One of the best turkey art project for kids that has stood the test of time is the handprint turkey. We are adding a handprint turkey variation that adds a painted footprint too. This handprint turkey art is great for kids of all ages at home or in the classroom. Let’s make handprint and footprint turkey art with kids!

Footprint and handprint turkey art
Make footprint and handprint turkey art with the kids this Thanksgiving.

Turkey Art Becomes Thanksgiving keepsake

Footprint and handprint turkey art is such a fun project to do for Thanksgiving. Stamp your turkey’s on paper, aprons, placemats, and cards, and so much more.

Handprint and footprint art is a great way to measure kids growth year after year. It’s such a fun project to do with kids every fall and Thanksgiving too.

Handprint turkey art Project for Kids

This turkey art project doesn’t require a ton of materials. Some of them you probably already have at home, others you can probably find very cheaply at dollar stores.

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Supplies needed to make handprint turkey art with kids - Assorted colors of paint with paintbrushes and a marker to make handprint turkeys.
You will need paint, paintbrushes, and a marker to make turkey art.

Supplies need to make footprint and handprint turkey art

Instructions for making a handprint turkey

Step 1 - How to make a handprint turkey with kids - A painted hand being pressed down on paper to make a handprint turkey.
Paint a child’s hand with various colors to make turkey feathers and a body.

Step 1

Holding the child’s hand flat, paint each of their fingers with a different color to represent the turkey’s feathers. Paint the palm of their hand brown for the turkey’s body. We painted our hands like this:

  • Thumb and palm = brown paint
  • Index finger = yellow paint
  • Middle finger = orange paint
  • Ring finger = pink paint
  • Pinky finger = red paint
How to get a good painted handprint from child - handprint turkey art handprint shown with palm and thumb colored brown and each finger a different color - yellow, orange, pink and red
Remove your painted hand from the paper to reveal a handprint turkey.

How to Get a Good Painted Handprint from Child:

  1. Ask the child to stretch their hand out as wide as possible and quickly press their hand onto the surface you are painting.
  2. Gently press each finger down one at a time but avoid rolling them, or you will not see the true shape of their adorable fingers.
Step 3 - Handprint turkey for kids
Handprint turkey art for Thanksgiving

Step 2

Use paint and a marker to add the beak, eyes, legs, and wattle and any other turkey details you want to add!

Turkey footprint and handprint art Variation

Creating turkey art is not only fun, but it allows you to spend time together as a family over a holiday that is all about family and being thankful. In this next version of handprint turkey art, we are adding a footprint too!

Step 1 - Handprint Turkey art with footprint - Make colorful handprint feathers by painting a child's hand in different colors.
Paint your child’s hand in different colors to make feathers.

Instructions for making a footprint turkey

Step 1

Holding the child’s hand flat, paint their entire hand one color to represent the feathers. Press their hand onto the paper, gently pressing each finger and part of the hand down. Repeat this process three more times using different colors to make a fan of feathers. Make sure they wash their hand between each color and dry it thoroughly.

Step 3 - Handprint turkey art with foodprint finsihed
Turkey footprint and handprint art for kids.

Step 2

Have them sit down in a chair while you paint their foot with brown paint. You might have to hold it steady because they could get very ticklish. Press their foot onto the surface overlapping the feathers a little. Again, gently press each toe and each part of the foot down.

Step 3

Use paint with a paintbrush and a permanent marker to add the beak, eyes, and wattle to your footprint turkey.

Yield: 1

Footprint and Handprint Turkey Art

footprint and handprint turkey art

Let's make footprint and handprint turkey art with the kids for Thanksgiving.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $10

Materials

  • All-purpose acrylic craft paint in various colors (we used brown, yellow, orange, coral, and red)
  • Fabric paint (optional) - if you are doing this project on fabric
  • Permanent marker
  • Item to paint - paper, canvas, apron, napkin, table runner, placemat, t-shirt

Tools

  • Paintbrushes or sponge brushes

Instructions

  1. Paint your child's hand or foot to make a handprint turkey or footprint turkey.
  2. Place the painted hand or foot down onto the surface you are painting, gently pressing each of the toes and parts of the hand or foot onto the paper.
  3. Use a paintbrush with paint and a permanent marker to add additional features to your turkey such as eyes, wattle, beak, and legs.

More turkey Crafts from Kids Activities Blog

Have you made turkey footprint or handprint art with your kids?



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  2. This is a keepsake craft for sure. Love love love this one at our house (the basic hand turkey). It also measures a child’s maturity as she gets better and better at decorating the turkey. 🙂 Awesome post, thanks.

  3. Cute! We did painted hand print turkeys last year, but didn’t make the feathers different colors… We will have to try that this year!