Kids theme parties - Party hats

A kid’s birthday party is not complete without a party hat!

They can come in many shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common… they add to the liveliness and festive feeling of any party.

They can be made from balloons, from newspaper or tissue paper, they can be adorned with feathers, glitter, sequins, colourful buttons, flowers or streamers, the choice is yours. Party hats can be shaped like a cone, a top hat, a simple band with Mickey Mouse or Bunny ears, a pirate hat, a witch hat… as with so many crafts, your imagination is the only drawback when it comes to the kind of hat you will make for your kid’s theme party.

The easiest party hat you can make yourself is the conical party hat. diagram for a cone shaped party hatDraw a triangle on a piece of stiff cardboard or coloured paper – size 12″ x 18″ – use the 12″ as the height and the 18″ as the size to go around the head. Change the straight bottom line to a curve:

Decorate as desired, then glue the edges together and leave to dry. (Use paperclips to hold the hat together while it is drying). Staple both ends of a thin piece of elastic string onto opposite sides of the bottom edge of the hat so it fits under the chin.

A golden rule when planning your kids’ theme parties is to let them be a part of the planning from the beginning, so the older kids will really enjoy making their own party hats.


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Party Hats

Cone Hats

When my son was born, we planned a birth party for him. Actually the party was an activity to keep my older daughter happy and busy. At the last minute she realized we didn't have hats for the party. We made simple cone hats and decorated them. My son is now two, and she still thinks these are the best party hats we've ever had.

Materials Paper (12"x18 is best) Decorations (see ideas below) glue scissors

Use the 12" side as the height and the 18" to go around the head. To make the cone shape, draw a wide triangle, then change the bottom from a straight line to a curved shape.

2. You may want to experiment using newspaper to get the shape right.
   
3. Use whatever craft material you have on hand for the children to decorate the party hats.
   
4. While the party hats are drying, put a line of white glue down one side of the triangle. Then rolled it into a cone shape. Use a paper clip on the top and bottom to hold it together until the glue dries.

Simple Paper Hats

This party hat may not last as long, but is much easier to fit.

Draw a triangle in the center of the page, with a rectangle that runs the length of the paper at the bottom. Cut out the hat.

• Have the child decorate one side with craft materials, and let dry.
• To fit the party hat to the child's head, use the rectangle as a headband. Measure for size, then tape, glue or staple the hat.
• The triangle is the front of the hat, with the band running around the child's head.

Ideas for Decorating If you aren't using colored paper, paint or spray paint the paper first. Use glitter glue to draw designs on the paper. Glue on yarn, ribbon, pom poms, fancy buttons, sequins, or whatever you have on hand. Use markers or crayons to draw designs on the party hats. Cut out shapes from the left over paper and glue on. Let the kids come up with more craft ideas.

These hats are larger than the traditional birthday hats that need elastic to stay on. You can add ribbon or string to tie the party hats on if the kids want ties on their hats.

Sombrero Hats

Materials

2 sheets of newsprint for each hat
Masking tape
Decorations (see ideas below)

1. Use at least two sheets of large newsprint at least 3' on each side.
   
2. Place the sheets at different angles (should look like an 8 point star).
   
3. Center it over the person's head, and hold scrunch it down to make a head shaped dome in the center.
   
4. Wind masking tape around the bottom of the dome (app. ear level).
   
5. Scrunch and roll the sides in to finish the sombrero shape.
6. Decorate the sombreros using what ever materials you have on hand.

Ideas for Decorations

• Paint or spray paint the paper before it is made, or after the hat is shaped.
• Make a ribbon or paper band to cover the masking tape.
• Make a fringe out of paper, fabric, or ribbon to go around the bring.
• Use glitter glue to draw designs on the paper.
• Glue on yarn, ribbon, pom poms, fancy buttons, sequins, or whatever you have on hand.
• Use markers or crayons to draw designs on the hats.
• Cut out shapes from the left over paper and glue on.
• Make it into an Easter Bonnet by gluing on some silk flowers from an old arrangement or 2nd hand store.
• Let the kids come up with more ideas.

Paper Hats

Follow the idea for Sombrero Hats but create different shapes.

• Push a bit more paper up in the center before winding the masking tape. Use scissors to cut the brim to create a Top Hat shape.
• Similar to a Top Hat, you could make a Stetson Hat. After cutting the brim, use gently pressure to create the crease in the center of the top. Use glue or tape to bring up the sides of the brim.

If you don't want to paint your party hat, use colored tissue paper to create your hat.

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