How to Make a Leprechaun Hat out of Cardboard

A leprechaun hat is essentially a green top hat.

It may not help you find the pot of gold, but making your own leprechaun hat out of cardboard celebrates St. Patrick's Day. According to Bailey Johnson of "CBS News," leprechauns, who are associated with the holiday, were historically ugly, mean and wore red. It is actually a recent development that everything Irish is green. Craft your own leprechaun hat by repurposing an old cylinder oatmeal container and then add a wide brim and green paint.

Things You'll Need

• Cereal box
• Scissors
• Large pot lid
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Oatmeal container
• Utility knife or craft knife
• Green paint
• Craft paintbrush
• 2-inch wide gold ribbon

Instructions

1. Cut open a cereal box along its side seam with a pair of scissors to help form the brim of the hat. Trace a large pot lid onto a large section of the cereal box with a pencil. Cut out the circle.

2. Trace an oatmeal container into the center of your cardboard circle from the cereal box. Remove the oatmeal container. This creates two concentric circles on the cardboard. Draw the shape of a cross over the central circle with a pencil.

3. 

   The center circle is cut like the spokes of a wheel.

   Turn the cut-out entire circle, or brim, 45 degrees and draw another cross shape through the original cross, creating equal sections that form a design similar to an asterisk. Now cut all straight lines in the inner circle with a utility knife or craft knife. This helps you later glue the brim onto the inside of the oatmeal container.

4. Paint the oatmeal container upside down with green paint. The bottom of the container is the top of the hat. Use a craft paintbrush for this job. Paint the brim green also. Allow them to dry completely.

5. Squeeze glue onto the cut pieces of the brim. Place the oatmeal container on top of this area. Press the cut pieces into the inside of the oatmeal container to finish the brim.

6. Wrap 2-inch wide gold ribbon around the bottom of the hat, 1-inch above the brim. Trim the ribbon with scissors and glue into place.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a buckle to the ribbon with black construction paper. Cut out a square shape and glue it into place.

• The leprechaun hat may only fit children or real leprechauns. Alternatively, it could be used as a holiday decoration.

• Cover the entire hat with green fabric for a polished look. Then, attach the gold ribbon.

References

• "CBS News"; St. Patrick's Day: History of Leprechauns; Bailey Johnson

Resources

• Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures"; Katharine Brigg, 1978