How to disguise a turkey, step by step

Look at the outline before you choose a disguise. The turkey has a round head, two eyes, a triangular beak, a wattle, a wide body, two wings and a fan of tail feathers. Those are the parts the costume has to work around. The eyes and beak are the face; keep at least one eye and the beak visible. The tail fan is the biggest shape on the page, so a costume that sits on the body will still leave the fan showing. That is useful: the fan can become wings, a cape or a skirt.

Layer one is the silhouette: a hat, helmet, crown or body shape that changes the outline. Layer two is the face: a mask, goggles, beard or makeup mark that sits around the eyes without covering both of them. Layer three is the prop: a spoon, a football, a hose or a wand held by one wing. Three layers are enough. A costume with a clear silhouette and one prop reads faster than a costume with twenty small decorations. Sketch the three layers on scrap paper before you cut anything.

Printer paper is fine for flat shapes. Card stock or a cereal box is better for hats, badges and anything that needs to stand out. A glue stick holds paper flat without wrinkles; tape is stronger for tabs and heavy pieces. Scissors with a small point are easier for curves. A black marker covers a wobbly edge. Useful extras: cotton balls, pipe cleaners, coffee filters, paper plates, tissue paper, foil, yarn and bottle caps. Skip liquid glue on thin paper, loose glitter and anything that needs to dry overnight if the project is due soon.

Print the line-art turkey at 100 percent scale. Hold the page at arm's length and decide where the costume will sit. A hat needs to cross the top of the head; a body piece needs to follow the curve of the belly; feet pieces need to reach the bottom of the page. If you are using a template from a teacher, compare the head size with the printable before you cut. A costume drawn for a different turkey will look too small or too wide.

Cut the largest shape before the details. Turn the paper as you cut instead of twisting your wrist, and keep the scissors on the line. For a symmetrical piece, fold the paper in half and cut one side. For a shape with a hole, such as a mask or a helmet visor, fold the paper, snip a starter hole in the middle and cut outward. Leave a small tab at the bottom of hats and masks so you have something to glue. Do not cut the turkey itself unless the costume needs a slot.

Lay the costume pieces on the turkey without glue. Check three things: the eyes are visible, the beak is visible, and the costume reads from across the room. Photograph the dry fit with your phone and look at the photo. Small details that look fine up close disappear at three feet. If the costume looks like a pile of shapes, remove one piece. If it looks like the turkey is wearing a costume but you cannot name the costume, make the main shape bigger.

Glue the biggest shape first and press it flat for ten seconds. Add the medium shapes, then the small details. Use a thin line of glue stick around the edge, not a puddle in the middle. For a piece that needs to stand up, fold a paper tab at the bottom and glue the tab, not the face of the piece. For a piece that might need to move, use rolled tape. If a wing has to hold something, tape the prop to the back of the wing instead of gluing it to the front.

Choose one detail that makes the costume specific: a name tag on the astronaut suit, a bone on the pirate hat, a tiny menu in the chef's hand. Outline the main shapes with a black marker if the edges look fuzzy. Write the child's name on the line at the bottom. On the back, add the title, the due date and the paragraph if the teacher asked for one. Let the page sit under a heavy book for five minutes so the glue dries flat.

The costume is too small: cut a second version at 125 percent and use the first one as a test. The page is too busy: remove every detail that is not part of the silhouette or the one prop. The paper curled: press it under a book, or glue it to a second sheet. A piece tore: tape the back, then cover the tear with a sticker or a patch. The face is covered: move the mask up or cut a larger eye opening. The costume will not stay on: add a tab behind the piece and tape it to the back of the page.