Nichol profile image
Alyssa
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Alyssa loves holidays and enjoys making fun crafts. She is a wife, a mom, and drinks a lot of coffee!

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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.
Materials needed.

Materials Needed:

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

Step 2 - Use Your Ruler

Measure your book and mark the halfway point.
Measure your book and mark the halfway point.

Steps 1 - 3 Get Your Work Space Ready and Mark Your Book

  1. Lay a piece of cardboard down on a flat surface. Put a page of newspaper over top.
  2. Open your book. Using your ruler, measure the length of the pages.
    Make a mark at the halfway point.
  3. Draw a line across the width of the page marking your halfway point.

Step 4 - Cut the Pages in Half

Using your utility knife, cut the pages in half.
Using your utility knife, cut the pages in half.

Step 4 and 5 - Cut or Rip Half the Pages out of the Book

Cut or rip out half of the pages. Lay the book flat with the cut side away from you.
Cut or rip out half of the pages. Lay the book flat with the cut side away from you.

Steps 4 and 5 - Begin Cutting

4. 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 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.

5. Set the extra pages aside. Save them for another paper craft.

Steps 6 - 10 - Folding the Pages

6. Remove the cardboard from under your newspaper. Set aside.

7. Lay your book flat, cut side away from you. It should be open in the middle.

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

9. You will repeat this on the left side. Fold the corner of each page up and into the center, creating a triangle.

10. This is the body for your turkey.

Step 8 - Fold Each Page on the Right Side into a Triangle

Beginning on the right side, fold each page corner up and in to the center, creating a triangle.
Beginning on the right side, fold each page corner up and in to the center, creating a triangle.
Continue folding the entire right side of the book, page by page.
Continue folding the entire right side of the book, page by page.
Halfway done.
Halfway done.

Steps 9 and 10 - Fold each page on the left side into a triangle.

Fold the left side. Take the corner of each page and fold it up and in to create a triangle.
Fold the left side. Take the corner of each page and fold it up and in to create a triangle.
All folded.
All folded.

Steps 11 - 14 - Create a Head and Neck for Your Turkey

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

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

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.

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 11 - 14 - Make Your Turkey's Head

Cut a turkey head and neck out of cardboard.
Cut a turkey head and neck out of cardboard.
Decorate your turkey with a waddle, eyes, and a beak.
Decorate your turkey with a waddle, eyes, and a beak.
Attach your turkey head in between two pages, in the middle of your book.
Attach your turkey head in between two pages, in the middle of your book.

Steps 16 - 19 - Create Feathers

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

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

18. You will want to glue or tape your "feathers" together and also to the body of the turkey.

19. Attach as many "feathers" as you would like.

Step 16 and 17 - Roll Magazine Pages into Cone Shapes and Secure onto Book

Make cone shapes out of magazine pages.
Make cone shapes out of magazine pages.
Attach them to the blank space in your book to create turkey feathers.
Attach them to the blank space in your book to create turkey feathers.

Step 20 - Your Turkey Is Complete!

20. 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.

Step 20 - Completed Turkey

Display your turkey. I've used mine as a table centerpiece.
Display your turkey. I've used mine as a table centerpiece.

Questions & Answers

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      • Alyssa Nichol profile image
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        Alyssa 12 months ago from Ohio

        Thank you for the kind words. :)

      • Ashish Dadgaa profile image

        Ashi 12 months ago

        @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.

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