Miniature straw hats, available at craft stores, can be used to create a number of different craft and decor items. The hats are inexpensive, light brown or tan, and come in a pack of several. The six-inch straw hats can easily be turned into a cute turtle that can then become striking decorative pieces around your home. The turtles are so easy to make that even a child can create one.
Start by painting the crown of the hat a very dark green color. Paint it all the way down to where the crown meets the brim. Allow to dry and apply a second coat if necessary. While the dark green paint is drying you can then cut felt shapes for the head, feet and tail. These should be green but a much lighter shade than the dark green shell of the turtle. Instead of felt you can use craft foam. The foam is flat, inexpensive, and available in a variety of colors. You can purchase the foam by the sheet or by the pack.
Cut a half-circle for the head and four more half-circles for the turtles feet. The feet half-circles should be somewhat smaller than the head half-circle. Glue the head to the brim of the straw hat. Glue two feet on each side of the hat, in the brim area, where it meets the crown of the hat. Glue two tiny wiggly eyes to the head of the turtle. Cut a triangle for the tail, glue it in place, then return to the painting of the turtle shell. Take a small paintbrush and paint uneven circles on the crown of the hat. The circles should be much lighter in color than the initial green on the turtles back. The green spots should be similar in color to the light green head, feet and tail. Draw one circle in the center of the crown of the hat, then five more spots around that one. This part of the hat that hasnt been painted makes the turtle look like he is laying on the ground or in sand. Use that to create a flower garden or sea scene around the turtle. Glue on tiny flowers and leaves, to create the garden effect, or glue on tiny seashells instead. Either way, youll love the look of the little turtle, which was cheap and easy to create. Now that the straw hat is a turtle you can make the turtle into other things. For example, glue a piece of fabric over the open side of the hat, attach a piece of magnetic sheeting, then stick the turtle to the refrigerator or other metal surface. The magnetic sheeting can be found at any craft store. Its sold by the sheet or by the roll. One sheet will make many of these turtle magnets. Instead of making a magnet create something totally different with your straw hat turtle. Fill the open area of the hat with dry potpourri, glue on a piece of lace, then attach a miniature clothes pin. The clothes pin allows you to hang the turtle on curtain tie-backs, certain lampshades, and more. You can also just use the turtle as it is to set it in plant and flower pots. Glue the turtles onto any number of items around the house to create a turtle theme. Attach them to the fronts of plant pots, mirrors, picture frames, jewelry boxes, lampshades and wicker baskets. Its a cute look that even kids can easily accomplish. Theyll really love making the straw hat turtles and decorating with them as well. Purchase larger or smaller straw hats, make a family of turtles, then parade them across a mantle or another area of the home. Theyre so much fun to make, and cost so little to create, that youll want to make them for all the turtle lovers you know. If you dont know any give them away anyway. The people you know will quickly become turtle lovers when they receive your cute creation!
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