Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Craft Project

This craft project is a fun and easy basket that kids can make from scratch. The project includes weaving the basket as well as decorating it with Thanksgiving touches. Fun additions of cutouts make it look like a Turkey. Fill it with apples and nuts for a fun display for edible fall treats. This craft project makes a great centerpiece or addition to the coffee table.

To Make a Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Craft Project You Will Need:

Brown Paper Grocery Bag
Three inches wide raffia or paper ribbon
Scissors
Hot Glue
Constructing Paper
Markers or Crayons

Start this project by opening up your paper bag. Cut off the top of the bag evenly all the way around. You should aim to make the bag about 9 inches tall. This is the perfect height to make a basket out of three inch ribbon.

Now, cut your three inch wide raffia in pieces long enough to wrap around the bag. You can do this as you go along the craft project all at one.

Apply the first piece of 3 inch raffia ribbon to the basket shape by gluing it inside of the paper bag and wrapping it around the topside, under the bag, up around the other side and into he bag. Glue this end down inside the bag as well. Cover the entire outside of the bag in these vertical strips of raffia ribbon. Leave a very small space between each ribbon.

Now, start inserting your three inch wide raffia ribbon horizontally through the secured ribbons. Glue the start of the piece of ribbon down with a hot glue gun. Weave the ribbon in and out until you have circle the entire basket form. Work your way form top to bottom doing this.

Now cut a handle for your basket out of the raffia ribbon. Insert it into the basket on the shorter sides and glue it into place with your hot glue gun. Run It over the basket like a handle and glue it in the opposite side evenly across.

Now, you can have the kids cut out their turkey embellishments. Cut a turkey head out of brown construction paper. I find that a simple bowling pin shape is perfect for a turkey head. Glue on eyes cut out of construction paper or draw them on with a marker. For the tail cut out feathers out of colorful sheets of construction paper. Glue the turkey head on one end of the handle wear it attached to the body of the basket. Attach the tail feathers to the back side where the hade meets the basket.

Feet can also be cut out and glued to the basket. Have them stick out from underneath the sides. This will look really cute!

The kids can also glue on wings to the side of their woven basket as well.

You can fill this turkey basket with apples, candy, and almost anything you want.

Tip: Because the handles of this basket are more for show, do not try to carry anything in the basket with this handle. Pick the Turkey basket up and carry it supporting it underneath with your hands.

To make a more sturdy basket use a cardboard box for the base. A wooden craft box would also be a great option. You can use a piece of rope or twine for the handle.

You can also use a pre made basket to complete this craft project. Simply add your own turkey head and tails. This will give you a sturdy form if you think you will be moving it around a lot. This also might be a better option for smaller kid who could not complete the basket weaving part of this project.