Star-Spangled Topper

Three colors — red, white, and blue — make up this hat trick

No one would dream of keeping her patriotic spirit under her hat on the Fourth of July, but it's the perfect date for wearing a festive all-American cap to a holiday parade or party.

Materials

Large square (minimum 29 by 29 inches) of red-and-white gift wrap, in stripes or any other pattern
Same-size square of blue gift wrap, in any pattern that's predominantly blue
Scissors

Pencil or pen
Colored masking tape
Decorative tinsel (sold at most party stores)

Instructions

Lay the square of red gift wrap printed side down on a flat working surface. Top it with the blue square, but this time make sure the printed side faces up.
Trim the edges to create a large circle and mark five equally spaced points around the circumference. From each point, make a cut that extends about two thirds of the way to the middle.
Center the double-layer snipped circle atop your child's head and shape the crown of the hat by gathering the paper around the top of her forehead. Create a hatband by wrapping colored masking tape around the base of the crown, then reinforce it with a second layer of masking tape.
Remove the hat and roll the sides of each star point so that the red-and-white paper forms a border along the edge. Firmly tape the rolled edges in place. For a finishing touch, securely tape a spray of decorative tinsel to the side of the hatband, and the hat is ready to wear.