Looking for a last-minute easy turkey craft this Thanksgiving? This adorable turkey leaf crayon rubbing craft is simple to make and a fun and festive way to get creative with fall leaves. The best part is that you won’t need anything besides a few basic supplies you already have! So grab ALL the leaves (but really you need one good one), construction paper, and a handful of crayons. I promise this nature-inspired turkey craft will be on repeat for many years to come!
RELATED: Our Watercolor Turkey Place Settings is such a festive and colorful craft for toddlers and preschoolers!
Nature inspires creativity.
Fall leaves are one of our absolute favorite art supplies. Best of all — they’re FREE! Last weekend, my kids came barrelling into the house with a crazy amount of fall leaves. At first, I cringed at the thought of finding dried-up leaves in every corner of my house for the next month.
But the truth is, nature can be your little artist’s greatest inspiration! And what better way to get crafty and creative than by using nature itself? As I shifted my mindset from being annoyed by all the indoor eaves to the idea of creating nature-inspired art….the turkey leaf crayon rubbing craft was born!
What is crayon rubbing?
Crayon rubbing is a simple technique that involves using crayons to expose different textures. One of the best textures for crayon rubbing is leaves! Crayon rubbing can help to teach kids so much about what is inside (or underneath) the layers of the leaves.
For little ones, crayon rubbing is magical. Watching your little one’s face as they expose the details of a leaf is a wonder in and of itself. So why not use those leaf outlines to create something new? And really, leaves make the BEST turkey body!
RELATED: Mystery leaf rubbings is a wonderful hands-on activity to develop exploration, creativity, and sensory awareness!
Crayons are the best for little artists!
The ultimate go-to medium for budding artists is crayons. Crayons offer so many benefits aside from just coloring. Forget dried-up markers, missing caps, messy paint, or pointy colored pencils. Crayons are a no-fuss, safe, and mess-free art option for toddlers and preschoolers.
You can never go wrong with a box of classic crayons to inspire creativity. For crayon rubbing crafts, remove the wrapper so your child can use the side of the crayon for best texture results.
PRO TIP: our favorite crayon rubbing crayons are made at home!
DIY Crayons are the best!
- Easy to make
- Every crayon is unique
- Fun to use and hold
- Great for little hands to develop early grasping
- Thrifty way to reuse all those broken crayons
RELATED: This Paper Bag Turkey craft is another thrifty way to use what you have to create seasonal art!
Supplies
You will need very minimal art supplies to make turkey leaf crayon rubbings. Send your kids outside to grab a handful of leaves, open your junk drawer, or even better – your DIY Art Cart, for a few basic supplies, and you’re ready to go!
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Crayola Washable Crayons
This classic set of washable crayons will leave your preschooler with endless options for creating so many sweet art projects.
Crayola Construction Paper
This is the BEST colorful pack of construction paper that is always a staple in our home.
Notes:
- We used white cardstock for the base. It made for a solid base for the leaf crayon rubbing. It’s definitely not necessary, but if you have some on hand, cardstock is a great option that will withstand toddler crayon rubbing techniques. IYKYK!
- For the turkey eyes, we used googly eyes. But again, if you don’t have any, opt for a black crayon or construction cutouts.
Set up turkey leaf crayon rubbing craft
Setting up this fall-themed Thanksgiving craft is super easy! Follow these simple steps below.
- Cut white construction paper (or cardstock) into small squares
- Place leaf under white paper (painter’s tape is helpful to keep the paper still)
- Rub the edge of one or more crayons over the paper to expose the textured leaf
- Cut out turkey features from construction paper (gobbler, nose, eyes)
- Glue turkey features (get creative with googly eyes, beads, whatever you have on hand!)
- Write friends and family member’s names if using as place cards
The cutest place settings or decor!
Use your child’s turkey leaf crayon rubbings as last-minute place settings for your Thanksgiving table! And if not for your dinner guests, display these cute little turkeys as festive decor this Thanksgiving.
Forget about going out and spending money on fancy place cards or decorations. The most simple, one-of-a-kind handmade crafts are always much more special! Your kids will feel so proud.
Seasonal Activity Cards
No more searching for ideas. Here’s exactly what you need to celebrate fall, Halloween, winter, and Noon Year’s Eve.
You will ADORE these 20 all-new ideas.
FAQs for turkey leaf crayon rubbing craft
Crayon rubbing is a simple art technique that exposes different textures. Kids will develop fine motor and creative skills as they uncover new findings. For young children, the results will seem magical.
We LOVE using DIY crayons for crayon rubbing crafts because they are fun and easy to hold for little hands.
I like to include construction paper, googly eyes, pom poms, feathers, pipe cleaners, crayons, sequences, gems, and tissue paper to give my turkey crafts character.
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