This bowling pin turkey is a fun and easy Thanksgiving decoration. A few inexpensive supplies and your trusty glue gun will have this bird table-ready in no time!

Real wood bowling pins can be found in antique stores or flea markets, but plastic-coated pins are just as good and can be found in stores or online. Either type has enough weight so it won’t tip over. It can even be used as a doorstop!

A template provides everything you need to accessorize your turkey. Stiffened felt is perfect for having feathers and a pilgrim hat stand tall. Add googly eyes, a beak and wattle and it’s dressed for the holiday.

If you want to turn this into a kid-friendly craft, simply use that toy set of plastic pins your toddlers have outgrown. It’ll keep the kids busy and look great on a mantle or table.

This post includes links to purchase items you’ll need from our affiliates.

DIY bowling pin turkey craft
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. First, paint the bowling pin with beige spray paint in a well-ventilated area. Set aside to dry.
  2. Download the Everyday Dishes & DIY Bowling Pin Turkey Printable.
  3. Print and cut out turkey template. Trace onto corresponding colored stiffened felt and cut out.
  4. Next, glue feather cutouts onto the back of the bowling pin using hot glue. Also glue on eyes, beak and a wattle—the piece of red ‘skin’ that hangs from the turkey’s neck.
  5. Write a short message with chalk onto the mini chalkboard then hang it around the neck of the bowling pin.
  6. To top it off, assemble the pilgrim hat as indicated then glue it onto the turkey’s head.
Notes
Wattles aren’t just for turkeys. The word also refers to twigs or branches that have been interwoven to form a fence or roof!