Cat Bonnets Out of Cardboard

I made bonnets for my cats! They have ear holes and little flowers glued to them. Warning: you cat may not appreciate homemade headwear as much as you want them to, but you may be able to get a few pictures before they figure out what is happening.

All you need is:

- A cereal box (or any kind of thin cardboard)
- Any kind of fabric
- Some ribbon (or any strip of thin flexible material)
- Scissors
- A glue gun
- Acrylic paint
- A paint brush

First, take the cereal box and draw the outline of the bonnet like the one in the photo. Make sure to draw it bigger than you cats head and around 7 inches long and 6 inches wide. After you cut out the base, bend it so it stands curved.

Take the two ends at the base and fold them over each other to make the bonnet shape. Then glue the two ends over each other. Now, in the new opening you just created, trace a circle in a big enough scrap of cardboard. Then hot glue that circle to the inside of the bonnet.

Next take your fabric and hot glue it to the inside on the bonnet and let it dry. Then cut off the excess fabric and make sure that all the edges are thoroughly glued together.

This step just consists of painting the top of the bonnet a color that at least somewhat matches you original fabric. I also suggest painting a second coat.

Get you cat and try and measure the space between you cat's ears. I say try because unless you cat is sleeping, they most likely won't stay still when putting a measuring tape to their head. In this case, try to guesstimate. Then cut out the ear holes and glue down the fabric from the inside. You can also adjust the shape of the holes to better fit your cat's ear shape if you need.

Start by picking four (or more if you want) flowers and hot glueing them all together and letting them dry. Then, flip the flower over and put a big glob of glue in the center of the flower and wait a few seconds (Don't let the glue dry!). Next, pinch the petals inward and hold them in place until the rest of the glue dries. And you have your first little baby flower! Repeat this step as many times as you want.

Now hot glue your flowers were ever you please and you can go back a make more if you so happen to desire. Also once you glue the flowers down, you can add little globs of glue in the middle to make the center for your flowers.

The final step is to just go back in and paint little random brush strokes on the top to give it more texture and pizzazz. I suggest using multiple shades of your new paint color as well to make it even cooler.

Make sure to take LOTS of pictures of your cat in their bonnet and remember to act quick because, at least in my case, I would say that headwear isn't exactly my cats favorite modeling item of choice. Anyway, enjoy!