How to Create an Astronaut Helmet

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Making an Astronaut Helmet Using a Paper Bag

Creating an Astronaut Helmet Using Paper Mache

Creating an Astronaut Helmet Using a Plastic Bucket

Creating an Astronaut Helmet Using Clear Plastic

Astronaut Helmet Made from a Paper Bag

Astronaut Helmet Made from Paper Mache

Astronaut Helmet Made from a Plastic Bucket

Astronaut Helmet Made from a Clear Plastic Container

Let your imagination soar by crafting your very own astronaut helmet. There are various methods to create this fun accessory, most of which are simple and require only a few household items.

Steps

Making an Astronaut Helmet Using a Paper Bag

Draw a large circle on a paper grocery bag. The circle should match the size of your face or be slightly larger.

This circle will expose most of your face. To position it correctly, place the paper bag on your head and have someone trace the circle around your face.

Cut out the circle.

Trace the end of a paper towel roll tube onto the lid of an oatmeal container. Place the cardboard tube in the center of the oatmeal container lid and use a marker to trace around it.

Repeat this step with a second oatmeal container lid.
You can leave the lid on the container or remove it while tracing, but you’ll need to temporarily remove the lid when cutting out the circles.

Cut the circles into holes. Use scissors to cut along the traced circles on each lid, then reattach the lids.

You may need to use the tip of a nail or sharp scissors to poke a hole in the lid along the traced circle. Once you have an initial hole, you can insert the scissors and cut out the circle as usual.

Attach the containers to the paper bag. Place the oatmeal containers side by side behind the paper bag (on the uncut side), near the lower half of the bag. Use tape or staples to securely attach the containers to the paper bag.

Make sure the open end of the containers faces upward.
The bottom of the oatmeal containers should extend slightly below the bottom of the paper bag, but ensure the upper part is high enough to be firmly attached to the bag.

Insert the cardboard tubes into the oatmeal containers. Slide one end of a paper towel roll tube through the hole in the oatmeal container lid. Secure the tube to the paper bag with tape or staples.

Repeat this step with the second paper towel roll tube and oatmeal container.
These cardboard tubes mimic the shape of oxygen tank hoses, while the oatmeal containers represent the oxygen tanks.

Decorate the astronaut helmet as desired. Use markers, crayons, or colored pencils to draw and color the helmet according to your preferences.

You can also embellish the helmet with lightweight materials like stickers or foil cutouts.

Put on the completed helmet. Your astronaut helmet is now ready. Place the paper bag over your head so the open circle is in front of your face and the oatmeal containers are behind you.

Creating an Astronaut Helmet Using Paper Mache

Inflate a balloon. Blow up a standard balloon until it is slightly larger than your head. Tie the end securely.

Tear newspaper into long strips. Rip 5 large sheets of newspaper into strips approximately 5-8 cm wide.

Prepare the paper mache paste. Make the paper mache paste if you haven’t already.

Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of cornstarch with 1 liter of boiling water and stir until it forms a thin paste.

Cover your work surface. Before dipping the newspaper strips into the paste and applying them to the balloon, protect your workspace. The paper mache process can get messy, so lay down a plastic sheet or old newspapers on the floor or table to catch any drips.

Apply the paper strips to the balloon.

Cover the entire balloon, leaving a small area near the knot uncovered. This opening will allow you to remove the balloon later.

Allow it to dry. Place the paper mache-covered balloon in a dry, draft-free area. Let it sit for 24 hours or until the surface is completely hard and dry.

The paper mache must be fully dry before moving on to the next step.
The drying time depends on your local climate. In dry climates, it will dry faster, while in humid areas, it may take more than 24 hours.

Remove the balloon. Pop the balloon by inserting a pin into the uncovered area at the base. Carefully pull the deflated balloon out through the hole.

Cut the paper mache sphere into the shape of an astronaut helmet.

Starting from the bottom, cut a rectangular opening at the front. The width of the rectangle should match the distance between your eyes (measured from the outer corners). The length should equal the distance from your forehead to your chin.

Paint the astronaut helmet. Use a brush to decorate the helmet as desired. You can also add foil cutouts or space-themed stickers for extra flair.

Consider adding antennas to the helmet. Poke two small holes at the top – one on the left and one on the right. Insert a pipe cleaner into each hole and secure the ends inside the helmet. Add a bead to the tip of each pipe cleaner to complete the antenna design.

Creating an Astronaut Helmet Using a Plastic Bucket

Draw an oval on the side of a large bucket. The oval should be at least 18 cm wide and 13 cm tall, or large enough to reveal your face. Use a pencil to sketch the oval.

Ensure the oval aligns with your face when the bucket is placed on your head. To determine the correct position, hold the bucket upside down in front of your face, aligning the bottom with the top of your head. Mark points at eyebrow level and just below your lips. Draw the oval based on these marks.

Punch holes along the oval outline. Place the tip of a nail on a point along the oval you drew. Use a hammer to gently tap the nail into the bucket, creating a hole.

Remove the nail once the hole is made.

Cut out the oval using wire cutters.

If the edges of the oval appear too jagged or unsafe, cover them with white fabric tape.

Cut 2 foam rectangles to create helmet straps. Use a ruler and pencil to draw two 5x23 cm rectangles on a large sheet of white foam. Carefully cut them out using a craft knife.

Round the bottom corners of both rectangles with the craft knife.

Attach the foam pieces to the bucket. Use white fabric tape to secure the top ends of the foam rectangles inside the helmet.

Position the two foam rectangles toward the back of the helmet. When worn, they will extend just behind your shoulders and rest above your upper back. These act as stabilizers to keep the helmet securely in place.

Wrap a dish towel around your head.

Secure the towel inside the helmet. Use additional fabric tape to attach the rolled towel to the bottom inner edge of the bucket. Ensure the center of the towel aligns with the center of the bucket.

Put on the astronaut helmet. Place the helmet on your head with the opening facing forward. The towel ring should rest on your head, and the foam straps should sit just behind your shoulders. If everything feels secure and fits well, your helmet is complete.

Creating an Astronaut Helmet Using Clear Plastic

Create the antenna.

Build the antenna base. Use the dome-shaped lid from a plastic milkshake cup or similar cold drink container. Find a wooden disc wide enough to cover the hole in the lid. Apply a ring of hot glue around the lid and press the wooden disc onto the glue.

Attach the antenna.

Spray paint the entire antenna assembly.

You don’t need to paint the inside of the base.

Allow the paint to dry completely. Drying time may take 12-24 hours, depending on the type of paint and your local climate.

Attach the antenna assembly to a large clear plastic container. Find a clear plastic container wide enough to fit comfortably over your head. Turn the container upside down. Use hot glue to secure the base of the antenna to the center of the container's bottom.

Containers for cheese puff snacks are often a good choice. However, regardless of the container, ensure it fits your head size and has a wide opening. If the opening is too small, the helmet may get stuck or restrict airflow, making it difficult to breathe.

Wrap a gold ribbon around the container's rim. Cut a piece of gold ribbon long enough to wrap around the rim of the plastic container. Use hot glue to attach the ribbon.

Position the ribbon about 2.5 cm below the rim or closer.

Cut a piece of flexible tubing. Measure a length of tubing sufficient to wrap around the container's rim. Use sharp scissors to cut the tubing to size.

Use black flexible tubing with a diameter of approximately 2.5 cm.

Attach the tubing. Apply a line of hot glue around the container's rim. Press the tubing into the glue, wrapping it around the rim until the ends meet.