Newspaper Hats

With this whimsical hat design, your kids might not make headline news, but they'll be wearing it. Fashioning one is simple--all you need is newspaper and tape.

Unfold several double sheets of newspaper, or cut colored tissue paper, crepe paper or recycled gift wrap into pieces of comparable size. Place the paper on top of your child's head, fanning out the sheets in different directions. Then, form the crown of the hat, using your hands to gather the paper, all the way around, at eyebrow level. For a brow band, wrap the base of the crown with a long piece of masking tape. Reinforce with a second layer. For taller styles, such as a stovepipe or a Stetson, bundle up the paper so that it rises several inches above your child's forehead before you apply tape.

Once you fashion the crown, remove the hat from your child's head and use scissors to shape the brim. Round the edges to make a floppy bonnet, then decorate with a ribbon sash and silk flowers. To style a derby, trim the brim an inch or two from the brow band and adorn with a feather. For a baseball cap, cut the brim flush with the brow band along the sides and back. Then, round the front brim to create a visor. Another style is a watch cap: merely roll up the brim all the way to the band.