Craft Materials
Before starting this project, you’ll need the following materials:
Cardstock, Markers, Paint, Empty Cereal Box, Paint Brush, Scissors, Elmer's Glue, Hot Glue Gun, Circle Shape
Because Dr. Seuss’ birthday is right around the corner, I was inspired to work on a themed kids craft this week. And since “The Cat in the Hat” is my boys’ FAVORITE Dr. Seuss book, I wanted to make the cat’s…hat for them!
I actually worked on this craft because I really wanted to get it posted BEFORE Dr. Seuss’ birthday (March 2nd). My 5 year old wasn’t in a crafting mood today, so I had to take over this craft.
Getting Started
Can you believe it? The hat is made from a cereal box!?! So, I grabbed a Kix cereal box for my hat, red(ish) cardstock and some white paint to get started.
Step 1 – Cut Your Hat Brim
With your cereal box cut apart, trace a circle (on the cardboard side of the cereal box) and cut it out for the BRIM of your hat.
Step 2 – Hot Glue Your Hat Crown Together
I used the OTHER side of the cereal box and folded it over. I added some hot glue to keep it firmly in place.
Quick Tip: For a better surface to paint, it’s best to leave the cardboard side facing out.
Step 3 – Cut and Mark Your Strips
I really wanted our hat to look JUST LIKE the real hat, so we didn’t cut our red strips straight. We added a little ZIG-ZAG look to it!
Then, we went over the red strips with a black marker to create a shadow look on the hat.
Step 4 – Paint Your Hat Pieces
With the hat’s crown TOGETHER and brim cut out, we went over the entire hat with TWO coats of white paint and let dry for 45 minutes.
Step 5 – Add Your Red Strips
Have your child add a little glue to BOTH ends of their red strips and firmly press them into place.
Side Note: Love crafts inspired by kid’s books? If so, you’ll love my “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” fingerpaint art and “What Makes a Rainbow?” tissue paper rainbow crafts!
Step 6 – Glue Your Hat Pieces Together
FINALLY, it’s time to put your hat together!! We added glue to one end of the crown and FIRMLY pressed it onto the hat’s brim. Let dry for 1 hour.
Step 7 – Draw Shadows to Hat Crown and Brim
To fully complete the look of the hat, add MORE lines on the white parts of the hat (creating more shadows).
Step 8 – Finishing Touches
I am SO excited with how the Cat in the Hat inspired hat turned out. I really think it looks pretty close to the ORIGINAL hat in the book!!
I think Dr. Seuss would be proud!
My son was impressed with how the hat turned out (maybe he’ll want to make one himself).
To put a STAMP on this craft, we pulled out “The Cat in the Hat” and “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back” for a little reading time. This was a GREAT way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ upcoming birthday!
