DIY Mad Hatter Hat for Halloween

It's been too long! I do apologise! I have had severe bloggers block but I have a couple posts planned for Halloween.
Recently I did a post about an Alice in Wonderland tea party I had and I thought I would do a DIY post on the Tim Burton style Mad Hatter hat which I wore. This is actually quite simple and everything that I used were things I found in my house, I didn't need to purchase anything. This is a great look for a Halloween party or it could be used as a prop or decoration.

I have another post to come on the makeup and outfit for anyone that wants to do the full thing. Here is how to make the hat in 12 easy steps:

Items used: 
Strong Cardboard (I used the bases of two cardboard boxes)
Paper
Cellotape
Staple gun or glue gun
Black or patterned fabric
Other fabric for inside and band
Wooden skewers
Cocktail sticks
Beads
Paper Mache + newspaper strips

Steps:

1. Create a circle for a base that fits your head using one or more pieces of strong cardboard. (I stupidly made it a bit small so it doesn't actually fit around my head, only sits on top)

2. Make the bottom band where the bright fabric strip goes. Attach to the base with cellotape or masking tape.

3. Attach 6 or 7 wooden skewers to the band. I stuck them into the cardboard and used tape to secure them in place.

4. Place a circle of cardboard, a similar size to the base on top of the skewers. Bring the skewers to the outside of the circle so that they bend a little, giving the frame of the hat. Push the circle down a little so it would stay in place and secure it to the skewers with tape. Make sure the top is flat.

5. Cover the sides with paper to form the shape.

6. Use paper mache over the paper and the board. The end of the skewers prove very handy as you can do the bottom of the hat without the paper mache touching the table.

7. Once you have done a layer or two (one will do, it's quite sturdy by itself with the frame) leave it to dry.

8. Cut off the top of the skewers that are sticking out.

9. Depending on what kind of fabric you are using, cover the hat by sticking it in place with glue or staples. I used a staple gun with mine as PVA glue wasn't strong enough and a glue gun went straight through the fabric. The staples do look a little messy but I tucked in what I could under other sections on the fabric.

Make sure you cover the whole bottom of the hat as you will see underneath it when worn.

10. Use another kind of fabric for the inside. No need to line the whole inside, just a kind of bubble in the centre.

11. Create a band of bright material around the outside of the hat. I used the same red material although I ended up putting a scarf around it as it gave a better effect.

12. Decorate the hat with the traditional 10/6 note which i made by drawing it onto some card and burning the edges to make it look old. Add any other decorations such as feathers or pins which I made from cocktail sticks and beads.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I haven't done a DIY in a while so I might get back into doing them. I hope this has given you some interesting Halloween ideas.

Étáin

xxx

Alice in Wonderland themed tea party

 *Before I start this post I would just like to let you know that I am not a normal teenager.*

 Bit of a different kind of post today. So recently I organised an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party as part of this come-dine-with me thing my friends and I are doing. This was so much fun to plan and organise!I love being able to be creative like this! I also made all my friends dress up as one of the characters. I based it mainly around the 2010 Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland.

I made these little "Drink Me" bottles by filling old spice bottles with water and food colouring.

I added little details like mismatched tea cups and playing cards around the room and on the table.

 

I had been gathering various teacups and teapots from friends and charity shops for weeks. 

Savoury food consisted of sandwiches pastries and pies.

I also covered the table in lace and doileys.

I made a little "This Way, That Way" sign to put outside.

 

(Left to right) White Queen, Rabbit (in a donkey onesey), Red queen, Alice, Mouse, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, The Mad Hatter (Me) and the Caterpillar.

We're all a little mad but all the best people are (see what I did there?).

I was of course the Mad Hatter. I made the hat using cardboard, paper mache, fabric and a lot of stables.

The costume was made from items of clothing I found in my house. My mums coat, my old school trousers, my brother's shoes, my scarf, shirt and socks. I also made the string of sewing reels.

I might do a tutorial on the makeup, hair and hat. It would make a great halloween costume!

I put fairy lights and netting above the table, giving the room a magical effect.

For dessert we had sponge cake and assorted cupcakes.

I hope you enjoyed this random post. It was so much fun so I had to write about it. I really like doing lifestyle posts like this. I also hope this has given you some ideas for Halloween!

Étáin

xxx