This Turkey Napkin Holder is perfect to display on your kitchen table during the Thanksgiving holiday. It is made out of air drying clay and very durable. The kids can really get into this craft project and display their artistic abilities. Be sure to lay out a plastic tarp or plastic tablecloth for the kids to work on. Clay can be a messy art product and kids know just how to get it everywhere!
To Make a Turkey Napkin Holder Craft Project You Will Need:
Poster board or sturdy thick paper
Pencil
Scissors
Air Drying Clay
Butter Knife (Plastic or Metal)
Tooth Picks, pencils, wooden skewers, or clay tools
Rollin pin
Acrylic Paint
Clear Acrylic Spray Paint
To start this craft project first have the kids trace your hand. Yep, your hand not theirs! You need an adult sized hand to hold napkins; kid’s hands are just too small.
Hold you hand flat on the paper and curve your thumb back to create the turkey head. Have the kids trace your hand loosely; they do not need to dip down into every angle copying your hand.
Next, cut the hand shape out with scissors.
Break off a hunk of air drying clay and roll it out to a sheet of clay that is about ¼ inch thick. You can use a rolling pin to do this.
Lay the turkey hand cut out on the clay and trace around it with a toothpick. Repeat this process making two turkey hands. Cut the shape our with a paring knife or plastic butter knife. Next, cut out a rectangle that is as wide as the base as the hand and about 3 inches deep. This will be the base of the napkin hold that allows it to stand up.
The kids can carve details in to the two turkey shapes or even add details making three-dimensional pieces out of left over clay. Feet, eyes, and even a beak are all great additions.
It is a good idea to make sure the turkeys will be facing the same direction when they are standing up, but that is optional. The Thanksgiving turkeys should be able to hold your napkins either way.
Once the turkeys have received all their carving a detail you need to attach them to their base. Score the edge of the base by scratching it with your toothpick. Rub some water over the marks and place the turkey hand upright. Use your finger to shape it into the clay and really connect it. Repeat this process on the other side.
I like to support the Turkey napkin holder while it is drying with a canned good on either side. Wrap your canned food in plastic wrap to keep it clean. You may find that you need to ball up some newspaper and put it in between the two turkeys to keep them sanding up right while they dry.
Once you Thanksgiving inspired napkin holder is dried let the kids paint it any way they want with acrylic paints. They can glue googly eyes on and anything else they desire.
Once the paint has dried take the turkey napkin holder outside and spray it with a thick coat of acrylic spray paint. Let this layer of paint dry and then display it on your kitchen table or counter!
For an added detail to this craft project cut out a piece of felt the same size as the base of the napkin holder. Glue it to the bottom of your napkin holder. This will keep the dried clay from scratching your table. You could also attach those little rubber stoppers meant to hold pictures in place on the wall.
