Thanksgiving craft

I was hoping this task would take longer and kill some of the morning. But it was actually pretty quick. 

We woke up to fresh snow this morning. There was a winter weather advisory for our area last night, claiming that we should expect about 6 inches of accumulation by morning. We only received about an inch and a half but it's still snowing. Just a light snow, but it's really lovely. The kind of flakes that take their time falling, dancing with the wind before they come to a rest. It kinda looks like the kind of fake snow you see at craft stores in the display Christmas villages. I just want to sit by the window sill and watch it all day with a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa. 

Back to the craft... 

We haven't purchased boots for Annelies yet, so venturing outside isn't an option today. I've got plenty of supplies stockpiled here and there around the house so I figured we'd listen to some Christmas music* and get messy. 

*Sidenote: I usually hold off on anything having to do with Christmas until Thanksgiving day, but it's falling on a rather late date this year and Annelies is at an age where she's picking up on Christmas trees and bells and other Christmasy things.  It won't hurt squish the two holidays together. Just this once. ;-)

While I rummaged through supplies, I got her started coloring a paper plate with a brown crayon. Little brother wanted to color too, so I gave him a plate, as well. 

Once she felt like she had colored enough we started tracing her hand for turkey feathers. I let her try to trace her own hand first (if you're worried about the extra marks on the paper it's no big deal. Once you cut it out just flip it over and use the other side.)

She got tired of tracing her own hand so I helped her finish. I mentally divided the paper into quarters and traced a hand in each space. Then I layered a piece of yellow and orange under the brown paper and cut them all at once. That way I only had to cut four hands but ended up with 12 all together. 

While A and I worked on her turkey, I had Willem playing with a pile of feathers I found in my supplies. He had a ball!

Next, I applied glue to the outside of the plate and helped Annelies apply her handprints. Basically, I pointed to an area and she would press the paper to it. She did pretty well, as you can see from the finished piece. 

The last few steps was just cutting scrap paper to make eyes and a nose. I drew a snood (Yep! That's what it's called!) next to his beak and suggested she color it in. She also decided to color the beak itself and some "feathers". I think she did an awesome job! Very refrigerator worthy!