Hello everyone. Here’s the scoop on the craft projects I demonstrated today on “Take Five,” the WZZM Channel 13 Grand Rapids morning show. (Check out the video).

Turkey Noisemaker: (Download PDF of these instructions) This is a favorite in my family. I adapted a chicken design idea my mom got from my Aunt Mary Lou to make this Turkey Day noisemaker. It’s a fun way to entertain the kids while the bird is cooking.

Supplies:

Plastic cup, brown paper bag or craft paper, clear-drying craft glue, a handful of craft feathers, 18′ of  red felt scrap, yellow felt scrap, two googly eyes, cotton string, and sponge, soldering iron, breathing mask

1) In a well ventilated area, put on your breathing mask and turn the plastic cup upside down and use the soldering iron to burn two holes about a half inch apart. When you melt the holes through the plastic there will be fumes, so it’s best to do this step away from the kids.

2) Thread the string through the hole and knot. Position the string so it hangs down through the center of the cup. Cut a 1″ x 2″ piece of sponge and tie it to the end of string hanging out of the cup.

3) Cut or tear small pieces of a brown paper bag. Coat the outside of the cup with craft glue and layer apply overlapping pieces of brown paper, covering the whole surface. Set aside to dry.

4) Glue the feathers to the back of the cup and set aside to dry. Then glue the googly eyes, beak and wattle to the front of the cup. Let dry.

5) Wet the sponge slightly, then pinch it around the string just under the cup to make an obnoxious screeching turkey sound.

Turkey Bread Basket: (Download PDF of these instructions) This is a staple at my parents house. My mom always keeps the rolls warm in a the basket she fashioned into a turkey using wooden spoon, feathers made of magazine pages and wooden skewers. Here’s how to make one of you own:

Supplies:

Basket big enough to hold dinner rolls, wooden spoon, 24 wooden skewers, 24 feather shapes (proportioned to fit your basket) cut from magazines, 24 slightly larger feather shapes cut from construction paper, clear drying craft glue, piece of 2″ thick floral foam cut to fit inside the bottom of  basket, two googly eyes, yellow felt scrap for beak, and red felt scrap for wattle

1) Fit floral foam inside basket. Glue turkey face to back of wooden spoon. Set aside to dry.

2) Make the feathers by centering skewers between a piece of construction paper and a magazine page. Set aside to dry.

3) Poke the wooden spoon into foam at the very front of the basket and arrange the feathers, poking them into the foam along the back of the basket. To use, place a cloth napkin or hand towel inside the basket, place rolls, then cover with the fabric to keep the bread warm.

Heirloom Gratitude Tablecloth: (Download PDF of these instructions) This is the season to share our gratitude. Buy a plain table clothe and pass a pen along with the potatoes at this year’s holiday meal. Have your guests jot down what they’re thankful for and then embroider it after your guests go home. I’ve loved this idea ever since I read a tiny blurb about a woman who did something like this in “Colorful Stitchery,” by Krisitin Nicholas.

Here’s what you do:

Have guest sign with a water soluble pen if you’re confident no one will spill during the meal. I used a fine tip Sharpie for a tablecloth I just started on my daughter Amelia’s third birthday and a large tip water soluble pen in the Thanksgiving sample pictured. Both methods work, so take your pick.

When the guests go home you get to stitch all the words penned by friends and relatives. It’s fun, but a lot of work. So do yourself a favor and ask guests to write big and recruit some people to help you stitch. Then, pull the tablecloth out for some fun reading during next year’s holiday meal.

* If you don’t want to embroider the table cloth, buy some permanent fabric pens to create a beautiful holiday graffiti tablecloth.

Felt Leaf Garland

Use the template provided (download PDF) to cut out felt leaves in a variety of colors, then thread them onto a piece of yarn. Hang it above a door or mantel to add some fall cheer to your home.