• Home
    • About
      • Contact
  • Shop
  • DIY | Projects
    • For The Home
    • Organization
    • Gift Ideas
    • Holidays
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Spring
      • 4th of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving/Fall
      • Christmas
    • Weddings
    • For The Outdoors
    • Repurposed/Upcycled
    • For Kids
    • Crafts
    • Chalk Paint
    • My Favorites
      • Gift Guides
      • Shop
      • My Keto Journey
        • Easy Keto Meal Plans
        • Recipes
  • Home Inspiration
    • Home Renovations
      • Lake House
      • Before & Afters
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Painting
    • Exterior
    • Design & Decor
    • Lighting
    • Accessories
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Rekindled Spaces
      • Rekindled Spaces | Schedule a Consultation
      • Rekindled Spaces | Cabinet & Furniture Refinishing
      • Rekindled Spaces | Contact Us
      • Rekindled Spaces | Before & After Photos
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Diva of DIY

Turkey Tom: How to Make a Pallet Turkey to Greet Guests

Tweet
Share27
Pin1K
1K Shares

If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you know how much I love a good pallet project.  This outdoor pallet turkey is another example of reclaimed wood put to good use.  Why pallets?  I am so glad you asked …let me count the ways!

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

10 Reasons why I love Pallet Wood:

  • It is FREE!
  • It is plentiful
  • It is FREE!
  • It comes in a variety of sizes
  • It is FREE!
  • It can be easily stained or painted
  • It is FREE!
  • It is a hard wood perfect for small projects like signs or large projects like furniture
  • It is FREE!
  • It is environmentally-friendly

Okay…maybe that is only 6 different reasons but you get the point.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something from clicking one of my links, I will get a commission from the sale. It will not cost you a penny more and allows me to keep sharing my ideas with you for free. You can see my full disclosure here. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Pallet Turkey Supplies:

  • 2 pallets
  • Plywood scrap large enough for a turkey body (mine is 15″ at the widest part x 29″ tall)
  • Sawzall
  • Metal Sawzall Blades
  • Jigsaw
  • Air Nailer
  • Chalk or spray paint
  • Sanding Sponge
  • Assorted Acrylic Paints
  • Chip brushes

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Pallet Turkey Instructions:

Step 1)  Remove the top crossbar from the back side of the pallet.  The easiest way to do this is using a sawzall with a metal blade.  Simply saw through the nails between the pallet board and the crossbar.  This would be a good time go ahead and disassemble the other pallet.  You will need the extra boards in step 5.

Step 2)  Using a jigsaw or small circular saw, cut the 2 perpendicular pallet boards on the back side in half.  When you are finished your pallet will look something like the picture above.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 3)  Make a cutting guide to follow.  Using a piece of chalk or spray paint, create a visual guide to follow with your jigsaw.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 4)  Using your jigsaw, follow your guide to create the arch of turkey feathers.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Don’t worry about this being perfect…embrace the imperfections!

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 5)  Using your air-nailer, begin nailing on the extra boards to create dimension.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 6)  Repeat step 5.  Don’t worry at this point about the length…you can cut them off later.   

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 7)  I added a third layer for even more interest.  This is not necessary but I had some extra boards laying around so I added them.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 8)  Using your jigsaw, repeat step 4.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 9)  Create a turkey body by sketching a “bowling pin” shape on your plywood.  With the leftover wood, I drew a triangle for the beak and a railroad spike for his Wattle.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 10)  Cut out your shapes using your jigsaw.  Sand the edges smooth with a sanding sponge.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

All that was left was a couple of eyes, a hat and some paint.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 11)  Using your acrylic paints, add color to all of your turkey feathers.  Let dry.

Step 12)  Paint the body, the beak and the wattle with spray paint.  Let dry.

Step 13)  Attach the eyes.  I decided on recycled cabinet knobs but you could use buttons, corks or even felt.

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

Step 14)  Add a hat.  For the hat, I used 2 scraps of pallet wood spray-painted black.  I used my air-nailer to attach it to his head.

Step 15)  Add the finishing touches.  For a little extra pizazz, I added some wings by painting them on with orange acrylic paint.  While the paint was wet, I sprinkled orange glitter on them.  I repeated that on his beak.  Last but not least…I tied a piece of orange burlap around his neck for a scarf…perfect!

DIY Thanksgiving decorations are not just for inside. Let this Tom Turkey Pallet Project greet your Thanksgiving guests with your own personal style!

A little crooked?…yes.  A little off-center?…probably.  A little too bright?…maybe.  But guess what…I made him with my own 2 hands and it feels great.  I love him…and all of his little imperfections that make him unique.

Each and everyone of you inspire me and I LOVE to see the work that you’ve created. Feel free to share with me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. And as always, be sure to follow Diva Of DIY on Pinterest and sign up for our FREE Newsletter to receive the latest projects delivered straight to your inbox!

If you love pallet projects as much as I do then check out a couple of these pallet posts:  “How to make a pallet coffee table” ; “DIY Pallet Wall” ; and “An easy pallet garden”

#letsdiytogether

XOXO,

Leanne

Tweet
Share27
Pin1K
1K Shares

Blog// DIY | Projects// Holidays// New on the blog// Thanksgiving/FallLeave a Comment

Become an insider and never miss a post!

« Fall Wreath: How to Make a Laser Frame Wreath
Seasonal Decorations: How to Make Reversible Blocks »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking For Something?

Shop Amazon!

Do you struggle with choosing paint colors for your home?

Trying to select them off of small paint strip can be a daunting task.  DOWNLOAD THIS FREE E-BOOK full of professional tips for choosing the perfect paint colors…
THE FIRST TIME!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe

Please don't make the same mistakes most DIYer's make

Are you considering painting your cabinets?  Download our free cabinet painting checklist to make sure you are painting your cabinets the right way!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Privacy

Tags

bathroom makeover ideas Chalk Paint Christmas christmas decor christmas ornament Craft Projects design tips easy keto recipes Fall decorating fixer upper furniture Furniture Rehabs Gift Ideas Halloween handmade holiday holiday decor Home Decor home renovations keto keto diet kids crafts kitchen makeovers lake house fixer upper Mother's Day Organization Outdoor painting paint party Pallet Projects pallet projects Pumpkins repurposed Repurposed & Upcycled Repurposed Projects Restaurant: Impossible Shopping Guides Thanksgiving upcycled Upcycled Projects Valentine's Day wood decor wood projects wood signs wreaths

Copyright © 2021 · Savory theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Savory Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in