Buzz
Discover a simple guide to crafting adorable Disney-inspired ears at home.
While Mickey's sweetheart sports a bow atop her ears, Minnie Mouse's ear design closely resembles that of her beloved. On occasion, Minnie accessorizes with crowns, Santa hats, and other seasonal adornments between her iconic ears. Typically black with a red-and-white polka-dot bow, you can customize your ears with your preferred colors and patterns.
Steps
Creating the Ears
Gather Materials Procure black felt for texture, and a cardboard core for structure. If cardboard is unavailable, layer stiff construction paper with glue. Ensure the material is rigid to prevent loose attachment to the headband. Alternatively, paint or color cardboard black if felt is inaccessible.
- Black felt
- Cardboard
- Stiff construction paper (optional)
- Household glue
- Plain paper
- Ribbon (10” or 25 cm)
- Ribbon (3” or 7 cm)
- All materials are readily available at local fabric or craft stores.
Get a headband and tools, if needed. Opt for any colored headband, but ensure it's at least ½' (1.27 cm) thick for stability when attaching your mouse ears. Consider purchasing the following tools along with your headband:
- Headband
- Hot glue gun (with glue)
- Household glue
- Pencil
- Pipe cleaner
- Scissors
Create two identical paper circle templates. Use a pencil or chalk to trace two circles on paper, each measuring between 3” and 5” (7.6 and 12.7 cm) with a ½” (1.27 cm) tab at the bottom. These templates will guide the dimensions of your mouse ears on fabric and cardboard.
- The tabs at the bottom of your circles will secure the ears to the headband.
- Consider using a bowl base to trace identical circles for your templates.
Trace felt circles from your templates. Position the paper template on the felt and trace the circle with chalk. Tailor’s chalk or regular chalk can be used; any residue can be wiped away with a damp cloth.
- Create four felt circles per pair of ears. These will be glued to both sides of the cardboard core for uniform black ears.
Cut out your felt circles. Follow the chalk outlines with scissors to release the felt circles from the fabric. Add personality to your mouse ears by using zigzag pinking shears.
- Pinking shears will impart a decorative edge and prevent fraying.
Outline cardboard circles for your mouse ears. These circles form the core, ensuring your mouse ears stand erect like Minnie's! Use a pencil or chalk to trace the circle template onto cardboard.
- Prepare two cardboard circles per ear pair.
Shape your cardboard circles. With scissors, carefully cut along the chalk or pencil outlines on the cardboard. Ensure you preserve the tabs as they'll be crucial for attaching your mouse ears to the headband.
- Ensure your cardboard and felt circles/tabs match as closely as possible.
- Align and trim any discrepancies between the cardboard and felt circles by stacking them together.
Adhere felt to the cardboard. Household glue is adequate for securing felt to both sides of each cardboard circle/ear. Apply glue evenly across the cardboard and firmly press the felt into place. Hold the felt against the glue for five to ten minutes to ensure proper adhesion.
- For optimal bonding, allow the glue to set for 30 minutes to an hour before use.
Attaching Ears to the Headband
Apply hot glue along the ear tabs. Hot glue provides superior durability compared to regular household glue. Work swiftly as hot glue sets quickly after application.
- Exercise caution as hot glue is extremely hot when applied fresh from the gun.
Secure the circles to the headband using hot glue. Position the circles at least 4” (10 cm) apart to accommodate the bow between the ears. Consider marking the headband with chalk for precise placement of the ears.
- If feasible, utilize a stapler or flexible headband for alternative attachment methods.
Ensure the glue dries completely. Handling your mouse ears prematurely may lead to detachment. Allow the glue to set for 30 minutes to an hour to prevent reassembly.
Adjust the ears into place. Initially, your mouse ears may not stand erect like Minnie's. Gently fold them upwards and forwards to encourage stability, relying on the glued tabs for support.
Crafting the Bow
Cut a 10” (25 cm) length of ribbon or fabric. Opt for ribbon for a shinier finish resembling Minnie's bow. The material should be 5” to 8” (12.7 to 20.3 cm) wide, allowing it to fan out when gathered at the center for shaping.
- Thicker fabric yields a fuller appearance when gathered.
Prepare a 3” (7.6 cm) gathering string. Choose fabric similar to the ribbon for cohesion or opt for a contrasting color for visual interest. For instance, pair Minnie's traditional red with white polka-dots bow with a vibrant blue gathering string.
- Contrasting colors add flair to your design.
Place the 10' (25 cm) ribbon flat on a surface. Ensure the printed side faces downward. Your gathering string will be attached to the back of the bow, opposite the pattern.
Fold the long ends of the 10' (25 cm) ribbon towards the center. Overlap each side slightly at the ribbon's midpoint. Fold one end at a time to create sufficient overlap for gluing at the center.
Securely glue the folded ends at the overlap point. Use hot glue or fabric glue to ensure a firm bond with just a small amount. Apply pressure to enhance the adhesion between fabric and glue.
- Refer to your glue's instructions for optimal bonding. Holding the glue firmly for one to five minutes typically yields the best results.
Shape the ribbon into a bow. Pinch the ribbon from top and bottom towards the center to create a bow shape, particularly effective with ribbons at least 5” (12.7 cm) wide.
- Tightly pinching the ribbon accentuates the flare of the outer edges.
Wrap the gathering string around the bunched ribbon. Use the 3” (7.6 cm) ribbon piece to maintain the bow's flared shape. Wind it around multiple times, then release your hold on the ribbon's center.
- Secure the ribbon with your free hand to prevent unwinding.
- Continue wrapping the remaining ribbon tightly around the center.
Secure the gathering string with glue. Apply a small amount of hot glue or fabric glue to one end of the ribbon. Take precautions to avoid burns when pressing the fabric immediately after applying hot glue.
- To apply pressure without risking burns, consider using a tool like a paperweight, gloved hand, or tweezers.
- For cold glues like fabric glue, ensure a strong bond by firmly pressing the glued ribbon together for 30 seconds to a minute.
Fixing the Bow to the Headband
Thread a pipe cleaner through a fold in your bow. The folds created by the gathered fabric should provide openings for threading the pipe cleaner under the glued gathering string.
- If threading the pipe cleaner proves challenging, you can use glue to secure it along the back of the bow.
- A small dab of hot glue on the back of the gathering string should suffice to hold the pipe cleaner in place.
Overlap and twist the pipe cleaner ends. Ensure equal lengths on both sides of the gathering string. Cross the pipe cleaner at the midpoint over the front of the gathering string and twist it to secure.
- This twist prevents the pipe cleaner from slipping out while adding stability to the bow.
- Experiment with different colored pipe cleaners for personalization.
Fasten the bow using the pipe cleaner ends. Center the bow between the ears and wrap each end of the pipe cleaner around opposite ends of the headband. Continue twisting the pipe cleaner down each side of the headband until secure.
- As pipe cleaner ends can be sharp, consider turning them inward or taping them to the headband to prevent poking.
- Using a pipe cleaner allows for easy bow swapping without remaking the ears.
- Reinforce pipe cleaners with twist ties if needed for added stability.
Personalize your mouse ears with final touches and flaunt them. Mimicking Minnie's flair, consider adding rhinestones, glitter, feathers, or other embellishments. Secure these with a small amount of hot glue. Once complete, proudly display your creation to friends.
Helpful Tips
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Use a black felt-tip marker to disguise white pipe cleaners if you prefer a less visible appearance.
Important Warnings
- Exercise caution when using hot glue as it dispenses at high temperatures. Adhere to the instructions provided with your glue gun to avoid injury.
Materials Required
- Ribbon (10” (25 cm) in length)
- Ribbon (3” (7 cm) in length)
- Black felt
- Black felt-tip marker, black crayon, or paint (optional)
- Cardboard
- Chalk
- Foam (optional)
- Headband
- Hot glue gun
- Household glue
- Pipe cleaner
- Plain paper
- Scissors
- Stiff construction paper (optional)
