It’s Easter hat making time! Get the hot glue gun warming, bring out the craft box and get the creative juices flowing, because school Easter bonnet parades are just around the corner.

There’s no need to be overwhelmed by crafting an Easter hat, the kids will love whatever you create together, as long as they have fun. If you’re searching for ideas, we’ve found some of the best around – from super impressive and detailed, to simple and easy to whip up the night before.

Top tips for creating Easter hats

If you’re wondering where to start, Dean Salakas, the Chief Party Dude at The Party People, has given us a few pointers:

• Hat - Choose a hat with a brim. Also don’t choose something material or glittery. Glitter hats and material hats are difficult to stick things to with the glitter often falling off making the adhesive not able to stick and material hats need items to be “pinned”.
• Adhesive to stick items together but must be strong and a quick drying. Ideally a hot glue gun as it will avoid your child’s disappointment if their hard work falls apart however double sided tape and blue tac can also be effective.
• Base Decoration – Hawaiian leis, staw, shred is great for decorating. You can even shred your own paper. Cotton wool or wadding is ideal for making chicken nests.
• Main Decoration – This is dependant on your own imagination. You can buy most decorations like fluffy chickens, fake decorated eggs and mini bunnies from you local discount store or party shop. Your general arts and crafts like pom poms, pipe-cleaners, coloured cardboard, and beads can all be used to add some colour. Cards or Magazines such as the supermarket brochures have pictures or advertisements of rabbits, chicken and eggs that can be cut out as a cheecky way to get some decorations.

9 Easter Hat Ideas

Whether you tend to go all out or you’re more a slap dash crafter, here are 9 Easter hat ideas for kids. Hop to it!

Giant Carrot And Bunny Easter Hat

How adorable is this idea?! And it’s not going to take you all day to put together! Just some cardboard, crepe paper and a cute, cutout bunny and you’ve got the perfect Easter bonnet parade head topper!

What you need:

• Large piece of orange cardboard
• Green crepe paper
• Hand-drawn bunny
• Glue
• Sticky tape

(image via Pinterest)

 Egg-cellent Easter Bonnets

They don’t come much easier, or cuter than these easy, peasy Easter bonnets. Going with an egg theme, you’ll need some headbands and strong glue, and just a little bit of time to whip up these wonders.

What you’ll need: 

• Egg carton
• Craft chicks
• Headbands
• Plastic eggs
• Small frypan
• Hot glue gun

(via Punk Mummy Rules)

 Nest Easter Hat

Easter is about new life, new beginnings, and nests are symbolic of all things birth. So this beautiful Easter hat not only looks delightful, it’s keeping with the theme. And while this bonnet looks impressive, it’s not as difficult to make as you’d think!

What you’ll need:

• Craft glue
• Wide headband
• Tulle
• Soft tree branches
• Small hard branches
• Foam eggs
• Craft bird
• Felt or foam
• Needle and thread or stapler
• Thin wire

(Full tutorial at Now That’s Peachy)

Stack ‘em up!

It does not get any easier than this! Playful, fun and a great craft for the kids to do, just stack up a bunch of egg cartons with chicks and eggs in between and glue, glue, glue!

What you’ll need:

• Egg cartons
• Craft chicks
• Craft eggs
• Glue
• Hat (just an old cap or hat to stick the cartons onto)

(via WWD)

Hot Cross Bun Easter Hat

If you can find a more delicious Easter hat, I’ll eat my hat! These hot cross bun hat is made using paper mache for the bun and cardboard for the plate, all attached to a cheap straw hat. Genius!

What you’ll need:

• Paper
• Glue
• Paint
• Cardboard
• Balloon (to use for the paper mache bun)
• Staw hat

(via Pinterest)

Carrot Easter Hat

A straw hat and real carrots and you’re good to go! And the bonus with this Easter bonnet is that they’ve got play lunch all ready to go.

What you’ll need:

• A straw hat
• Carrots
• Twine or ribbon

(via Pinterest)

Bunny Ears

Sweet and simple, these bunny ears are perfect for a little one who doesn’t want to don a hat. They’re made from a headband and bias tape, and will be ready in a jiffy!

What you’ll need:

• Headband
• Bias Tape

(Find the full instructions at Country Living)

Easter Hat Crowns

Beautiful in their simplicity these stunning Easter flower crowns can be as simple or detailed as you like. Let the kids draw their own and cut them out or let your own creativity take over.

What you’ll need:

• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Decorations

(Templates for these designs can be found in the book Playful)

Easter Bunny Hat

So sweet and festive these adorable bunny hats can be personalised and made as simple or extravagant as you like. These are the ultimate if you tend to leave things until the last minute!

What you’ll need:

• Card
• Markers
• Glue
• Twine

(The full tutorial and template are available from The House That Lars Built)

Do your kids still do an Easter bonnet parade at school? Show us their creations in the comments below, we’d love to see them!