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THANKSGIVING · MAKE SOMETHING WORTH REMEMBERING

Paper-fan turkey place cards

Fold cheerful turkey tails and tuck a place card in front for a Thanksgiving table decoration guests can take home.

30 min hands-on1–6 makersAges 6+ with folding helpEasy4 illustrated steps ↓

Make one folded sample first. Allow 10–15 minutes for the turkey-to-card join to set before display.

Two orange accordion-fan paper turkeys standing behind small cream name cards on a Thanksgiving table.
One way your finished project could look.

A LITTLE INSPIRATION

See it. Make it.
Make it yours.

Start with this finished example, then follow the four illustrated steps below. Choose the colors and details that feel like you.

Gather your supplies ↓Follow the steps ↓

Project and step images are AI-generated illustrations. About our images

Let’s make it.

  1. Orange rectangle partly folded into even accordion pleats.

    Step 1

    For each turkey, cut an orange-paper rectangle about 12 × 4 inches. Starting at a short edge, fold it back and forth in half-inch accordion folds, pressing each crease firmly.

  2. Orange accordion tail opened into a broad fan with its lower end taped together.

    Step 2

    Gather and tape together one end of the folded stack. Gently spread the other end into a broad fan. Add a small piece of tape behind the fan if needed to hold its shape.

  3. Simple brown paper turkey body with drawn eyes, yellow beak and red wattle glued over the gathered fan end.

    Step 3

    Cut a brown body shaped like a simple rounded number eight, a small mustard triangle for a beak and a red paper wattle. Glue the face pieces onto the body, draw two eyes, and glue the body over the gathered end of the fan.

  4. Paper turkey attached behind a folded cream name tent so its orange tail rises above the card.

    Step 4

    Cut a cream-cardstock rectangle about 4 × 3 inches and fold it in half to make a name tent. Write a guest's name on the front, then glue the turkey to the back so its tail rises above the name. Let it set before standing it at a place setting.

A little help: Keep small paper scraps away from toddlers. These decorations belong beside plates, with enough space from food and drinks to stay dry.

KEEP THE GOOD TIME GOING

What shall we try next?

MAKE IT · Thanksgiving and autumn

Family thankful table runner

Build a warm Thanksgiving centerpiece from kraft paper and colorful gratitude leaves that everyone can help make.

35 min hands-on · 2–10 makers
Ages 5+; younger children can dictate or draw

Supplies & steps ↗

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