How to Disguise a Turkey as a Mermaid: Free Printable Template

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This free turkey disguise printable turns a plain bird into a shimmering sea princess who has traded Thanksgiving dinner for a life under the sea.

The set includes a bird to color, a seashell top, and a tail, in both color and black-and-white versions. Print it, color it with a marker, cut it out, and attach the disguise. That’s it.

Add even more fun to your Thanksgiving plans with our 65+ Thanksgiving Crafts and Printables for Kids and these creative Turkey in Disguise Project Ideas

Mermaid Turkey Disguise (Free Printable Template)

This is one of the most requested designs every November, and it’s easy to see why. It lets kids use every shade of blue, green, and purple in the crayon box, and there’s no wrong way to decorate the tail.

Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions, eight ways to make the tail sparkle, tips for a Little Mermaid-style design with red hair and a green tail, and writing prompts for the school project.

What’s in the Free Turkey in Disguise Template

This cut-and-paste set has dotted cutting lines. The digital files include:

• A turkey to color
• A seashell top
• A tail that covers the legs
• A color version, ready to cut and attach
• A black and white version for any kid who wants to color it

Use the color version when the project is due tomorrow, and you need it done fast. Select the black-and-white version when the teacher wants to see your child’s own coloring and creativity.

Supply List for the Sea-Themed Turkey

• Free download at the bottom of this post
• White cardstock or another quality paper
• Crayons or colored pencils
• Safety scissors
• Adhesive stick

Optional extras if your teacher allows 3D pieces:

• Yarn or curling ribbon for hair
• Sequins or glitter glue for the tail
• Aluminum foil or holographic paper
• Cupcake liners or tissue sheets for scales
• Small seashells
• Blue and green construction paper for an ocean background
• Tacky adhesive for anything heavier than paper

How to Disguise a Turkey as an Ocean Character

1. Print the design. Check your printer settings for 100% or “actual size” so the tail and shell top fit the turkey correctly.
2. Choose your version. Grab the color pages for a quick craft, or the black-and-white pages for coloring.
3. Color the bird. Keep the feathers in fall shades, or turn them into ocean colors like teal, purple, and aqua so the whole design blends into the sea.
4. Color the tail and shell top. Blues and greens are classic, but pink, purple, and rainbow tails are just as fun.
5. Cut along the dotted lines. This is good scissor practice, but younger children may need help with the fin curves.
6. Lay it out first. Set the tail and shell top over the body before attaching them so your child can move the pieces around.
7. Attach the tail first, then the shell top. The tail should completely hide the legs. That’s the whole point of the disguise.
8. Add hair and sparkle. Attach yarn hair on top of the head and add sequins, glitter, or foil to the tail.
9. Dry flat. Leave it for an hour, or overnight if you used tacky or sparkle adhesive.

How to Make a Little Mermaid Style Turkey

Many kids want the finished look to resemble Ariel. The design is easy to customize with those signature colors:

• Red hair: attach red or orange yarn, curling ribbon, or strips of red tissue. Big, wavy hair makes the character easy to recognize.
• Green tail: color the tail a bright sea green. A glitter pen along the edges gives it extra shimmer.
• Purple shell top: color the seashell top purple or lavender.
• A fish friend: draw a small yellow fish with blue stripes swimming next to the turkey.
• A fork “hair comb”: draw a tiny fork in the character’s hand as a fun nod to the movie.

Kids get the character look they want, and the final piece is still their own work. If your school discourages character costumes, stick with an original design using any hair and tail color your child likes.

8 Ways to Make the Tail Sparkle

The tail is where this Thanksgiving craft really shines. Pick one or two of these project ideas:

1. Sequin tail: brush a thin layer of tacky adhesive on the tail and press on green, blue, and purple sequins. Keep it light so the finished piece still hangs on the wall.
2. Cupcake liner scales: cut small half circles from shiny or colored cupcake liners and layer them in overlapping rows, starting at the fin and working up.
3. Tissue scales: cut small half circles and layer them the same way. This works well if your teacher wants the piece kept flat.
4. Foil tail: cover the tail with aluminum foil, then color over it with permanent markers for a metallic look. An adult should handle the markers.
5. Bubble wrap print: paint a piece of bubble wrap with blue or green washable paint, press it onto the tail, and peel it off for an instant scale pattern. Let it dry before assembly.
6. Fingerprint scales: dip a fingertip in washable paint and press rows of prints across the tail. Preschoolers love this disguise idea.
7. Glitter outline: trace the tail and fin with glitter glue for a simple shimmer with less mess than loose glitter.
8. Crayon-only scales: draw small “U” shapes across the tail in two or three colors. This adhesive-free option still looks like scales.

Hair Ideas

Hair changes the look faster than almost anything else:

• Yarn: cut 10 to 15 strands about 4 inches long and attach them across the top of the head.
• Curling ribbon: curl it with scissors for bouncy waves.
• Tissue strips: twist them slightly for texture.
• Pipe cleaners: wrap them around a pencil to make curls.
• Colored strips: curl them around a pencil.

Add a starfish sticker as a hair clip to finish the look.

Make an Under the Sea Background

If your teacher allows it, attach the finished piece to a sheet of blue construction paper for an ocean scene:

• Cut wavy green strips for seaweed.
• Punch or draw white circles for bubbles.
• Add a few fish, a starfish, or a small treasure chest.
• Add a sand-colored strip along the bottom for the ocean floor.

This helps the finished piece stand out on a crowded bulletin board.

Easy Version for Preschool and Kindergarten

For little hands, keep this disguise project simple:

• Cut the pieces out ahead of time and let your child color and assemble them.
• Use the color version so they can focus on decorating.
• Pick one tail technique. Fingerprint scales and tissue pieces are the easiest.
• Use an adhesive stick instead of liquid glue.
• Split it into two sessions: coloring one day and assembly the next.

Writing Prompts

Many school assignments include a writing piece. Use these prompts to help children get started:

• “My turkey chose an ocean disguise because ___.”
• “Nobody will find me on Thanksgiving. I’m swimming deep under the sea!”
• “The farmer searched all around, but only spotted a glittering tail disappearing into the water.”
• “With this disguise, I would snack on ___ instead!”
• Older kids: write a short story about how the bird found the ocean and changed just in time for dinner.

Tips for the Best Finished Turkey

• Use sturdy stock. Thin sheets wrinkle under adhesive and can tear on the way to school.
• Glitter goes on last, over a tray.
• Keep it light. Heavy shells and thick layers of sequins can pull the finished piece off a bulletin board.
• Check the teacher’s rules before adding 3D pieces like real shells or yarn.
• Write your child’s name on the back and add a small label if needed.
• Carry it to school in a file folder so the hair and tail don’t get crushed.
• Snap a photo before it leaves the house.

Download the Free Printable

The free digital download includes color and black-and-white pages for personal use. It prints beautifully at 100% scale on sturdy stock.

More Disguise a Turkey Printables

See every idea in our Turkey in Disguise Project Ideas roundup, or try another free template:

• Disguise a Turkey as a Unicorn: perfect for kids who love magical creatures
• Disguise a Turkey as a Ballerina
• Pirate Turkey in Disguise: a mermaid and a pirate make a fun sibling pair
• Disguise a Turkey as a Robot
• Disguise a Turkey as a Detective
• Blank Disguise a Turkey Printable: a plain turkey template for any disguise
• Turkey in Disguise Coloring Pages: a crayon-only option with no cutting

Still in an under the sea mood? Browse our ocean crafts for kids, or find more fall ideas in 65+ Thanksgiving Crafts and Printables for Kids.

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