How to Make a Funny Paper Hat

Funny paper hats can be made from almost any type of paper. They also take less than a minute to fold, once you have mastered the technique. Use your imagination to make almost any type of hat from pirate to pilgrim to pope. Keep this easy skill in your back pocket for entertaining kids in waiting rooms or to liven up road trips. This is also the basic folding technique for making paper boats.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Single broadsheet of newspaper
• Tempura paints
• Brushes
• Extra newspaper
• Cloth scraps
• Aluminum foil
• Glue

Folding a Paper Hat

1. Open the broadsheet and spread it flat on the work surface in a single layer. The newspaper will already have a center horizontal crease. Fold the top half down on this crease. Crease the fold tighter by running your fingernail along the fold.

2. Locate the center of the top side of the paper. Lift the top right corner in your hand. Fold the corner down to the left so the edge lines up exactly with the vertical center of the paper. This will naturally leave a few inches at the bottom where the paper does not overlap.

3. Lift the top left corner and fold over to the right. The edge should line up exactly with the vertical center of the paper forming a triangle point in the center. The left corner flap will overlap some of the folded paper from the right corner. Use your fingernail or a ruler to slide along all the new creases and make them tighter.

4. Locate the bottom section of the paper without the corner flaps overlapping. This will be a horizontal strip along the very bottom. Fold the top layer of this strip up to the top. It will naturally crease where it meets the overlapped portions. Tighten this crease. Open the bottom of the hat and decorate it if this is the desired shape for your paper hat.

5. To complete a different style of paper hat, turn the paper over. Fold the left side of the paper hat in toward the center of the paper. Fold the right side in toward the center. Run your fingernail over the crease. The hat is now slimmer and appears taller. Open the pocket at the bottom of the hat and put it on.

6. Lay down extra newspapers to protect the work space. Paint the paper hat with a thick layer of tempura paint and allow it to dry. Decorate the hat with craft materials like fabric scraps. Make a hat buckle from aluminum foil by cutting out a square. Cut a smaller square hole out of the center. Glue it on the hat.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with other types of paper like colored construction paper, large sheets of aluminum foil for shiny hats, or designer craft papers. Make tiny paper hats for doll costumes. Making tight creases will give the paper hat strength. Use a very large piece of paper to make a tall pope hat.