How to Make a Feather Headband out of Construction Paper
Thanksgiving is around the corner and your little darling is making her debut in the school play. She needs a Native American costume pronto---what do you do? Well you could rush out to an expensive costume shop, and spend a bundle on something Hollywood would be proud to feature, or you could do what every parent from the dawn of school plays has done---make a quick and colorful headdress out of construction paper and glue. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Assorted color construction paper
- Measuring tape
- Glue (non-toxic white glue or paste)
- Scissors
- Pipe cleaners
Instructions
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1
Measure your child's head at the largest point (just above the eyebrows). Cut a strip of construction paper about three inches wide and as long as the head measurement plus about two inches. If necessary, cut several strips and glue them together to get the correct length. Fold in half lengthwise with the open side up.
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2
Test the fit, then overlap and glue the ends together to make a snug-fitting band around your child's head.
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3
Take several colors of construction paper and cut out rectangles approximately two inches wide along the width of the paper on the short side (about eight and a half inches long). Make at least 10 rectangles of various colors for a full headdress, but be as creative as you like---the more the better!
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4
Fold each rectangle in half lengthwise. Cut a rounded corner off each end with a pair of scissors (makes a narrow oval when opened up). Starting at one end, make several angled cuts from outside edge to within a half inch of the center (cuts should be about one-eighth of an inch wide) from top to bottom to create the feather barbs.
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Open up the ovals to see your "feathers." Fluff the edges of the cut ends to make the barbs more obvious.
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Glue one end of each feather to the inside of the folded headband, arranging them close together around the whole band until it is full. Glue a pipe cleaner to the center of each feather to add stiffness, which keeps feathers from drooping.
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Tips & Warnings
Glue additional feathers to pieces of string and attach to the headdress at the sides to make a fuller headdress.
Make a matching "leather" vest with fringe---cut a paper grocery sack down the center, make arm and neck holes, fringe bottom edges and slip on your little Pocahontas.
Glue beads or other decorative objects to the band for a prettier headdress.
