DIY Graduation Cap Decoration
It is official, I am almost a month away from graduating which is absolutely CRAZY! One of the things that I have really been looking forward to in this whole thing is decorating my graduation cap. Let me tell you though I was really brainstorming ideas because I knew what I wanted my concept to be around but I didn't quite like the ideas that I had down on paper. Funny enough what I wanted it to say came to me while I was trying to fall asleep because isn't that when all your great ideas come to you! I knew that I wanted my graduation cap to do something with the Carolina Hurricanes because they mean to much to me and are a piece of my heart and have been in my life ever since I was 4. It just so happens that the colors match NC State's so that was even more perfect!
I thought it would be fun to share the whole DIY process of decorating the graduation cap and getting it to look the way you want it to as well as sharing some other fun graduation cap designs. That way y'all can see what it took to put it together and if you are trying to come up with a design of your own maybe get some ideas!
PICK A GRADUATION CAP DESIGN
First, you need to think of the theme that you want to have on your cap. It can be anything really but make sure it means something to you and captures your journey. Some examples are Disney (movies, characters, quotes), sports teams, sports, TV shows, movies, profession, friends and family, etc. Do you want to have a funny theme? Do you want it to be about your specific college or degree? Want to proudly decorate your cap in your school colors or with a design that features your beloved college mascot? The possibilities are truly endless!
Keep in mind that you’ll inevitably be creating a piece of art that’s sure to become a treasured keepsake—a handmade item that celebrates one of the most pivotal events in your life. Deciding on just the right design for graduation day will probably take you more time then the actual process of decorating your cap. After all, this is a major milestone achievement in your life, and your friends and family members will want to capture lots of pictures of you in your cap and gown for their scrapbooks and photo frames.
I have put in some examples below of some ideas I looked at and some that really cover a lot of bases.
STOCK UP ON CRAFTING SUPPLIES
Once you’ve decided on the perfect theme for your grad cap design, it’s time for the best part—shopping! While you’ll probably find everything you need at most arts and crafts stores, you may be able to find similar (and even better!) crafting supplies for less at your local dollar store. However, while you’re sure to track down plenty of bargain-basement deals at dollar store chains, you should never cut corners when it comes to safety. That’s why it’s best to invest in a high-quality glue gun from a brand you trust. Before heading out to the store, put together a comprehensive shopping list so that you don’t forget any particulars on your trip. (Trust us, it’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re eyeing shelf after shelf of glittery, whimsical decorations!) To help you plan ahead, here are some items that you will need or will want to consider buying for this project:
~Glue Gun
~Scissors
~Stickers (Letters & Numbers)
~Sheets of Paper (Glitter, Regular, or whatever else kind of decorative)
~Decorative stickers (beads, flowers, diplomas, caps, etc.)
~Utility knife
~Modge Podge
STEPS FOR DECORATING YOUR GRADUATION CAP
Once you’ve shopped for all of your supplies, you’ll want to find a workspace with a clean, flat surface that’s suitable for crafting. Obviously, you’ll need your graduation cap handy for this project. Make sure you remove the tassel from the cap before you start working. (Keep your tassel in a safe spot while working to avoid any accidental mishaps with the glitter glue, sticky letters, or your hot glue gun.) Before you cut into anything or peel off any adhesive backings, you’ll need to first plan out your design on paper. It’s a good idea to use a pencil, ruler, eraser, and white copier paper to work out the proportions of the grad cap and determine where you’ll place each decoration. Some design ideas may not be achievable, so it’s better to make these “happy accidents” on paper before committing a colossal catastrophe with the one and only grad cap you have for the big day!
1. Place your graduation cap facedown on a sheet of white paper. Trace around the cap with a pencil. Use a ruler to determine the location of the tassel button at the center of the grad cap. Sketch out your design idea.
2. Put glitter paper or whatever kind of paper you are using on top of cap facedown, place cap on top of paper, and trace around the square. Measure to determine placement of tassel button. Important: this requires a little bit of math. Cut along lines, including the one leading up to and around button area.
3. Carefully slide paper onto the graduation cap, smoothing down the cut edges below the button for a seamless fit. Glue paper to graduation cap. Cut out main piece of art and determine final placement on graduation cap before gluing it down.
4. Using your sketch as a guide, add letters, gems, foam stickers, and other decorative elements. If you are dealing with a special kind of paper, you might have to use Modge Podge or speciality glue to make sure all the decorations stick to the paper.
Did y'all decorate your graduation caps? If you did, I want to see them so send them into me! I am so, so interested to see how people decorate their caps and what the story is behind it!
As always, thank y'all for stopping by and reading! I will see y'all back here next time!
Love, Dani
