I made these hats for The Upcyclist Party Contest sponsored by Craft and Singer, but they were so easy and fun I thought I’d share how I made them!
What you’ll need:
party hat template
plastic bags of different colors
iron
scissors
parchment paper
magazine/catalog cut into strips
glue gun
super glue
pins
twine
Prepare bag by cutting handles and bottom, then fold over until you have at least 4 layers (consult this video or this month’s Craft for detailed instructions). Lay on top of parchment paper. Do not fuse yet!
Cut contrasting colored bag into strips:
Then cut across strips using different angles to make confetti:
Gather confetti and sprinkle evenly all over the bag:
Carefully place another sheet of parchment paper on top:
With the iron set at a low to medium temp (depending on how thick your plastic is) iron evenly all over the plastic bag until it is fused together to form one piece. Allow the bag to cool before lifting the parchment paper so that it keeps its shape.
Once your bag is completely fused, turn it over and trace your template onto the back:
I added about an inch and a half to the template to make it a little bigger. You can adjust the size as needed:
Cut along your outline:
Now take your magazine strips:
and use your glue gun to glue around the strips about 4-5 inches into one side:
Use a helper or clothespins to help you keep the strips gathered tightly while gluing:
Cut the unused end and superglue into place on hat. Allow a few minutes for the strips to dry:
Dab more superglue along edge of hat where the ends will overlap and pin into place:
Push pins all the way through to hold the ends together tightly:
Allow to dry…and you’re done!
Now go out and have some fun!
If you’re also interested in the bunting you see in the background, simply fuse more bags, cut them into triangles and sew to ribbon or hang from twine!
Let me know if you try this, and please feel free to comment or email with questions if you have any!
For more great upcycled party decoration ideas check out the Upcyclist Party Flickr pool!
i love it! we have our 2 year old’s party this week and if i get adventurous i am totally trying this!
You’re a genius! I saw your sneak peek below and guessed hat. They’re really delightful and totally perfect in every way. Love the bunting, too. I’m so impressed with how you took the fusible plastic idea and ran with it! Hurray! Great tutorial, too! I’m rootin’ for you!
I am just wondering if the fusing plastic creates toxic fumes?
What a great re-use for those bags!
I hope you win the sewing machine for this project!!
These are super-cute–I would have had no idea you used fused plastic bags! The confetti inside is GENIUS!
Go go go!
I would never had guessed those were plastic shopping bags at first glance!
Thanks everybody!
@ Rebecca- I wasn’t sure how the fumes would be so I did all my fusing out on my screened porch. Honestly, I didn’t smell a thing. I’m not sure if that really means anything or not, or if maybe different bags produce more noxious fumes than others, but I never noticed any fumes as I was working.
OH WOWZA, I totally dig this Chrissy!! Who knew!
cute idea!! my daughter will have a blast with this project.
i guess i left a comment for you on the wrong blog - sorry! the 5 hr pride & prejudice i’m obsessed with is the A&E version with colin firth. don’t start watching it. i’m serious. it’s so hard to stop. (thanks for stopping by my blog the other day!)
[...] Vote confetti party hat tutorial [...]
just linked to you…made a plastic bag this wknd.