Turkey Leaf Luminaries

NOVEMBER 21st, 2023

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's the perfect time to add a warm and festive glow to your holiday celebrations. These luminaries will make a beautiful centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinner and provide a wonderful opportunity for bonding and creativity during the holiday season. This craft is the perfect opportunity to share creativity with the whole family. Grab your daughter, gather your supplies, and get crafting!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Smooth-surfaced jar (We used a mason jar.)
• Mod Podge
• Tissue paper brown or burgundy, and orange
• 2 googly eyes
• Sponge brush
• Leaf
• Heavy books
• Pencil
• Scissors

How To Make Your Turkey Leaf Luminaries:

Step 1: Start by searching for the perfect fall leaf outside.

Step 2: Place your leaf in a paper towel and press the leaf flat under some heavy books for several hours.

Step 3: Start to prep your tissue paper. Cut 2-inch wide strips of white tissue paper.

Step 4: Draw a small triangle beak on the orange tissue paper and cut it out.

Step 5: Draw a turkey wattle (that fleshy thing that hangs from a turkey’s chin) on the red tissue paper and cut it out.

Step 6: Draw or trace two circles on burgundy or brown tissue paper for the head and body of the turkey. Make sure one is bigger than the other. (We traced measuring spoons to help size the circles.) Then, cut them out.

Step 7: Use a sponge brush to cover the jar with Mod Podge.

Step 8: Take your white tissue paper strips, place them over the Mod Podge, and wrap the strips around the bottom. Use Mod Podge and brush to secure any loose pieces.

Step 9: Paint Modge Podge over the tissue paper to seal it to the jar.

Step 10: Use the Mod Podge to place your pressed fall leaf onto the jar. Be sure to cut the stem off first! The leaf will act as the turkey’s feathers.