My favorite little headband model turned one last week. I must admit, it was a bit of a melancholy day for me. She is growing up WAY too quickly for my liking!! But I had a blast dressing her up in this outrageous outfit and showing her off all day! She actually had two specially Birthday Princess headpieces (see a picture of the second one at the bottom of this post……tutorial coming). She’s just a tad bit spoiled. Just a tad. 🙂
Here is a collage of just a few of my favorite headbands that I have made for her…….yes, I have problems. I am aware. And let’s be honest: this isn’t even close to all of the headbands that she owns.
Tutorial links starting at the upper lefthand corner going clockwise: Tinkerbell Costume Headband (No tutorial, sorry…that actually fell off of her late Halloween night somewhere in Disneyland Park and I just didn’t have it in me to make another one.), Purple Shabby Heart Headband, Fancy Vintage Inspired Headband , Felt Chrysanthemum Headband, Easy Peasy Spring Flower Headband, Glamourous Silk Flower Headband, Elegant Felt Poinsettia Headband, Red Shabby Heart Headband, Romantic Winter Headband, Minnie Mouse Headband (I think this one is my favorite!), Glamourous Silk Flower Headband, Feathered Grinchy Headband
Ok, now that we have established that I have some serious issues, here is my justification for her having two Birthday Princess headbands: I had made her the feathery one that you can see at the bottom of this post, and then I saw the red felt crown shown below that my talented friend Stephanie made for her daughter’s birthday and I knew that Jade HAD to have one…..but that it needed to be significantly more “blingy.” Shocked? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Stephanie swore it would only take me about thirty minutes to make a felt crown, and you know what? She was RIGHT! I whipped this thing out, and MAN OH MAN did we get compliments on it! It turns out people love a baby in a felt Birthday Princess crown.
So let’s get started on this tutorial! I know that I always appreciate specifics, so I have created a free PDF pattern for you to use. You can download the free pattern here. Simply print it out on a regular 8.5×11 piece of paper and you will be good to go!
Here is what you will need (at least to make this for a baby/toddler):
* Birthday Princess Crown Pattern
* a sheet of felt for your crown (I recommend wool felt, which can be found on Etsy.)
* 2 other colors of felt for the accents
* one foot of fold-over elastic (FOE can be found in limited amounts at a large craft store or in many varieties on Etsy.)
* rhinestones of varying size
* a hot glue gun and glue
* a sewing machine and thread to match your felt (somewhat optional)
1. Cut out your pattern. I used Stephanie’s crown as a pattern. Thanks, Steph! Fold a sheet of felt in half (or cut it in half) and cut out two crowns at once.
2. Now take a contrasting color of felt and use the round pattern piece to cut out a circle. (As you can see, I used a spool of ribbon.)
3. Use your third color of felt to cut out the felt number of your choice. The pattern includes the number one. Steph’s one was loose, so I pulled it off and used it as a pattern piece prior to gluing it back on.
4. Now cut a piece of fold-over elastic that is about a foot long. Now you have all of your pieces prepared and ready to assemble!
5. Let’s start with the sewing. (If you don’t have a sewing machine that’s ok! Just use a hot glue gun for every step. It won’t be as secure or long-lasting, but it only has to last a day or two anyway!) I started by sewing my circle onto one layer of the crown. Next I sewed my two layers together. Technically you don’t need two layers. It just makes it thicker and cuter since it will stand up better.
6. Next you are going to attach your foldover elastic. I chose to use a zig zag stitch to go over it more than once so that it would be extra secure to withstand baby tugging. I pinned the elastic to the BACK of the crown and sewed. Yes, the thread shows. It didn’t bug me. (If it DOES bug you then you can always sew the elastic to the FRONT of the BACK layer BEFORE you sew the two crown layers together and then it would be sandwiched inside and hidden. I didn’t think of that until I was done.)
7. You’re almost done! Now it’s just time to glue. Glue, glue, glue like the wind! Glue on your letter and then glue any variety of rhinestones on in any pattern or design that you little heart can dream up.
8. You are done! Now go try it on your little birthday cutie! Of course, if you used primary colors and left out the rhinestones this pattern would obviously work for a tough little Birthday Prince as well. 🙂
I know I’m a bit biased, but isn’t she just perfection?!?!
Be sure to check back for the tutorial for her SECOND Birthday Princess headpiece. No wonder she’s a moody little diva…. 😉
Steph Dix says
You’re so-called talented friend Stephanie’s sad looking headband looks like poo next to baby girls! On an un-related note, is it May yet? You need to be back in my life. Stat.
sarah says
hahahaha. You crack me up! I agree on one thing, though—-IS IT MAY YET?!
katie goldsworthy says
Adorable! Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!
Anna says
Super-cute! But why does it only have to be for a princess? I think a boy could enjoy that just as much?
sarah says
I TOTALLY agree, Anna!!! I just called it that because it was for my princess specifically. 😉 For my son I actually made a felt crown that wrapped all the way around and attached with velcro, like Max from Where the Wild Things Are.
Anna says
Wonderful! Btw I ADORE your blog! I visit it every day! 🙂
sarah says
Wow! That totally made my day!!! Thanks, Anna!!
Alicia says
Hi! We featured your adorable crown in a round up of similar ideas on our blog! Thank you for the inspiration!
http://www.feltwithlovedesigns.com/2013/07/28/links-with-love-birthday-crowns/
sarah says
Thank you!!
Sandra says
Love this birthday crown. It could even be made for a birthday prince by changing up the colors.