By CraftingStepByStepPublished
Based on a video by Gathered Makes.
Feel like royalty for an afternoon. This little craft from Gathered Makes turns a single sheet of thick paper into a crown you can actually wear, and there is no glue or tape anywhere in it.
The trick is a folded strip that threads through slits in the back. It grips itself and holds the crown around your head. Kids can help draw the spikes, and you can size it up or down to fit any noggin.
All you need is thick paper, scissors, and a pencil. Once it is done you can leave it plain or decorate it however you like.
Grab a sheet of thick paper and a pencil. Draw a zigzag line across one side to make the pointed spikes of the crown. Big pointy peaks look bold, smaller ones look dainty, so go with whatever you like. There is no right number here. Draw as many spikes as you want and keep them roughly even so the crown sits nicely later.
Tip
Thick paper or cardstock holds its shape far better than printer paper. A flimsy sheet will flop over once you wear it.
Now cut along the zigzag line to free the spikes. Take your time on the points so they stay sharp. Once the top is done, cut a straight line below the spikes to set the bottom edge of the crown. That gives you the full crown shape in one long strip, ready to wrap around.
The crown needs a second piece to close it at the back. Cut a long thin strip from another sheet of paper. This strip is what threads through and holds the two ends together. Want a bigger crown? Cut a longer strip so there is more length to wrap around your head.
Tip
Measure the strip against your head before cutting so the finished crown is not too tight or too loose.
Here is the no-glue magic. Fold the crown along a line near each end, pop one folded edge up, then slide your scissors through and snip a small slit. Do the same in a few more spots so you end up with four slits in total. These slits are the anchor points that the back strip will lock into.
Tip
Keep the slits small. A short cut grips the strip tightly, while a long one lets it slip loose.
Take the back strip and fold each end into a point. The pointed tips make it easy to feed the strip through the slits, and once it is in, the folds catch and hold everything in place. This is the piece that keeps the crown fastened without any tape or glue.
Bring the two ends of the crown together. Push a pointed tip of the strip under and up through the first slit, then down through the second slit. Repeat on the other side. As you thread it through, the strip pulls the ends together and locks the crown into a ring. Tug gently to snug it up.
That is it. You have a wearable paper crown held together entirely by folds and slits. Pop it on and check the fit. If it is loose, thread the strip a little tighter. From here you can leave it plain or decorate it with stickers, glitter, or gems for a party or a bit of dress-up play.
Tip
Gold or metallic cardstock gives the crown a real royal shine, as in the finished version here.
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