I love any excuse to wear a hat. Doesn’t matter if it’s a pipe cleaner tiara or an old scarf wrapped around my mangy hair; give me a legit excuse to wear a hat and I’m there. Parties are good, but parties where all people are encouraged to wear head gear are the best
So when my friend Brendan asked if I could help with his daughter’s seventh birthday party, and it was going to be tea party themed, and the girls were all bringing their dolls, I said “I’M ON IT.”
What a perfect excuse to use up some of my craft stash and put a new twist on an old classic: paper plate hats.
If you have ever attended a bridal shower where the gift ribbons get stapled to a paper plate, you know what I got the idea for this project. Of course, when my BFF got married last year, I went all over-achiever and made her ribbons into a rose bouque, thereby missing out on all the paper plate and ribbon fun. Until now….
Materials (for each hat)
- one paper or plastic bowl
- two pipe cleaners
- one headband (they sell five for $1 at my Dollar Store)
- six strips of tissue paper, roughly 23″x10″
- Fun stuff: Stickers, ribbons, feathers, etc… I suggest you route around your cupboards and empty out all the little bits from leftover projects. Hush now, you know you have some.
This makes a great party craft for a wide window of age groups, but could certainly be done on a one-on-one basis too. The flower pinching/twisting process is a pretty easy concept to grasp for kindergarten and older, although some kids, even, ahem, big kids, may appreciate a hand with a delicate touch when it comes to pulling apart the tissue paper. The best part is that every hat comes out in its own special way, and the munchkins feel special when they wear it.
Sound good to you?
Let’s get started…
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Use a needle or pointy object to poke two pairs of holes on opposite sides of the bowl. Lace one pipe cleaner through each hole, leaving a loop on either side. |
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If you love craft foam like I do, you have a shoebox of these laying around already. If not, go get some. It’s good stuff! On this particular occasion, I told each girl they could chose ten stickers, and with the exception of one “SHE GOT MORE SPARKLIES THAN I DID” out cry, there was zero bickering over the sticker box. Everyone was far too anxious to don their new hat and get to the tea party. |
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!!!!!!!! TA DAH !!!!!!! |

Okay, HOW CUTE, are those pictures?
I have never heard of paper plate hats. I am now in love with paper plate hats. You are the funnest and most rockin’ party costumer ever! I love the method for attaching the headband – super smart and secure.
I blow a vuvusela at this post!
very cute! What a great idea!
Are those the happiest looking kids in the whole world or what? Love your paper-plate hats (well ALL your hats actually); they’re just so happy, cute and colourful!
They look so adorable! And I love how they’re made with such whimsy and with everyday materials. Your party crafts always have that extra special personal touch!
How adorable! My daughter and her friends would love these! Like don’t look too difiuclt to make either. Thanks for a fab craft tip!
L♥Ve. A great twist with awesome results. Precious girls.
What a cute craft… love it!
Looks like everyone had a great time.
Hip, hip… hooray for tea parties :]
These hats are great! I want to make grown up ones the next time I have friends over.
Great hats! Princess Eugenie should have come to you first then she wouldn’t have looked like she was wearing the loo with the seat up at the royal wedding.
what an ADORABLE idea!
How cute, cute, cute!!!
HAHAHA! I love Ellicia’s comment! And I love these hats! I want to make one! I’ll be spreading the word about this fun idea.