Strawbees Crown

Introduction

Become Royalty with a Strawbees crown! When playing with Strawbees at our Maker “play date,” I noticed that many people (adults and children alike!) had a tendency to put their Strawbee creations on their heads. I thought to myself, “Why not build something intended for the head!” It’s a simple design, but got a lot of attention at our event, even by people walking by our table.

Supplies

This isn’t a solid gold crown, so it is very lightweight. The number of straws and connectors required may vary, depending on the size of the wearer’s head (and whether the wearer has a lot of hair (like I do) to push it off the head. Also, the “jewels” (the pink “O” or “washer” Strawbee parts) are optional – except the big jewel of course. This set of instructions is for 9 segments on the circlet to fit my big head.

Note: Your kit may have a color other than pink.

Pink “1’s” x10

White “1’s” x44

White “2’s” x9

Pink Large “O” x1 (The big jewel)

Pink “O’s” x17 (The optional bling)

¼ Yellow Straw (straws cut in half and then half again) x25

½ Yellow Straws x2

Scissors

Collect your pieces (and some extras just in case). Cut your straws (or cut as you go). I find that measuring the pieces with a ruler is easier than trying to fold the straw to cut it in half.

Connect the “2’s” together with the ¼ straws end-to-end until you have 9 segments.

Connect the segments together at the end to make a circle. Try it on the royal head. If it’s too small, add another segment. If it’s a little too big, that’s okay. If it falls past the ears, it’s too big – remove a segment. Congratulations! You now have a simple, elegant royal circlet. But we want the showy crown, right?

Connect a ¼ straw with a white “1” on either end. Make a 2nd one.

Connect the two pieces you just made together with another “1”.

If you want the bling (who doesn’t?), then add a small pink “O” to the “1” you just connected.

Connect the two free ends to one of your segments with pink “1’s”, forming a triangle. This is one of your crown points. Repeat steps 4-7 until you have all segments as triangles except the last segment.

Connect a ½ straw with a white “1”on either end. Make a 2nd one.

Connect the two pieces you just made together with a pink “1”.

Attach the large pink “O” to the “1” you just connected. This is your glitzy jewel!

Attach the large pink “O” to the “1” you just connected. This is your glitzy jewel!

Connect the two free ends to your last segment with pink “1’s”, forming a big triangle. This is the front of your crown.

If you want to add the little jewels – our “bling” – then connect the pink “O’s” to every triangle point on the circlet.

Maui Makers would like to thank Instructables and Strawbees for providing this fun toy! The grown-ups and kids alike really enjoyed the May Build Nights - and we look forward to many more. Our thanks also goes to Rob Bartlett for designing and modeling his Strawbees Crown - look for our Scepter Instructable to add to your own Royal Strawbees Collection.