How to Make a Gourd Turkey Centerpiece for Thanksgiving

At the first Thanksgiving, turkey was actually the side dish, venison was the main dish. With your turkey gourd centerpiece on your table turkey will not take second billing on this Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving table should have a festive centerpiece on it for the family to enjoy. The first thing you need to do is gathering the following supplies:

· A Moderate sized gourd
· Round toothpicks
· A pumpkin
· Red chili pepper
· Orange rind
· Cloves
· Corn husks or tamale wrappers
· Tempera paints
· Pair of red gloves

1. To create the turkey's face, push a few toothpicks halfway into one side of the gourd, and then attach it to the pumpkin by pushing the protruding toothpick ends through the pumpkin shell. Use the same method to attach the chili-pepper wattle.
2. For eyes, use two orange-rind circles. Push a clove through the center of each one and into the gourd.
3. Next, tint the cornhusk feathers by dipping them into diluted tempera paints (2 parts water to 1 part paint) and attach them to the pumpkin with toothpicks.
4. Set the completed pumpkin atop the red gloves so that the fingers resemble turkey feet.

This decoration may take around an hour to make. It is a fun project that the family can do together.