DIY Pumpkin Turkey - Lovensthelife

After the dark creations of Halloween it was time to do something completely opposite and this DIY Pumpkin Turkey was just the project. Welcome to our home, Mr. Pumpkin Turkey.

Similar to most of my projects this started off completely different in my head and morphed into his cute self during the creation process.

(Short YouTube video tutorial here on my Lovensthelife Channel.)

Ok…..Let’s Create!

Supplies List

2 Corrugated Metal Pumpkin Stakes (Dollar Tree)
- You need two because you need a leaf from each as well as the pumpkin from one
MDF board – Any Dollar Tree Sign will do
Paint in Orange, Brown, and Red
Burlap Leaves – from Dollar Tree
- Each comes in a package of about 5
2 Googly Eyes
Hot Glue Gun
Razor Knife
Paint Brush
Sanding Block or Paper
Pencil

Instructions

The Pumpkin Body

I really like these corrugated metal pumpkins and didn’t get to all of the creations I had planned for them this year. I only used this one and one other for my temporary fall floral arrangement you can see here.

First I painted a light coat of orange over the corrugated metal pumpkin. Once that dried I sanded some of it off to give it a worn look.

The Turkey Face

The MDF board that the Dollar Tree uses for all of their signs is an inexpensive way to create easy shapes for projects. It takes some muscle but it can be cut with a razor knife.

The Head

I had a little chick from Easter in my craft stash that was about the right size and shape of the head. You could create the head fairly easily out of a square sign also. Once it was cut out I sanded the edges down smooth and painted it brown. *Note I ended up cutting the chicks feather tufts off before finishing the head.

The Beak and Snood

I had another longer rectangular sign from Easter that I cut the beak and snood from. The snood didn’t turn out at all like I drew it out. The more complex the shape, the more difficult it is to cut with a straight edge. I deemed it good enough though. Once they were cut out I sanded the edges down smooth and painted the beak orange and the snood red.

The Legs and Feet

My initial plan for the legs was to use the wooded ends of a sponge paint brush. I even took the time to paint them a light brown. However, I changed my mind while hunting for this years Thankful Tree branches and decided I wanted to use branches for Mr. Turkey’s legs. For the feet, I used the leaf off of each of the corrugated pumpkin stakes.

I cut my branches to the length I liked with some snips and then hot glued them to the leaves.

The Tail Feathers

Loving the burlap leaves from the Dollar Tree so much and I have used them in several crafts this year. I used one in this Foam Pumpkin Makeover, one for each of my Toilet Paper Pumpkins, and one for the Floating Leaves Pumpkin Cage, I created for my season changeable Lamppost. I really should have bought more. For this project, I used two orange, two dark brown, and one light brown. I removed the hangers and glued them together with hot glue as shown below.

Assembling Mr. Pumpkin Turkey

Next up was assembling Mr. Pumpkin Turkey. I glued together the branches and leaves for his feet and legs first as noted above. Next I glued the head onto the pumpkin body. I then glued the tail feather leaves I had previously glued together to the pumpkin. Then I glued the legs and feet to the pumpkin body. Finally, I added the beak, snood, and some googly eyes.