Decorchick!

A Princess Birthday Party Hat

Well, luckily you can’t see my tears through your computer screen, but my little princess is going to be 1 year old on Friday.  It’s been very emotional for me planning her little party.  I just can’t believe she’s almost 1.  It doesn’t take much for me to cry or tear up.  I’ve been tearing up walking the aisles at Target and Hobby Lobby just looking at birthday stuff.  I’m excited at the same time, but whenever I start talking or think about it, I pretty much lose it.  I hope I can keep it together at her party.

Since we are on a budget, I wanted to make some things for Emma.  Ok, I’ll quit blabbering and get to the hat!

This is what I made…

That’s her party hat!  I hope she will wear it at least long enough for me to get a picture.  But isn’t that the cutest thing ever??

I saw this hat on The City Cradle and followed her tutorial exactly, and it couldn’t have been easier.

First you take some embroidery thread and a paper party hat.  Then you tape the end of the thread on the inside of the hat and just start wrapping.  And wrapping, and wrapping and wrapping.   You’ll just have to mess with it and once you get in the groove, you’ll get it.  It took me a few times to get it right.  Here it is after it was wrapped up.

Then you take a bowl and fill it with liquid fabric fabric stiffener (you can find it at Wal-Mart or sometimes a big grocery store), and then dip the whole hat in there making sure it all gets soaked.

After you soak it all, then you can make the little point on the hat and it will stay like that.

Then all you have to do is let it dry overnight, but I let mine sit for 3 days because I used a LOT more thread than the above link and so it took longer to dry.  You’ll know it’s ready when it’s completely hardened and no longer has wet spots.

After it’s hardened, just flip the hat over and cut a slit in the paper, and carefully wiggle it out.  I just used some scissors and kind of pried it out.

Cool huh?  I’ve never even heard of fabric stiffener before this project or knew it would even make a mold like this.  So cool!

Here is what the inside of the hat mold looks like in case you are interested.

Then you’ve got your hat all ready and you can decorate however you wish.  I adorned Emma’s with a little bow and pearls.

I still have to glue on some ribbon on the inside so I can tie it under her chin.

Here are 2 tips…Don’t throw away your bowl of liquid after you dredge your hat.  I didn’t see any reason to since it was only in there for 1 second, so I just poured it back in the bottle.  Also, if your hat mold isn’t perfectly round on the bottom when it’s dry, you can just trim it with some scissors.  I had to do that.

So, that’s the party hat!  I will definitely be saving this…like, forever.  It will look cute in her room. :)

Gosh this was a hard post to write.  When I show you the other thing I made, that’s going to be even more difficult for me to write and will be fighting back the tears. Arghhh, *sniff sniff.*

*UPDATE – Please click here to see the party post and a picture of her wearing it for 1 second!*

xxoo,

Decorchick!

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Comments

  1. annelise says

    How very precious, you will have this as a keepsake forever. These could be so much fun to make every year with a different theme. What a collection they could be.

  7. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    What a pretty little birthday hat! I hope she leaves it on long enough for you to get a picture, too. Oh boy, if you are getting upset at her turning 1, you’re not going to like the future. My teary moments {just to name a few from recent years} included entering high school, getting driving permits, getting driver’s licenses, senior year in high school and first {and thank God, only} year away at college. Hang in there, Mom! : )

  9. Amanda says

    What a great product! I can think of so many projects to use that fabric stiffener for. Can’t wait to the the picture of her with it on!

    • Decorchick! says

      Thanks Amanda me too! I’ve been thinking of what else to use it on, but haven’t thought of any yet. Hope something comes to mind soon. :)

  10. Dawn says

    Great job! So very sweet.Hopefully she’ll keep it on long enough for you to get a picture! :-) I love sta-flo. I use it on all my bows so they keep their shape.
    I feel your pain-my baby turned 12 this week!
    PS-I think I have the same bowls-set of 3 nesting from Williams-Sonoma?

  15. Megan {Honey We're Home} says

    I can only imagine the emotions you are going through right now! You are a great mommy. Enjoy your baby and have a great time at the party. The hat is perfect and I’m sure she will treasure it.

  19. Jessica says

    Oh that is adorable. Happy Birthday to your little girl. They grow up so fast. My little girl is now 15 and we are making plans for her sweet sixteen. I feel like crying.

  20. Andrea says

    You have a lovley keepsake of her first birthday. My two angels are 7 and 11 now but I can remember the excitement of their first birthdays too. Enjoy her, the years fly sniff sniff!!

    • Decorchick! says

      Oh Andrea I bet you do. The saying really is true that the years fly by. I’m still in shock she’s 1 already. :( Thanks so much for commenting. :)

  23. MessyMissy says

    Seriously?? That is the awesomest birthday hat ever. Way to go!! My munchkin is turning 4 in a month. My biggest recommendation: keep a journal of all the moments, activities, words, actions, favorite’s, sayings, etc. that you can think of as they pop up. Especially from this age forward….because it starts to get really active, fun, and….well, hilarious!! I have a large journal filled with our favorite moments and we regularly go back over them with the munchkin and she gets such a KICK out of hearing all of the things she did. It’s so great to have those memories written down….it’s unbelivable how fast they sneak away from your memory. :-)

  24. MJ says

    So cute! Am sure the princess was delighted to wear it :) It happens to be my sister’s bday too today, I wonder if she would wear this, having just turned 36? LOL. Found you via ‘something I whipped up Monday’ link party btw. Have a great Monday!

  25. Jacqueline says

    I love this cute idea. I can’t believe how cute it is with the pearls and ribbon. They keep growing don’t they, but one stage leads to another cuter one. Have fun with the princess! So nice to meet you.

  27. Belladune says

    This is absolutely adorable! The first birthday is hard! They grow to quickly. I’m sending my first off to Kindergaten on the 1st of September…. Talk about a tear filled day! I still can’t belive he’s 5… Anyway.. My Daughter will be 1 in January and I just might have to make her a hat like this… And keep it forever. Thank you for the idea!
    PS. Linked over from Skip to my Lou. :D

  28. anne says

    How adorable, what what a lot of work wrapping! But totally worth it! A little one’s first birthday is always an event. Good luck with your party.

  32. Nikki says

    Awwwwwwwww, thats so sweet!!!!!!!!!! One tip…make sure YOU get in some of the pictures at her big party!! I look back at pics of my sons 1st b-day party and I was so busy taking the pics I didn’t get in any…its my 1 regret! LOVE the hat tho, she’ll look sooo sweet in it I’m sure! Thanks for linking up!! :)

  33. Sarah @ The Pumpkin Patch says

    This is soooo cute! I love it. Thanks for linking it up to my Transform Tuesday post. I can’t wait to see pics of the party. My little miss just had her 4th birthday this past Sunday and I made her a Sleeping Beauty cake. I’ll be posting in on Friday, so come back and take a peek.

  34. Helena says

    Aww, I’ve never seen anything like this. What a perfect party hat!

    Thank you for participating in the Therapy Session with Life in the Pitts!

  35. Megan Berry says

    I popped over to see photos of the party – she looks so sweet with it on! The party looks great, too! So much pink goodness. I have a four year old daughter (only child) and I’ve gotta say that it doesn’t get any easier watching them grow up. It’s bitter sweet and I can totally understand your tears when her birthday approaches. I hope everyone had fun at the party!

  37. Heather says

    That is so precious!!! I adore pink!

    First birthdays are so hard – my first (and last!) boy just turned one, and I think I cried for a month straight. Packing away his infant toys and clothes was the worst.

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