As I'm sure you know, it's really hard to find Disney Thanksgiving items, so I decided that I'd make a few of my own. I've been trying to find something to put on our table as a centerpiece. These Mickey Mouse pilgrim hat decorations are perfect!
Want to make your own Mickey Pilgrim Hat decoration? Here's how I made them:
Materials:
Terra Cotta Flowerpots (I used 5" diameter pots)
Acrylic Paints (brown, black)
Paint Brushes
Newspaper (to cover your work area)
Pencil
Black Craft Foam (I used thicker 1/4" foam that I found at Michael's)
Something round to trace for the ears (I used a cup)
Scissors
Clear Sealant Spray (optional)
Black Ribbon (I used 7/8" for my larger pots)
Thin Yellow Craft Foam
Hot Glue Gun
1.) Paint Base and Second Layers
Flip your flower pots upside down and paint them brown with a base layer. If you'd like, you can paint the inside of them. (I painted mine black to make them look more finished.) After the base coat is dried, paint a second coat over the first.
2.) Make Mouse Ears
While waiting for your paint to dry, you can start working on your mouse ears. Find a small cup or something else that's about 3" in diameter. (If you're using pots that are smaller or larger than I did, find something that looks about the correct ratio of hat to ear.) Trace the cup onto your black craft foam using your pencil. You'll need two ears per flower pot. Cut them out with scissors and set aside.
3.) Spray with Sealant (optional)
Once you are satisfied with your paint job, it's time to seal the paint! (Acrylic paint is water based so you need to seal it to make sure you won't accidentally mess up your hard work.) Go outside or in a well-ventilated area since sealant is toxic and pretty smelly. Follow the directions on your sealant. Most sealants will have you spray 2-3 thin coats. Make sure that you cover the inside and outside of the pot. (I actually forgot this step, but since my hats are going to stay inside, I'm ok with that!)
4.) Prepare Mouse Ears
Once your flower pots are sealed, you can start to attach the decorative items. First, take your mouse ears and line them up with the upside down flower pot. I drew a small line across one side of the ear. Next, I cut off that section of the ear so I'd have a flat surface to attach to the pot. Cut the same amount off each ear making sure not to take too much off. (See photo above for example.)
Once your flower pots are sealed, you can start to attach the decorative items. First, take your mouse ears and line them up with the upside down flower pot. I drew a small line across one side of the ear. Next, I cut off that section of the ear so I'd have a flat surface to attach to the pot. Cut the same amount off each ear making sure not to take too much off. (See photo above for example.)
5.) Cut and Attach Ribbon
Next, measure your ribbon by wrapping it around the flower pot. I cut off a little bit extra. Then, use hot glue to slowly attach it around the pot. The pot gets smaller so the ribbon will not fit completely flush with the pot. Just make it as tight as you can. If you have extra, you can also cut it off once the ribbon is attached.
Next, measure your ribbon by wrapping it around the flower pot. I cut off a little bit extra. Then, use hot glue to slowly attach it around the pot. The pot gets smaller so the ribbon will not fit completely flush with the pot. Just make it as tight as you can. If you have extra, you can also cut it off once the ribbon is attached.
6.) Make and Attach Buckle
Cut off a small rectangular piece of yellow craft foam. I really just guesstimated the sizing, but my circles were probably about 1" x 1.5". Make a small hole in the center of your buckle with the pencil, then use your scissors to cut out a center rectangle. I left about 1/4" on the edge of the entire buckle. Then, use your hot glue to attach it to the hat over the ribbon. I attached mine over the ribbon overlap, or where there was a place on the ribbon that I wanted to hide.
Cut off a small rectangular piece of yellow craft foam. I really just guesstimated the sizing, but my circles were probably about 1" x 1.5". Make a small hole in the center of your buckle with the pencil, then use your scissors to cut out a center rectangle. I left about 1/4" on the edge of the entire buckle. Then, use your hot glue to attach it to the hat over the ribbon. I attached mine over the ribbon overlap, or where there was a place on the ribbon that I wanted to hide.
7.) Attach Ears
Finally, use hot glue to attach your mouse ears. If you're looking down on the flower pot, picture it like a clock: with the buckle at the 6:00 position, you want to attach your ears at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. This is the easiest way to figure out where to attach them. Make small pencil marks before gluing down if necessary. You're done!
Finally, use hot glue to attach your mouse ears. If you're looking down on the flower pot, picture it like a clock: with the buckle at the 6:00 position, you want to attach your ears at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. This is the easiest way to figure out where to attach them. Make small pencil marks before gluing down if necessary. You're done!
Find a place display your creation and enjoy your new Mickey Mouse Pilgrim Hat Decoration!!! I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! °o°
Happy Thanksgiving! The Mickey Pilgrim hats are adorable...
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! I'm so relieved to finally have posted this tutorial after thinking about it for so long... haha! Happy Thanksgiving!!! :-)
Delete