Crafty Sisters Turkey

 Hello from Crafty Sisters!
We were so glad for this month's Thanksgiving/Turkey theme!
I've had this turkey mostly cut out for about 4 years now, just laying in my shed, begging to be put together.
Isn't he cute!

 About 5 years ago I saw his doppelganger over at my friends house, a purchase from a bazaar some 10 years before, and I knew I needed one too.
This turkey is just shy of 3 feet tall.  The original had boots with socks but I tend to love those silly big feet instead.  Everything is cut from 1" pine except for his hat brim and beak which are 1/4" MDF and the feet are from 2" pine.  I used 5/16" size dowel for the legs because the little 1" balls from Hobby Lobby fit perfect on them for "knees".:)

I cut the back feathers in slimmer pieces because the wood is cheaper that way and I knew the seam would be covered.

After locating all my parts and cutting out new "missing" parts I ran all the edges down my table sander for a fun chunky look.  You can do this with a dremel but it takes way longer.  If you really love woodworking or are ready to get serious about having fun with it I completely recommend getting a table top sander.  They are about $100 but once you figure how much time you waste with little hand held sanders....you'll realize it is the best money you've ever spent!

First you'll need to give everything a good coat of paint.  I always water my paint down so it gives it more of a "stain" appearance then thick goopy paint.  You can always add more layers of paint~it's really hard to take it away.

The body I painted Americana Light Buttermilk.

The back leaves were Americana Napa Red, with a second coat of the Napa Red mixed with a bit of Burnt Umber till I go the effect I liked.

The hat was Ebony Black and the feet were Burnt Orange~which is probably my favorite orange paint color ever!

Using a toothbrush and some watered down black paint, I speckled all the pieces.

The original bird had lots of little leaves for feathers but guess what~due to over commercialization in the market place of Christmas, you can't find any small leaves....anywhere.  The gal at Hobby Lobby suggested I but a $99 swag to rip apart for the leaves.  Yes, fantastic solution was all I could think.  They did have 2 sets of these giant leaves that worked fine.  Yes, I'm a bit sarcastic this morning.....

Once you're paint is dry, go over all the edges with a hand sander to distress them a bit.

I follow the sanding with a bit of watered down Burnt Umber paint on an old wash rag.  Light enough to distress, easy with the rag to control how much goes on.  

Remember.....a little goes a long way.  You want it distressed, not grungy.  If you go grungy~next year you'll want to through that dirty turkey away.

While you wait for the paint to dry get working on the bloomers.
These are what made me fall for this turkey in the first place, they are so fun!
First attach the dowels to the feet~don't connect to the body or else you can't get the bloomers on.
Cut 2 of the same huge rectangles of desired height and width then snip up the middle to create some legs.
I used my glue gun to put these together~no sewing!
 Then with a needle and thread I did a very loose stitch around the waist and legs to gather them up.
Using your glue gun you can adhere them in place around the waist.
Don't forget to stuff them!  I used plastic grocery store bags.  Why you ask?
I have tons, they stay puffed and why not?

Using other scraps of fabric you can add ties to his waist, legs and a little collar with a bow for his next and hat.  I had a few buckles left over from my witch shoes that I used for his hat.

Now you can attach the the back feathers with a little glue and a few screws to hold them all tight.
Here is my plea.....make sure you do a quick coat of paint on the back.  Nobody likes an unfinished bird.  He will be destined for a life up against a wall.  Just like the Geico girls....

"Don't do it Kimber......don't forget to paint the back of your bird!"  All that hair....and you know they left the back flat and lifeless.
These obviously are my favorite commercials right now~thanks Geico!

Pretty simple project and he's so cute!  Now to make the matching Pilgrims....
Happy Thanksgiving from Crafty Sisters!