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With Easter just around the corner I have been focusing my energy on getting excited about Spring (and vocally wishing away the cold and ill ridden months of winter) and the upcoming celebrations. Easter bonnet hats are rather nostalgic for me, and take me back to being a little girl proudly wearing mine. Both Bees will be wearing them to do their nursery Easter bonnet parade, and then the family Easter egg hunts at home. Below I have detailed how I made each one for the children.
(L): 'The Picket Fence' Bonnet Hat, (R): 'The Meadow' Bonnet Hat
I got all of my supplies from Hobbycraft (except for the sheep and chicks, which were from Poundland). Both of the hats that I purchased from Hobbycraft were too large for their heads. Therefore, using a needle and thread you can pinch together some of the material at the back, and then sew it together to tighten it.
The Picket Fence Bonnet Hat
Materials:
Boater hat
White wooden fence
Faux grass roll
Yellow shredded paper
x3 yellow pipe cleaners
Felt decorations
Sheep decorations
Scissors
Glue gun
Steps:
Measuring the height of the hat I cut two strips of the faux grass so that it was slightly above.
Using the glue gun I then affixed the strips around the hat and made sure the two pieces met at each side rather than at the front.
I then measured the fence around the grass and using wire cutters removed the excess fence.
Using the glue gun I then glued this on top of the faux grass and made sure the ends met at the back of the hat.
Then I cut different lengths of the pipe cleaners and curled them around my finger.
I then made sure that the sharp end of each that was being glued onto the hat was bent flat.
I used the glue gun to affix the pipe cleaners to the top of the hat. I held each in place whilst the glue hardened.
Using the yellow shredded paper I filled in the top of the hat. I glued down small handfuls at at time until I reached the look I wanted.
Little Bee then came and gave some direction on the final design.
I followed his instructions and glued the decorations onto the hat, and onto the end of the pipe cleaners.
To ensure the bonnet hat stay in place on Little Bee's head I glued a piece of ribbon on inside of the hat in line with where his ear would be. I then repeated this on the other side in the same colour ribbon. I can now tie a bow under his chin using the ribbons.
Both Bees parading their Easter bonnet hats
The Meadow Bonnet Hat
Materials:
Boater hat
x2 green foam A4 sheets
Flower decorations
Green shredded paper
Felt decorations
Mini bird nests
Sheep and chick decorations
Small plastic pastel eggs
Pencil
Scissors
Glue gun
Steps:
I cut both pieces of foam in half along its length. You will now have x4 pieces of foam.
Using a pencil then draw out the grass blades onto each piece of foam making sure you leave about 1cm gap along the bottom.
Then cut along the pencil marks for each, and you will be left with your grass blades.
You will use x2 grass lengths to act as the back blades and x2 grass lengths will act as the front blades - so that the heights look staggered.
Using the glue gun stick one of the foam grass sheets onto the hat making sure the middle lines up with the front of the hat. Also, make sure that it is glued a little higher off the base (as the back blades will be higher).
Glue the second back strip of grass on. The front and back strips will meet at the side.
Then stick on the first front grass strip and position it so that it is sitting flush on the hat. Line up the centre of the strip with the front of the hat. If step 4-6 have been followed correctly then it will be lower than the back blades already in place.
Glue on the last strip of grass around the back. The ends of each will meet at the side of the hat.
Add glue to a small area on the top of the hat and place a small handful of green shredded paper. Do this until all of the hat is covered.
Glue the desired number of chicks and pastel plastic eggs to each nest. Then glue the nests onto the green shredded paper.
Decorate the rest of the hat with felt decorations, flowers, sheep and chicks.
As with the other bonnet hat, I glued pieces of matching ribbon in the inside of the hat (on each side) so to keep the hat in place on Big Bee's head.
I had lots of different pieces of ribbon in different colours and I wanted to make a feature at the back, so I glued these in place and then glued x2 flowers on the top to tidy it up.
Hopefully, you find the steps above easy to follow. If you decide to give one of the designs above a go, then I hope that you are you and your little one are happy with the final masterpiece.
Wishing you all a wonderful Easter - may it be filled with much love, light and hope.