This is a fun creative project that can be adapted for all ages and makes great use of recycled cardboard, toilet paper tubes and cereal boxes to make iconic miniature hats. How to make hats from toilet paper rolls.
Follow tutorials below on how to make each of the four hats pictured.
SUPPLIES
- empty toilet paper rolls
- cardboard from a cereal box
- pencil
- ruler
- scissors
- white glue
- acrylic paint
- newspaper or paper towel torn into little bits
- white polymer clay or other hardening molding clay (for the crocodile teeth)
- length of ribbon
- embellishments of your choosing
INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: To simplify this project for younger kids you can leave out the fluted tops and just glue tubes to cardboard circles and paint and add your own embellishments.
FOR THE MAD HATTER’S HAT
Take one cardboard toilet paper roll and measure 1 1/2″ from the bottom of the tube. Mark a cutting line all the way around the tube. With a pair of scissors cut the tube.
Draw a circle 3″ in diameter on a piece of cardboard (cereal box) and cut it out with a pair of scissors. This is for the hat brim.
Draw another cardboard circle 2 1/4″ in diameter for the top of the hat. This is the hat lid so to speak.
To create the fluted top we need to measure 3/4″ from the top of the hat tube and mark a line all the way round.
Cut slits every 1/4″ just to the 3/4″ line.
Curl slats outward using a pencil to gently round them.
Put a bead of white glue around the outer edge of the smaller cardboard circle (the lid), lay the slatted end of the tube onto the glue. Gently move it into place and let the glue set a bit and adjust it again until the top is positioned just right. (the top will be covered with paper mache so it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect)
Using the larger cardboard circle trace the circumference of the toilet paper tube directly in the centre. Put a bead of white glue all the way round on the line. Place the cardboard tube onto the glue making sure that the entire edge is coated with glue, centre it and let the glue dry.
Cut strips of newsprint or paper towel (pull apart 2-ply towel).
Using a white glue with a few drops of water added as paste, coat the newsprint on both sides and apply to the top edge of hat. Basically we want to cover the slats to create a smoother edge around the top of the hat.
Paint hat with acrylic paint. Three red stripes, start with red on the top.
Curl the outer edges of the hat gently around a pencil to shape the brim.
FOR CROCODILE DUNDEE’S HAT:
Take one cardboard toilet paper roll and measure 1 1/8″ from the bottom of the tube. Mark a cutting line all the way around the tube. With a pair of scissors cut the tube.
Draw a circle 3 1/2″ in diameter on a piece of cardboard (cereal box) and cut it out with a pair of scissors. This is for the hat brim.
Draw another cardboard circle 1 3/4″ in diameter for the top of the hat. This is the hat lid so to speak.
Put a bead of white glue around the outer edge of the smaller cardboard circle (the lid), place one end of the tube onto the glue. Gently move it into place and let the glue set a bit and adjust it again until the top is positioned just right.
Using the larger cardboard circle trace the circumference of the toilet paper tube directly in the centre. Put a bead of white glue all the way round on the line. Place the cardboard tube onto the glue making sure that the entire edge is coated with glue, centre it and let the glue dry.
Paint the hat black using acrylic paint.
For the hat band we made crocodile teeth out of white polymer clay but you can use any hardening modeling clay.
For the hat band itself we used hemp twine and chain stitched a band long enough to fit around the hat. Leave long strings at either end to tie it with later. We put a thin coat of white glue on the hemp band and rolled it flat to help keep the teeth in place. Glue the crocodile teeth on to the flattened hemp band.
When the band is dry tie it around the hat. Curl the outer edges of the hat gently around a pencil to shape the brim.
FOR THE CAT IN THE HAT:
Take one cardboard toilet paper roll. This hat uses the full length of the toilet paper tube.
Draw a circle 3″ in diameter on a piece of cardboard (cereal box) and cut it out with a pair of scissors. This is for the hat brim.
Draw another cardboard circle 2 1/4″ in diameter for the top of the hat. This is the hat lid so to speak.
To create the fluted top we need to measure 3/4″ from the top of the hat tube and mark a line all the way round.
Cut slits every 1/4″ just to the 3/4″ line.
Curl slats outward using a pencil to gently round them.
Put a bead of white glue around the outer edge of the smaller cardboard circle (the lid), lay the slatted end of the tube onto the glue. Gently move it into place and let the glue set a bit and adjust it again until the top is positioned just right. (the top will be covered with paper mache so it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect)
Using the larger cardboard circle trace the circumference of the toilet paper tube directly in the centre. Put a bead of white glue all the way round on the line. Place the cardboard tube onto the glue making sure that the entire edge is coated with glue, centre it and let the glue dry.
Cut strips of newsprint or paper towel (pull apart 2-ply towel).
Using a white glue with a few drops of water added as paste, coat the newsprint on both sides and apply to the top edge of hat. Basically we want to cover the slats to create a smoother edge around the top of the hat.
Paint hat with red and white acrylic paint. Two white stripes and three red stripes, starting with red at the top of the hat and ending with a red strip at the bottom of the hat. Paint the brim white.
FOR ABE LINCOLN’S HAT:
Take one cardboard toilet paper roll and measure 2″ from the bottom of the tube. Mark a cutting line all the way around the tube. With a pair of scissors cut the tube.
Draw a circle 3″ in diameter on a piece of cardboard (cereal box) and cut it out with a pair of scissors. This is for the hat brim.
Draw another cardboard circle 2 1/4″ in diameter for the top of the hat. This is the hat lid so to speak.
To create the fluted top we need to measure 3/4″ from the top of the hat tube and mark a line all the way round.
Cut slits every 1/4″ just to the 3/4″ line.
Curl slats outward using a pencil to gently round them.
Put a bead of white glue around the outer edge of the smaller cardboard circle (the lid), lay the slatted end of the tube onto the glue. Gently move it into place and let the glue set a bit and adjust it again until the top is positioned just right. (the top will be covered with paper mache so it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect)
Paint the hat with black acrylic paint. Wrap a black hatband around the hat and glue at the back. (We didn’t have any black ribbon and won’t be going out for some for a while because social distancing right now)
What other famous hats can you think of? Try making one of your own design using some of the techniques from the tutorials above.
If you try this project we’d love to see a photo. Post your masterpiece on Nana’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GetCreativeWithNana
or post a photo on Nana’s Pinterest pin for this project: https://www.pinterest.ca/getcreativewithnana/nanas-creative-projects
Get Your Creative On!