PLUCK A FEATHER — DIY Envelope Turkey Game

How I Made Mine Step-by-Step (and All the Ways You Can Use It)

I made this envelope turkey for our annual company Thanksgiving dinner, and it ended up being such a fun activity. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and once you see how everything fits together, it’s easy to recreate.

This post includes Amazon affiliate links. That just means if you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

🍁 What You’ll Need

Envelopes:

Any small envelopes work. I used these below in beautiful Fall colors.

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4p0DOFv

Sticks for the feathers:

Options:

• 12” wooden skewers (what I used) — https://amzn.to/4nWhriO

• Treat/cake pop sticks — https://amzn.to/49oI0dc

• Floral card holder picks — https://amzn.to/3JZESKb

• Wooden dowels —

https://amzn.to/49GoSYj

I used skewers because they glue easily, stick into the foam, and clip down to any height.

Box / Container:

I used a $2 box from Dollar General’s Harvest collection. I liked it because it had four solid sides and a pretty pattern that would complement the turkey.

You can also use a small plastic bin, basket, or even a leftover Amazon box wrapped in Kraft paper.

Foam:

Green floral foam blocks from Dollar Tree.

Other supplies:

• Colored cardstock or colored foam sheets for body, head, beak, waddles and eyes (if not printing them or using googly eyes -— https://amzn.to/47IhSZs

• Tissue paper — https://amzn.to/4r2reqw

• Googly eyes — https://amzn.to/3M5ZFMP

• Hot glue gun (I prefer to use this cordless one!) — https://amzn.to/4i534HR

• Glue sticks — https://amzn.to/49EbNPd

• Glue dots — https://amzn.to/47M5urr

• Wire cutters — https://amzn.to/47VIJA0

• Turkey printable — [insert free printable link]

• Number circles — [insert free printable link]

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1️⃣STEP 1 — Print Your Turkey & Prepare the Pieces

Before you attach anything to the box, you’ll want to get your turkey pieces ready. You can do this two different ways depending on how “crafty” you want to get.

Option A: Print + Trace onto Pretty Paper

If you want a layered look or you prefer using glitter paper, scrapbook paper, or foam sheets (This is the method I used for mine because I wanted that glittery brown body!):

1. Print the turkey pattern pieces from the printable pack (the outlines).

   

   You can print this turkey template here.

   
   

2. Cut out each piece.

   

3. Trace them onto the paper or cardstock you want to use (brown glitter, textured or patterned paper, etc.).

   

   

   

4. Cut out the traced pieces to build your turkey.

   

5. Once your pieces are cut out, flip the turkey body over and glue the head right onto the top center. Make sure it’s lined up and straight before pressing down.

Gluing the head to the turkey body — just line it up and attach.

6. Next, trace and cut out your turkey’s eyes, beak, and waddles. I actually just used two large googly eyes, a yellow cardstock triangle for the beak, and two small red pieces for the waddles.

7. Then you can glue on your turkey’s eyes, beak, and waddles onto the turkey’s head.

Option B: Print the Full-Color Turkey on Cardstock

If you want the fastest method:

1. Print the full-color turkey included below.

2. Use cardstock, not regular paper, so it stands upright and looks nicer.

3. Cut around the edges — that’s it. No tracing.

This version is perfect if you’re making multiple turkeys for classrooms, events, or church groups and want something super quick.

If you want the pre-colored version, you can download the full-color turkey printable here.

2️⃣ STEP 2 — Glue the Turkey Body and Head to the Front of the Box

Before you do anything with envelopes, sticks, or foam blocks, go ahead and attach your turkey to the front of your box. It’s MUCH easier to line everything up once this part is done. Once the turkey face is assembled, attach the whole turkey body to the front of your box.

Here’s exactly what I did:

• I set my box upright (open side facing up). Then I used glue dots to attach the turkey body right to the front of the box.

  

  (You can hot glue it, but glue dots let you adjust if you need to shift it. Just make sure you press it firmly on the box so it doesn’t shift as you add feathers later.)

  
  

The turkey goes on first because it helps you see where the feathers will start and how high they need to be stacked behind it.

3️⃣STEP 3 — Fitting the Foam Inside the Box

The floral foam blocks were too long, so I cut them down using a box knife. They cut easily if you press straight down and go slow.

TIP: Pack the foam tight so nothing moves when people pull out envelopes.

Here are the first two foam blocks trimmed to fit the bottom. These hold the front and middle feathers. They still didn’t fill the entire bottom, so I stuffed crumpled tissue paper into the empty area to ensure a tight fit..

4️⃣STEP 4 — Attaching the Envelopes to the Sticks

Before I started gluing anything, I laid all my envelopes out in front of me in the exact color pattern I wanted. I put the color I wanted in the center and worked outward until the whole layout looked balanced. Laying them out first made the colors feel intentional instead of random.

Once my pattern was set, I glued and added the envelopes one at a time. Doing it this way let me see the height and angle of each “feather” as I built the turkey, which helped everything look more even and full.

Here’s exactly how I did it:

1. Flip the first envelope face-down.

I started with the center envelope of my pattern.

2. Put hot glue directly onto the skewer.

I squeezed a small line of hot glue right onto the skewer (not the envelope). This helped the glue grab the stick better so everything stayed put.

3. Press the skewer onto the envelope flap and hold it.

Just long enough for the glue to set.

4. Let it cool before inserting it into the foam.

5. Insert that envelope into the foam.

6. Repeat one envelope at a time.

Every time I placed one, I could instantly see how the next one needed to sit—

whether it needed to be a little higher, a little lower, or tilted slightly to one side.

The skewers go straight into the foam so you can adjust the angle and spacing as you build.

This is what the first layer looks like before adding the raised back block. Front feathers are pushed all the way down, and the middle row sits slightly higher.

5️⃣STEP 5 — Adding the Third Foam Block (to Lift the Back Feathers)

Once the first layer of envelopes is in (your front row + the beginning of your middle row), it’s time to build the height for the back feathers. This is what makes the turkey look big, full, and fanned-out instead of flat.

Here’s exactly how I did it:

1. Add the third foam block to the back of the box.

My first two foam blocks filled most of the bottom, but they weren’t tall enough to lift the back feathers. So I added a third foam block vertically in the back, right behind the first two.

Once again, I cut my foam using a box knife so it would sit flat and snug. If yours doesn’t fit perfectly, just push a little tissue paper in the open spaces — it keeps everything tight so nothing wiggles.

2. Push the back-row skewers into this raised block.

This block becomes the “stage” where your tallest feathers stand.

TIPS:

When you insert the skewers:

• Don’t push them all the way down — let them sit a little higher.

• Angle them slightly outward so they fan out behind the middle row.

• Adjust each one as you go so the layers build upward smoothly.

This is what gives the turkey that big, dimensional tail instead of everything being the same height.

3. Check your spacing and angles.

Since you glued each envelope one at a time, you can easily see where the next tall feather should go.

Look for:

• Height differences

• A nice “curve” at the top

• Gaps that need filling

• Making sure none of the tall envelopes completely hide the middle layer

This step is truly what makes the turkey look FULL and layered.

4. Finish the back row the same way you did the others.

Glue the skewer onto the envelope → let it cool → place it into the back block.

Work from the center outward or left-to-right based on your layout — whatever matches the pattern you laid out earlier.

FINALLY RESULT LOOKS LIKE THIS:

6️⃣Step 6 — Adjusting the Feathers, Finishing the Box & Adding Numbers

1. Step back and check the feather heights

Once all the envelopes were in the foam, I stepped back and looked at the overall shape.

If one sat a little too high or low, I just:

• pushed the skewer down a bit, or

• pulled it up slightly

  
  

Little adjustments like this help everything look even and layered.

2. Fix the angles

Because the skewers go straight into the foam, they don’t bend or tilt.

So if I wanted a feather angled a certain way, the easiest thing to do was:

• pull the skewer straight back out

• adjust where I wanted it

• push it back in at the new angle

  
  

It takes two seconds, and it’s the best way to get that nice, fanned-out look.

3. Add tissue paper around the foam

I tucked tissue paper:

• around the foam blocks

• into any open spaces inside the box

This kept everything snug, but it also made the inside of the box look more finished and intentional instead of having little open patches or gaps.

To complete the setup, I also made a cute matching Pluck the Turkey sign you can print and place beside your game. You can download it here.

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7️⃣STEP 7— THE FINAL STEP: Ideas for What You Can Put in the Envelopes

Once your turkey is built, the fun part starts — filling the envelopes! There are a lot of ways to customize this for a family Thanksgiving, school classroom party, PTO dinner, fall festival, office potluck, Friendsgiving, church event, or any group gathering. You can keep things simple, make it funny, or mix in a few bigger surprises. Here are plenty of ideas to choose from.

⭐Gift Cards (Most Popular!)

Great for parties, school events, workplaces, or family gatherings.

Ideas:

• $5–$10 fast-food cards

• Coffee shop cards

• Amazon

• Dollar Tree

• Walmart or Target

• Local small businesses

Budget Tip:

Ask each guest to bring a gift card of a set amount ($5 or $10). Everyone contributes, everyone plays.

💵Money Envelopes

Easy, exciting, and works for all ages.

Ideas:

• $1 bills

• $2 bills

• $5s or $10s for “bonus” feathers

• One “mega envelope” with a larger amount

You can also mix in a couple of silly “funny money” slips just for laughs.

🎁Small Seasonal Items

For a two-part game, use seasonal items as the “pickables” and match each one to an envelope. Number the items, let players choose one, and then they open the envelope with the same number.

Ideas:

• Mini fall decorations

• Wax melts

• Candy bars

• Car fresheners

• Cozy socks

• Keychains

• Mini candles

• Fall dish towels

• Pot holders

• Hot chocolate packets

• Thanksgiving trinkets

Players go home with two surprises — the seasonal item they chose and the hidden prize inside the envelope.

If your version of the game includes numbered envelopes, this is the fun little finishing touch. I made a set of plaid number squares that matched my box, printed them, cut them out, and glued them right on the front of each envelope. It tied everything together and gave it a really coordinated look.

You can totally make your own style too — or keep it simple with:

• Handwritten numbers

• Cute number stickers

• Printed circles/squares in any theme

• Or here are the number squares I created and used

🎉Prize Coupons (Printable!)

Great for classrooms, PTO events, family nights, or groups on a budget.

Ideas:

• Extra recess

• Pick your seat

• Homework pass

• Choose the next classroom job

• Choose tonight’s family movie

• Skip a chore

• Pick any treat from the table

🤣Funny or Silly Feathers

Perfect for breaking the ice and keeping things fun.

Ideas:

• “Gobble like a turkey to claim your prize”

• “Trade your envelope with someone else”

• “Pick two, keep one, return one”

• “You get NOTHING… but you still have to gobble”

• “Wildcard: pick any envelope you want”

  
  

🧺Bigger Prize Feathers

Add a few “special” envelopes to build excitement.

Ideas:

• A candle

• A tumbler

• A scratch-off ticket

• A fall gift basket

• A pair of gloves

• A cozy blanket

  
  

🎲Game-Style Envelopes

Turn the turkey into a little activity station.

Ideas:

• Truth-or-Turkey questions

• Fall trivia

• Thanksgiving “Would You Rather”

• Mini challenges

• “Pick someone to give your prize to”

• “Steal a feather from someone else”

• Thanksgiving Charades

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And that’s it! Your turkey is officially ready to pluck. Once everything is glued, arranged, and tucked into the box, the whole thing comes to life — and it always gets a huge reaction at any Thanksgiving event. It looks complicated, but it truly comes together one envelope at a time.

Below, I added all the printables I used so you can recreate the same look:

• Turkey Outline Template

• Full-Color Turkey

• Number Square

• “Pluck the Turkey” sign

Just click and print whatever you need. If you make your own version, I’d love to see it — and feel free to save or pin this post so you can find it again next year.

Happy Thanksgiving, and happy plucking! 🦃✨