How to Make a Circular Hat With Paper

Transform cardboard and paper into fabulous round sun hats.

Make circular hats for special occasions, just for fun or for sun hats in a pinch. If you find yourself unexpectedly spending time in the sun and want to protect your face from getting burned, these quick paper hat solutions are perfect. You can dress them up by adding fabric, feathers and plastic flowers to use for an outdoor picnic, wedding or special sport event. Versatile and practical, paper sun hats could add pizazz to your summer.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Compass
• Ruler
• Thin cardboard
• Scissors
• Gift wrap paper
• Colored office tape
• Glue gun (optional)
• Plastic flowers, beads, feathers and ribbons (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your head using the tape measure. Measure around where your hats usually sit on your head. Place the pencil into the compass, halve the measurement you took and use the ruler to open the compass to half the width of your head.

2. Draw a circle on the cardboard into which your head will fit. The circle should not be so wide that the hat slips down over your eyes. Decide on how wide you want the hat brim to be and draw a larger circle around the first. Cut out both circles so that you have a cardboard doughnut. Try it on to make sure it fits.

3. Lay your cardboard doughnut on the gift wrap paper, using it as a template to cut out two more paper doughnuts. Leave a 1/4 inch space around the cardboard doughnut when you are cutting the gift wrap, for folding over the edges.

4. Place one of the gift wrap paper sheets face down on your working surface. Fold the 1/4-inch seam over the edge and secure with office tape. Repeat for the other side of the doughnut with the other piece of gift wrap.

5. Stick some feathers and beads onto the brim with the glue gun to embellish your hat. Top off your sun hat with a plastic flower and some ribbon.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to make a fancy sun hat, cover with fabric instead of paper and embellish with flowers and ribbon.

• For children's tea parties, let your guests cut the middle out of a paper plate for the sun hat. Paint and decorate with glitter, flowers, beads, feathers and buttons.

• If you are in a pinch and need something to protect you from the sun, use cardboard boxes, cereal boxes or other packaging to make yourself a sun hat.

• You can curl the sides of the hat up to look like a cowboy hat.

• Supervise young crafters when they are using scissors.

References

• Article City: How to Make Party Hat Creations With Paper Plates