How to Make a Cat Birthday Hat

DIY Cat Birthday Hat

Many of you commented on how much you liked the cat birthday hat I used for Charlie’s, Trigg’s, Caymus’ and Murphy’s birthday photos.  Because a cat with party hat is so adorably cute.

You wanted to know where to buy a birthday hat for cats – I did not buy it, but made it, so I thought I’d share how I made it.  You can read the instructions or you are welcomed to just watch the video I put together about how I made it.

How to make a cat birthday hat:

WARNING!

I know a lot of people are opposed to dressing up your cat – I don’t think of putting a birthday hat on for 30 seconds for a quick photo as dressing up my cat.  Nonetheless, I am opposed to dressing up cats – unless they need it for warmth.  The curling ribbon on the hat could be VERY dangerous for your kitty if eaten and swallowed.  Furthermore, the hat could cut off your kitty’s circulation, so be aware of these things and only proceed if you believe you are not harming your kitty.  Your finished birthday hat should always be kept out of reach of your cat and should only be around your cat when you are there with it.

What You Need for Cat Party Hat:

1. A computer with an Internet connection
2. A printer
3. A flimsy piece of cardboard (like the one that comes in a nice oxford men’s shirt wrapping) or likewise (you can watch the video below to see what I mean).
4. Curling ribbon or one of those pre-made ones at the Hallmark store
5. One thin hair rubberband
6. Colored paper or plain white paper – just depends on what you’re printing your image on.
7. Glue Stick or glue
8. Scissors
9. Stapler
10. Safety Pin
11. Pen

Step 1:

Download the Birthday Hat Template, print it, cut it out the smaller hat template (the black one).

Step 2:

Take the cut out and trace around it onto the flimsy piece of cardboard.

Also, use the cut out and trace around it onto the image that you want the hat to have.

You can find an image by going to Google Images and typing in, “streamers” for example.

Pick an image, enlarge it to fit a piece of computer paper.  Print it out and then trace around it.

Cut out the traced out image and the cardboard.

Step 3:

Take your cardboard and start to form it into the hat by curving it around until you are able to get it into the shape you want.

Once you have achieved your desired shape, use a stapler to staple the cardboard together.  I usually use two stamples.

Step 4:

Take your thin hair rubberband and cut it so that it is one long rubberband.

Take your safety pin and poke a hole on each side of the hat – directly parallel from one another.

Feed the rubberband through the holes and tie knots on the other side of the hole to keep the rubberband in place.

Step 5:

Smear glue from your glue stick all over the back of the cut out image and then proceed to apply the image portion to the cardboard portion of the hat.

Step 6:
Print out your “Happy Birthday, NAME OF CAT!” on the same color of paper that you printed your decorative image on.  I use 36 point font and then choose a variety of fonts to see which ones I like the most.

Pick the one you like most, and then carefully cut around it, leaving as little white space (get as close to the letter) as you can.

Step 7:

Apply glue from the glue stick to your “Happy Birthday” cut out and then center and apply them onto the hat.

Step 8:

Stuff the curling ribbon down into the top of the hat – so that it stick out on one side but the stuffed in side helps it hold it’s position.

Now you can watch these instructions in action (and not in this same order!):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynRGjCyCc7c[/youtube]