DIY Captain's Caps for Doll Mardi Gras

A purple version of this captain's cap has both ribbons and a
pearl-like button to finish it's surface.

My green doll cap is trimmed with silk petals and floral ribbon.

The gold cap is trimmed with gems, metallic paper and ribbon.

         "A captain's cap is in fact a peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organizations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It derives its name from its short visor, or peak, which was historically made of polished leather but increasingly is made of a cheaper synthetic substitute." Wikipedia.

       To make doll versions of Mardi Gras captains hats you will need the following craft supplies: clean and recycled toilet paper tubes, extra cereal box cardboard, masking tape, acrylic paints, hot glue gun and hot glue, tacky white craft glue, colorful yellow, green and purple scrap papers, trims like: acrylic gems, jewelry parts, buckles, laces, fancy ribbons.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Make the basic captain's cap using cardboard tubes. The size of the tube should be dictated by the size of your doll's head. Even though I've used a toilet roll tube for the example caps shown here; crafters may just as easily use larger tubes for larger 14'' or 18'' dolls etc...
2. Cut the tube lengthwise so that it may be cut properly before tapping it back together with masking tape. The cap must be shaped equally on either side of the slight peak in its middle. This is made a much easier task of the tube is temporarily flattened as you cut.
3. After taping the sides back together, trace around the little caps outside walls to transfer the shape needed for it's top.
4. Cut the top from scrap cardboard and tape it in place. Seal up all the cracks with tape on the outside.
5. Turn the cap over and glue along the seams using white tacky glue. Let dry.
6. Cut a cap brim to shade the doll's eyes. Attach it to the bottom edge like a visor using tape.
7. Using the white glue cover the entire surface of the cap with colorful papers. This will give the cap strength and cover all of the flaws.
8. Now you can decorate the Mardi Gras captain's hat with all kinds of fancy trim. I've included my versions above. If you have adult supervision, us a hot glue gun to make your attachments quicker and easier.

Left, recycled toilet paper tubes, center, tubes cut horizontally and right, sides reattached using
masking tape. The top of the cap has been traced and is ready for cutting out.

Left, the brims for the caps are cut out. Center, every surface is masked for strength. 
Right, the inside of the caps are shown as well.

What the little doll caps look like after these have been covered with colorful construction paper.

Craft visors for dolls to wear in the summer sun...

Doll wears a star covered visor to keep
the sun out of her eyes at doll camp.

       My version of this popular doll craft is made from recycled materials and decorative papers. The example shown, just right, has a star patterned paper on the outside of the visor and a yellow solid paper on the underside of the visor.

Supply List:

• paper covered wire 
• white school glue
• cardboard
• masking tape
• Mod Podge
• fun summer papers
• recycled cereal box

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Fit the paper wire to your favorite doll's head and twist the ends together to keep it the exact size it needs to be. Paper covered wires are easy to find in grocery stores; these are usually wrapped around lettuce leaf heads.
2. Cover this paper wrapped wire with masking tape.
3. Draw a small half arc shape on top of light weight cardboard, cut it out and tape it to the paper wire. You may need to reshape the wire on the doll's head as you proceed in order to keep it shaped properly.
4. One the visor looks the way you like, see photo, cover it with decorative paper and white school glue.
5. Mod Podge the final visor, let dry and position it onto your doll's head to keep the sun out of her eyes!

Left, measuring the doll's head using the wire, twisted in 
place. Center, making a pattern by tracing both the 
inside and out of the wire shaped headband. Right,
paper template and copy of it in cardboard.

 

Left and next, see how the paper visor will look on my doll's head. Center and right, the finished
paper visor on top and underneath covered with decorative papers.

More Ways to Fashion Your Doll's Hair:

• Learn to Craft a Doll's Flower Crown
• Make scrunchies for your doll's hair
• Sew wide velour doll headbands
• Rainbow hair extensions for Barbie

Make a Beekeeper's Straw Hat Craft for A Doll

Finished beekeeper's hat.

        Make your doll's their own straw, beekeeper's hats to prevent the pretend bees from stinging them while they care for their hives. This adorable accessory is a must for the doll's farm camp this summer! Later, I will also post how to make several different kinds of hives for your dolls.

Supply List:

• A straw hat that fits your doll
• 2 feet of white tulle
• needle and thread
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• ribbon for finishing the edges
• Sculpey or air-dry clay for bees
• black, white and yellow acrylic paints

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Purchase a doll sized straw hat from a hobby store. These come in many sizes and shapes and cost very little to purchase.
2. Cut approx. two feet by six inches of white tulle, or a little less
3. Sew or glue a finished end using ribbon running length-wise.
4. Gather the rough edges along the length of tulle and pull tight about the cap part of the straw hat, just above the brim. 
5. Add a bit of hot glue beneath the tulle to adhere it to the straw hat.
6. Clip off a ribbon band to glue on top of the gathered tulle to cover the raw, gathered edges.
7. Now sculpt a few tiny bees from the clay and paint these with black and yellow stripes after they have been baked or let dry in the air. (optional)
8. Paint the wings white.
9. Glue the tiny bees to the tulle netting on the outside of the hat.
10. Use embroidery floss to gather the ribbon edging hanging down from the straw hat.
11. Knot the ends and leave this "tie" in place so that you can fit the protective netting to the doll while the hat is on her. (see photo)

Details, front, top, and back of the straw hat with veil to protect from bee stings.

Craft graduation caps for your doll students...

Our doll's 5th grade graduation.

       Make a square graduate cap with a yellow tassel for your dolls to celebrate the end of their school year. Collect the following materials...

Supply List:

• construction paper for the cap
• yellow embroidery floss for the braided tassel
• white school glue 
• masking tape
• ruler
• cardboard

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. For a 14" doll cut a square 4"x4," and for an 18" doll cut a square cardboard 4 1/2" x 4 1/2." 
2. Cover this cardboard with a colorful construction paper and glue. The color you choose should be one of the school colors of your doll's school.
3. Cut 3/4" strip of construction paper 13" long  for the 18" doll. Cut a strip of construction paper 3/4" x 10 1/2" for the 14" doll. There is a bit of extra paper in these measurements so that the strip can slightly overlap around your doll's head. Tape the ends so that these fit snugly in place.
4. Double up the narrow strip again to make the attached cap pieces sturdy when fitted.
5. Glue down the narrow strip to the covered cardboard cap on the bottom side. Use a bit of masking tape to hold the two parts together until the glue has dried. (see photo below)
6. Gently remove the tape once the cap has dried.
7. Now braid the embroidery floss and add a small tassel to the end.
8. Make a small hole in the center of the cap top to insert the end of the braid. Glue this in place.
9. Now the tassel end can dangle over one side of the graduation cap while your doll struts her stuff down the aisle of her school auditorium for graduation day!

• See the caps and gowns of Memorial Elementary 5th Grade Graduation here.
• Graduation song "Thank You" for kids, children & babies with lyrics
• It's Been A Good Year by elementary students

Left, the cut square for the top of the graduation cap. Center, the construction paper band is
drying in place with a little help from a bit of masking tape. Right, the yellow tassels have
been strung and pasted in place in the center of the tops of the caps.

You may have a young doll, like a Wellie Wisher,  or an older one, like an American Girl doll or My
Generation Doll, who would love to celebrate her graduation with a small party and a neat,
graduation cap of her very own.

How girls wore their hair in 1915

        According to the original commentary about the following hair styles, bobbed hair cuts were all the rage in 1915, but some young girls with long locks were somewhat hesitant to cut them off. Hence, the popularity of tying the hair up with all kinds of combs and headbands in order to make the hair only appear shorter. The combs and hair trims below were popular to use along with the Japanese ''geisha rolls" at the back of the neck. By 1920, short haircuts really were more prevalent. 

Combs and fancy hair ribbons from 1910-1920 were very popular.

Make Rainbow Hair Extensions for Fashion Dolls

This little fashion doll is ready to go to a party. She
 wears a green and yellow, rainbow colored hair ex-
tension that took only minutes to snip, tie and clip
into place.

       Rainbow colored wigs are much easier to purchase during October and February because  these are the months that Christians celebrate All Hallows Eve and Mardi Gras in costume.

       The wig you see pictured below was purchased for $1.00 in it's original package and has never been worn previously. 

       You will also need to buy some very tiny hair clips to attach your doll's hair extensions. These may be found in dollar stores and grocery stores in hair care supply.

Supply List:

• colorful rainbow wig
• thread to match hair colors
• tacky craft glue
• sharp scissors
• mini hair clamps

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a length of wig approximately 3 to 4 inches.
2. Squeeze craft glue onto the tips of the fibers.
3. Wrap the thread matching the natural hair color of your doll around the tips to hold the strands together.
4. Let the glue harden and trim off the excess tips so that these look similar to those pictured below.
5. Tuck the extension into place in your doll's hair using a colorful mini hair clip.

Left, a synthetic colored costume wig. Center, the rainbow hair extensions.
Right, colorful mini hair clips, small enough for a doll.