Floral Crafts:
Spring Flower Straw Hat to Welcome Friends at Your Door

by Twila Lenoir
Here's a fresh change from the traditional wreath -- a welcoming basket of spring posies made from a straw hat! Have some fun choosing the flowers, or use decorations you have left over from other projects. Either way, the results are sure to be eye-catching hanging on your door or wall!

Straw Hat Floral Craft

MATERIALS NEEDED:

16 inch straw hat
scissors
silk flowers - 2 bouquets from the dollar store is ample
acrylic craft paint
florists foam
wire or pipe cleaner
lace
glue
cardboard or doily
spray sealer

INSTRUCTIONS:

hatpocketflowersdiag (3K)

Start by cutting through the top of the hat in the middle, going down to beginning of the brim, as shown in the diagram to the left. This forms a basket in the straw hat to hold your flowers.

You will need to cover the back portion of the hat with a round doily or a cardboard circle. This should cover the inside circle of the hat (the part that would normally cover your head if you wore it). A dinner plate might serve as a good template for this; just trace around the plate on cardboard, cut it out, then glue the cardboard or doily in place.

Glue pregathered lace on the rim of the pocket.

Now glue a square piece of the green florists foam in the pocket part of the hat. Arrange your flowers in the foam base so that it is nice and full.

Make a six loop bow with tails and attach at the top of the hat. Glue the tails down along the side, leaving enough space to write your saying. I wrote with paint, "Welcome Friends". Lightly spray a sealer over the painted area.

Lastly, poke a piece of wire or pipe cleaner through the top of the hat for a hanger. Enjoy !