How to Make a Cardboard Fireman's Hat

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Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard

  • Card stock

  • Crayons

  • Markers

  • Paint

  • Measuring tape

  • Scissors

  • Glue

Cut out a graphic of crossed fire axes and glue to the cardboard fireman's hat.

Firemen have always drawn the admiration of children who often play fireman putting out fires and rescuing people from burning buildings. This is especially true since the heroic actions of the New York firefighters after the 2001 terrorist attacks. A fireman's hat is a vital part of his gear, protecting his head from heat and falling debris. The fireman's hat, then, is critical for a child to recreate in order to play the part of a fireman.

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Step 1

Find and download an illustration or photograph of a fireman's hat. You can also look at photographs of hats of firemen and draw a version of the shield found on the front of every fireman's hat. Make the shield 6 inches high and 5 inches wide.

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Step 2

Transfer the shield image of the fireman's hat to thin cardboard. Add text in black, including the name and number of the fireman's company, the city and even the name of the fireman who will wear the hat.

Step 3

Color the fireman's shield. Use red and yellow crayons, markers or paint. Color the shield itself red with a yellow border or edging. Outline the larger lettering in yellow. Set the shield aside until later.

Step 4

Measure the head of the person who will wear the fireman's hat. Cut a strip 10 inches wide and as long as the head measurement plus 2 inches. The strip can be pieced from sheets of card stock. Use red card stock or paint. Fold the strip in half to make it 5 inches wide. Set it aside until later.

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Step 5

Cut a circle out of sturdy cardboard, 5 inches in diameter larger than the diameter taken from the circumference of the head that will wear the fireman's hat. Mark the center. From the center, mark a circle 1 inch larger than the circumference of the head. Cut lines from the center to the marked circle, creating pie shapes. Fold these pie shapes up. Paint the cardboard circle red. Add a gold border around the outside edge.

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Step 6

Fit the folded strip around the pointed upward folds. The folded strip will fit over each side hiding the points and making a circle. Take off the folded strip, open up and add a layer of glue to the entire strip. Carefully replace around the points to make the fireman's hat band. Overlap the ends. Press together to make sure the glue gets distributed. Let the hatband dry.

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Step 7

Select which part of the cardboard fireman's hat will become the front. Glue the shield onto the band at this point on the band. Once the glue dries, wear the cardboard fireman's hat.

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