how to make a paper graduation hat

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How to Make Your Own Graduation Hats

Last Updated: March 20, 2024 Tested

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff . Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 211,818 times. Learn more...

Making a graduation hat can be a fun thing to do if your kid is graduating from kindergarten or elementary school, for instance, or if you want to take graduation pictures before you have your actual hat. You can create a simple hat from poster board and foam core board or cardboard. To complete the look, add a tassel. Alternatively, take some time to decorate a pre-bought graduation hat so you'll stand out from the crowd.

Things You Should Know

• Quotes, song lyrics, illustrations, and puns are all popular options for graduation hat decorations.
• You can construct your own graduation cap out of poster board , construction paper , and hot glue .
• To make the cap, fold the construction paper in half lengthwise and roll it into a cylinder; add a square-shaped piece of poster board on top.
• You can make a tassel using gold yarn and embroidery floss .

Decorating a Graduation Hat

• For instance, you could write "earned it!" if you're becoming an registered nurse or add an apple or ABC's if you're going to be a teacher.
• You could also just paint on one of your favorite characters, flowers, or animals and the year you graduate.
• Many hats focus on the adventure that awaits ahead.

• You can find a wide range of scrapbook paper in single sheets at your local craft store.

• For more oomph, make your hat 3D. Glue on silk flowers, pompoms, feather, or rhinestones, for instance.
• Alternatively, use stick-on letters.
• If you have a vinyl cutting machine, you can cut out professional-looking letters to stick on your hat.

Creating a Graduation Hat

• If you want to make sure the hat will be form-fitting, wrap a piece of string around your head and measure the length with a ruler. Then, add 2 inches (5.1 cm) for overlap. That will be the long side you measure on the poster board.
• Children's hat sizes range from 20 inches (51 cm) for preschool kids to 22 inches (56 cm) for teens. Don't forget to add 2 inches (5.1 cm) or so for overlap.
• You can also use construction paper.
• Wrap the long side around your head (or the person you're making it for) to see if it fits with a little overlap. If it's too long, you can trim a bit off.
• Basically, you need to fold the edge of the paper up 1 inch (2.5 cm) or so along the long side of the paper. You can measure this out and fold it that way if you prefer.
• You should end up with flaps sticking up from the fold every 2 inches (5.1 cm) or so.
• You can run a glue stick along the edge or use basic white school glue. A hot glue gun would also work, but always be careful when applying hot glue! It can burn your fingers.

• You can find foam core board at most craft stores and big box stores. Alternatively, cover a piece of cardboard with black paper.
• If you're having trouble cutting the foam core with scissors, use a craft knife to cut along the lines. Always cut away form you and make sure there's something underneath the board so you don't scratch the surface you're cutting on.
• You can use glue sticks or regular school glue.
• If you want to add a tassel, wait to glue this piece on.
• You can also use a small brad instead, inserting it through the top of the hat. [12] X Research source

Making a Tassel

• You can add other colors by cutting off one color and wrapping a different color on the next go round.
• You can also use a form instead, such as a piece of cardboard you cut to size.
• To tie a square knot, wrap one end over and under the other end, then do the same with the other end, pulling them both tight.
• This creates the fringe for your tassel.
• Tuck the ends of the knot under the wrap.
• Run your fingers through the tassel to make sure you got all the longer pieces.
• At this point, you can glue your foam core board button on top of the string and the hole to hold it in place. Hot glue will work best, but you can also use school glue.
• To create an overhand knot , make a loop with both strings together as one string, then pull the end through the loop on the other side.

Community Q&A

Things You'll Need

Creating a paper and cardboard graduation hat.

• Poster board or construction paper
• Foam core board
• Glue or glue sticks
• Needle or toothpick
• Scrapbook paper
• Stickers or printed images
• Pompoms, flowers, feathers, or rhinestones, optional
• Sticker or vinyl lettering, optional

• Make sure your school doesn't have rules against decorated graduation caps. You don't want to put in all that work and then need to switch to a plain hat. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.seventeen.com/life/school/a17779/decorated-graduation-caps/
• ↑ https://www.hercampus.com/school/u-mass-amherst/how-decorate-your-graduation-cap-tips-tricks-ideas
• ↑ https://dabbled.org/how-to-make-a-paper-graduation-cap/
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=44
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=65
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=86
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=188
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt16p3XTqBA&feature=youtu.be&t=14
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fZnWeysSY&feature=youtu.be&t=271
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt16p3XTqBA&feature=youtu.be&t=41
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2pIqhQTdIM&feature=youtu.be&t=87
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2pIqhQTdIM&feature=youtu.be&t=138

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How to DIY Your Graduation Cap

Introduction: How to DIY Your Graduation Cap

So I am graduating this semester and was reminded of decorating my graduation cap. I began to look up videos and how-to’s, but none of them really helped me, so I decided to make my own Instructable!

*Note: There are two options of decorating caps- directly on the cap and on cardstock paper to attach onto the cap. This instructable is for the latter.

Step 1: Materials

All materials are from Joann’s. Compared to Amazon, searching for similar supplies, I saved around $20! As I mentioned in the past Instructable, plan ahead so you can save the best coupons and make a single trip.

• Old Scrapbook Paper
• Scrapbook Paper- Darice Cardstock (12 x 12, #2 Black Midnight) for $0.99/piece
• Red Flowers*- Allstate Flower Stem (30”, Hydrangea Spray) for $8.99 original
• Pen-touch, Permanent Paint Marker, Fine point for $2.99 original
• DecoColor**, Oil Base Paint Marker, Extra Fine point for $4.99 original
• Paintbrush- Gold Taklon Fiber (Short flat brush) for $2.49
• Silver, 0.6 oz, Fine for $0.99
• Gold, 0.75 oz, Extra Fine for $1.99

I ended up not using the white paint that was in the picture.

*Flowers: The flower stem was 30” long! I immediately chopped off the stem since I knew I would not be using the stem or the huge leaves on my cap. These flowers are small and simple! They’re quite expensive, but I would suggest getting the stemmed ones (~$8-10 originally) which have plenty of flowers and varieties and are cheaper than the wreath or dangling types ($15-18 originally).

**DecoColor marker: This pen started out fine, but for some reason, whether through a long time of not being used, the cap got stuck! I tried to pry the cap off with scissors, pliers, etc. but it was completely stuck. I ended up tossing it and just using the Pen-Touch, so I would suggest not wasting your money.

***Glitter Pics: The silver glitter ($0.99) was perfect amount and cost but they were out of the same type in gold! I was offered the gold in the pic as an option and I thought, “Why not! Sparkling silver and glittering gold, maybe the different size/texture will be good.” In the final steps of adding glitter, I learned that "extra fine" glues on better and forms more clear words.

Step 2: Idea Planning

Decide what you want on your cap, whether it’s a picture(s), a quote, a catchphrase, etc. I already knew I would use a quote about a book or from a book, so I just needed a few choices to narrow down.

The full quote I chose is, "One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us," from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I sketched the words out a few times on paper and it felt too long, so I shortened it to, "One must always be careful of books... for words have the power to change us."

Note- I had searched on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. for ideas and @kimscustomcaps on IG was very helpful for basic instructions and ideas.

Once my idea was set, I used a Word doc to draft out how my cap could look in terms of word positioning and colors. This was very helpful to me and it gives you the chance to play with different fonts, colors and any inserts, which no other tutorial suggested.

Step 3: Sketching

Now actually sketch it out to size. I used an old piece of scrapbook paper and a pencil and lightly sketched what I wanted. Now you will have a better scale to work with and this can be done before any shopping. Joann's sells single sheets of cardstock if you already know you don’t need a pack but I bought two sheets to be safe.

Step 4: Main Quote/Idea

With my cardstock and materials now ready, I cut the cardstock to size (9.5 x 9.5). Joann’s cardstock is good because the base (what the paper is made of) is also black, so the edges are black as well, despite being cut. I sketched a border and lines to have a clear idea of where my writing would be. The Pen-Touch pen is pretty nice- the two pics show the difference between 1 layer versus 4 layers.

Step 5: Glitter TIme

I filled out the entire quote with the Pen-touch and silver and gold Bic markers, but with the markers, I also outlined them with black.

Now it was glitter time! I used three small cups for the glitters and one for water to dilute the glue, which I used a paintbrush to paint onto the gold and silver letters. This process of painting glue, pouring glitter, and knocking off loose glitter was time-consuming. I would suggest- if you have time- to let the glue dry a bit before checking bald spots and adding more glue and glitter.

*There is a slight difference in the “one” because I redid it, but the process is the same.

Step 6: Finalize

Final product! I added glitter word by word. The extra fine gold stayed glued much better than the fine silver and the words came out much clearer as well, so I would suggest find extra fine glitter if you plan to glue and glitter. I had extra gold ribbon which I used for the border and came out very nicely. The ribbon and flowers were both glue-gunned on, and the books around the border were simply written in one layer with the Pen-Touch pen.

To attach the cardstock onto the cap, I used a Xacto knife to cut a "+" shape into the circle, then cut off the triangles so there was a diamond shape in the circle. I fit and adjusted the size of the diamond as much as possible to fit it onto the cap. Be careful about making cuts too big or you'll have a small hole. If your cardstock is the same color as your cap- no big deal.

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