Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway: The Paper Hat Book by Alyn Carlson and how to make a bunny cone hat

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the paper hat bookWith Halloween just around the corner The Paper Hat Book: Super Hats for Super Kids could be just the book you need to make darling hats for you and your kids along with fun decorations. Leave a comment in today’s post by Monday September 1, 2014 and you will be in the running for this adorable book filled with excellent tutorials and patterns like this bunny cone hat.

088WeeBunny Pop on over to Craftside for the tutorial and to download the patterns for this bunny cone hat. One of the great things about this book is the author Alyn Carlson talks about all sorts of great ways to use recycled materials to make the cute hats. We love that around here!

More about the Quarry book:

“Hats are pure fun and the perfect item to cap off any costume or ensemble. The right headgear ensures complete transformation, especially on the head of an imaginative child.

The Paper Hat Book offers creative families 20 fantastic paper hats, all of which can be created quickly and easily from readily accessible papers: shopping bags, newspapers, comics, recycled story books, magazines, packaging scraps, and junk mail!

Artist and designer Alyn Carlson creates hats that are perfect for birthday parties, playdates, costumes, and everyday dress up. Each hat can be styled to perfectly suit the wearer by merely selecting the right paper and colors. The hat themes range from Floral Flappers to Viking Warriors, and from superheroes and pirates to beautiful butterfly hats.“

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Comments

  6. As an elementary school teacher of fairy tales, this book would be an excellent addition to my classes! Thanks for the chance to win!

  8. The “Paper Hat Book” looks very colorful and clever, and paper is such an accessible medium for crafts. Thanx for the opportunity to win it for my grandchildren.

  9. My five kiddos would have hours of paper cutting, glue messy FUN! Thanks for letting us know about this book……it’s on the top of my wishlist!

  15. The keiki (children) at the library love to make hats, and I sure would love to learn some new designs. Mahalo for the op to win.

  18. Awe, I’ve not seen anything like this before! What a great idea! I’d love to give it a try for my 3 kiddos!

  19. I have a 2 year old granddaughter who loves to dress up. This book would be perfect for her! Thanks, Kathy

  21. What a fabulous book. With 4 children, dress ups and costumes are constantly in the limelight. This book would be very handy to have in our bookshelf.

  22. What a great idea! I care for my 3 grands and we are always looking for a way to make their afternoons fun!

  23. What a beautiful cover! I love the idea of creating special decorations/party props/dress-up items that are either reusable or recyclable. Would love to win this lovely book.

  25. I have 5 grandkids and I work in a school age daycare. I would love to win this book and put it to good use. The cover sure caught my eye!

  31. I am a photography student and love taking photos of kids. I bet some of the hats in this book would make great additions to my photos. Thanks for the giveaway!

Have you read?

How To Make A Milk Carton Village – A Recycled Craft for Kids

Ready to turn your recycling bin into a colorful, miniature village? Grab those empty milk cartons and let’s create a town filled with tiny houses, shops, and even a school or bakery! This craft is perfect for kids of all ages and encourages imagination, storytelling, and eco-friendly creativity.

 What You’ll Need:

  • Empty milk or juice cartons (washed and dried)

  • Paints or markers

  • Paintbrushes

  • Craft glue or glue stick

  • Scissors (adult supervision recommended)

  • Colored paper or old magazines

  • Bottle caps, buttons, or plastic lids (for windows or decorations)

  • Sticks, straws, or skewers (for flag poles or chimneys)

  • Optional: glitter, stickers, washi tape, cotton balls (for snow or clouds!)

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Clean and Prep the Cartons
Make sure your milk or juice cartons are washed and completely dry. Remove any plastic lids or caps and keep them for decorations!

Step 2: Plan Your Village
Decide how many buildings you want to make. Each milk carton becomes a house, shop, or whatever your imagination dreams up. Arrange them side by side or in a circle like a real village square.

Step 3: Cut Out Doors and Windows
With the help of an adult, carefully cut small door and window shapes into your cartons. You can also glue cut-out shapes from colored paper if you’d rather not cut into the carton.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Use paint or markers to bring your buildings to life. Make brick patterns, colorful siding, or roof tiles. Let each child choose their own theme – rainbow bakery, monster house, fairy home, or tiny fire station!

Step 5: Add the Roofs
You can paint the top pointy part of the carton like a roof, or glue on cardboard triangles to create overhangs. Want to add a chimney? Glue a straw or cardboard roll on top!

Step 6: Make Flags and Signs
Cut small flags from recycled plastic or paper and tape them to straws or sticks. Glue your flags to the rooftops. You can even create tiny signs for each building – “Toy Store,” “Library,” or “Super Cat’s House.”

Step 7: Build Your Village
Place all the finished buildings together on a large piece of cardboard, tray, or table. Use bottle caps for stepping stones, cotton balls for bushes or clouds, and draw roads with marker.

Step 8: Play!
Now that your village is built, use little toys, action figures, or LEGO people to live in your new town. Create stories and adventures—your Milk Carton Village is officially open!

 Learning Bonus:

This craft is not just fun—it also teaches recycling, fine motor skills, creative thinking, and storytelling. Plus, it’s a great group activity for playdates, classrooms, or family craft nights.

Let your kids’ imaginations run wild—and remember, no two villages need to look the same. Each one tells its own story!