How to Make a Child's Cowboy Hat

Whether used for school plays, Halloween costumes or simply backyard play, children's cowboy hats top off the signature look of the Wild West. While you can purchase cowboy hats at costume shops, making your own at home can foster creativity and save you the cost of a store-bought hat. With basic crafting materials and a minor time investment, you can make a child's cowboy hat and include your child in the creative process.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Masking tape
• Tempera paints
• Paintbrush
• Twine or ribbon
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Form the hat base from newspaper. Open up three full sheets of newspaper. Remove one sheet from the stack and lay it out on a table. Rotate the second sheet by 45 degrees, and place it on top of the first sheet on the table. Rotate the third sheet by 90 degrees, and lay it on the top of the stack of two on the table. Lift the newspaper stack and place the center of the sheet stack on the top of the child's head. Create an 8-inch-high elevation in the newspaper above the head by grasping and rounding the newspaper with your thumb and forefingers. Have your child hold the newspaper in place while you wrap masking tape around his or her head. Remove the newspaper from the child's head and place it on the table so that the masking-tape circle rests on the tabletop.

2. Shape the top of the newspaper mold. Place your hands on either side of the elevated portion of the mold and push down gently on the center of the hat. Use this motion to create a divot that depresses down roughly 2 inches from the top of the hat mold.

3. Roll the newspaper hat brim into shape. Begin rolling the outer edges of the hat brim up towards the center of the hat. Shape the rolled portion around the edges to create an oval shape to the outer edge of the hat brim. Secure the rolled portion in place with masking tape.

4. Paint the hat to add color and strength. Open another section of newspaper and spread it on the ground or floor as cover. Place the newspaper hat on top of the unfolded newspaper. Use the tempera paint and paintbrush to paint the outside of the hat its base color. Allow the hat to dry fully. Turn the hat upside down on the outstretched newspaper and paint the edge and inner brim.

5. Decorate the child's cowboy hat. Punch a single hole in the left and right sides of the hat just above the brim. Loop twine or yarn through each hole to create a chin strap. Tie the yarn or twine off at either side and cut off any excess with scissors. Tie a ribbon around the hat, resting it just above the brim to add color to the cowboy hat.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow adequate time for the paint to dry (one to three hours). Select the paint color for your cowboy hat to evoke an image: red for playfulness, white for heroes or black for outlaws. Transform your cowboy hat into a sheriff's hat by painting a yellow star on the front of the hat when the base coat has dried.

• Outfit children in smocks before they paint to protect their clothing.