Trunk or Treat: Magician’s Hat Tutorial
The countdown to Halloween has begun and Trunk or Treat events are quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Parenting and community websites are filled with Trunk or Treating events at local churches, schools and community centers. Even neighborhoods are now hosting their own Trunk or Treats.
I shared my simple formula for creating the ultimate Trunk or Treat trunk here and today I’m back with the first of the trunk or treat tutorials—The Magician’s Hat Tutorial. To create your own magical trunk, you’ll first need a ginormous Magician’s Hat!
I made the Magician’s Hat by myself and snapped tutorial photos in less than 2 hours on a SUPER WINDY day. If you make the hat on a calm day or with an extra set of hands, this project will be even faster and easier for you.
First, gather your supplies then let’s get started!
- 4 – Black Plastic Tablecloths
- 2 – Red Plastic Tablecloths
- 2 – 18” w x 21” l x 46” h Cardboard Boxes
- Box Cutter
- Scissors
- Stapler (able to open and staple flat)
- Staples
- Packing Tape
Piggy Bank Parties received free product samples from Oriental Trading for purposes of this post, but the opinions are 100% all mine.
STEP 1: PARK YOUR CAR ON FLAT GROUND
It may sound like a simple step, but working on a flat surface is a game changer!
STEP 2: RECYCLE OR BUY CARDBOARD BOXES
Due to time restraints, I purchased two wardrobe boxes to make the hat. When I originally made this a few years ago, I recycled boxes I had on hand. Recycling is always my first choice because the boxes are free, however, recycling old or smaller boxes requires a bit more taping.
HANK’s HINT: If you don’t have boxes on hand, check with your local grocery or big box store. They usually have lots of boxes they are willing to part with!
STEP 3: CREATE THE HAT SHAPE
To make the boxes look like a magician’s hat, I needed to piece them together. The arrow points to where I attached the two boxes together.
Since you only need to create half of a hat, I used just two panels from the second box, however, I did cut a flap out of a third panel. I attached the flap to the first box using packing tape. The flap also helps reinforce the seam and make the hat sturdier. As illustrated by the graphic below, you can see how I cut and attached the boxes.
After attaching the boxes with packing tape, fold the bottom flaps towards the inside of the hat then stand the boxes up.
Then bend the box panels until they form half of a hat.
Make sure you have enough room between the back of the car and the front of the hat for the bunny rabbit to sit and hide from the trunk-or-treaters. Our bunny could sit comfortably on a low seat—stool, footrest, chair, milk crate or sturdy cooler—then get up and down without hitting the sides of the hat.
STEP 4: COVER THE HAT BRIM
Unfold one of the black tablecloths and lay it lengthwise on the brim of the hat. The tablecloth should hang over the front of the hat brim with enough overhang to cover the underside of the brim plus 2″.
Starting at one end of the hat, use packing tape to secure the tablecloth in a few key spots. Then open up your stapler and staple the tablecloth under the brim and down the side edge of the magician’s hat.
I made a hospital corner under the brim to give it a clean edge, but it really doesn’t have to be pretty or perfect. The underside of the brim will be hidden in the shadows and the trunk-or-treaters will be mesmerized by the magic show!
After attaching the first tablecloth, start at the opposite end of the hat and repeat with the second black tablecloth. The tablecloths will overlap in the middle of the hat brim, but continue attaching until you run out of tablecloth.
The tablecloths will naturally conform to shape of the hat and create natural folds along the brim.
Use packing tape to secure the tablecloth overhang to the inside of the hat.
Congratulations! You have completed the hardest part of the construction process!
STEP 5: COVER THE HAT BASE
Starting at one end of the hat, attach the third black tablecloth lengthwise just under the brim of the hat. Tuck any excess tablecloth at the bottom under the hat. You can secure it if you’d like, however, it’s not necessary.
After attaching the third tablecloth, start at the opposite end of the hat and repeat with the last black tablecloth. Once again, the tablecloths will overlap in the middle, but keep attaching until you run out of tablecloth.
STEP 6: ATTACH HAT BAND UNDER BRIM
For the hat size I made, the folded red tablecloth right of the package was the perfect width for the hat band. Attach the folded red tablecloth lengthwise just below the brim with staples.
You can see in the photo above where the two red tablecloths overlapped. Instead of using the entire second red tablecloth, I cut a piece long enough to complete the hat band plus 6″-8″ for overlapping.
TA-DA! A ginormous magician’s hat!
Add a magical backdrop, footlights (both tutorials coming soon) and a cast of characters!
Say the magic words and you’ll be a hit at the next Trunk or Treat!
If you have any questions regarding the tutorial, please feel free to ask them in the comments. I’m happy to help!
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Need more ideas for decorating your trunk? Check out the Trunk or Treat Halloween Blog Hop featuring 14 different trunks including The Magic Trick trunk.
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That’s an awesome DIY magic stage. Really impressed with that. As a magician myself for more than 2 decades, I think you will go a long way with your creativity.
We so appreciate your kind words, Nicholas!