How to Make a Model of an Indian Headdress

As someone of the Cherokee Indian community, I wanted to make something that would represent a piece of culture used to celebrate. The headdress is worn on ceremonial days or during special events. In this project I will be creating this headdress out of cardboard and showing you how to do it on your own! Hope you enjoy!

-Variety of sizes of corrugated cardboard boxes
-Scissors
-Box Cutter
-Pen/Pencil
-Ruler -String
-Hot Glue gun(and glue sticks)

With the string you're going to measure around your head and make sure there isn't anything in the way. Don't tie the ends together because you're going to line up the ends of the strings across the box to get the base of the headband. Make the ends with a pen/pencil and make a curved edge. You're going to make a second headband but it's going to be about half as tall as the other one the second one will be used as extra stability for all the accessories of the headdress. Cut these out and glue them together. Make sure the smaller/shorter headband goes behind the big one, but also sticks up higher than the big one.

For the small feathers you're going to use the flops of a box to make them. You were going to Mark out 3-3/4" tall by 2" wide first you're going to put pull off the top thin layer of cardboard as shown. Next you're going to find the middle bump in the corrugation and cut off the other on the sides as shown. If there isn't a middle one because of an even number of bumps, just cut off one bump, it will also give a more natural look to the feathers. Cut this sections into feather shapes and add slits on the sides to make them look like feathers don't throw away the layer peeled from the corrugated pieces, it will be used in the next step. Don't glue the feathers to the headband yet, they will be added later on.

To make the bead looking pieces, you're going to cut out pieces 1" wide by 3/4" tall, like shown in the first picture. After cutting these out, you'll need to roll them and glue them as shown in the second picture. You're going to make as many needed to go across the whole headband made earlier

For this step we're going to be adding the beating and small feathers to the headband piece. In the first picture you'll see the beating added to the headband. You can also see the process of the feathers being added partially in the second image. Make sure to add all the feathers and beating all the way across the headband to finish it off.

For this step we'll need to make two sizes of circles, one that goes 2 3/4" all the way around, make two of these in the second circle 2" all the way around also make 2 of these. We will kill the first layer off of both circles like it was done with the feathers and step 2. Now you're going to glue them together but when gluing, make sure the corrugation faces opposite directions, shown in picture 2. Put these pieces aside for now.

For the detail pieces, you're going to cut out circles 1/4" all the way across. Pull off the first layer of cardboard as shown in picture one keep all the top pieces you pulled off, they will also be used in the details of the headdress. You're going to make a lot of these, may be more or less depending on how big the headband is that you made in the beginning. Once you cut them out, you can make the details how you desire, you will need room to glue the earpieces on like shown in picture too. You can follow how I designed mine, or you can add your own touch and do the details how you desire.

For these feathers you're going to make them 3 1/2" wide by 12" tall. I made mine with a double corrugated piece of cardboard. I made five of these in total and added them along the front of the headband. One of them is shown in picture too. These will be just like the small feathers but on a bigger scale you also need to make four medium feathers that are 3 1/2" wide by 15" tall to get the side feathers. Put these all to the side, they will be added to the headdress at the end.

For the big feathers that connect to the earpieces, they'll need to be 3 1/2" wide by 27 1/2" tall. Once they are cut out, they'll need to be added to the earpieces, like shown in the picture. Do this to both sides and take one of the 1/4" circles from step 6 and put it over the top of where the feathers glued to give not only a small detail but it also gives it more of a finished look.

Take those medium feathers from step 7 and add them on to the headband. Once you add these on, it should look like picture one. The bigger feather sized 3 1/2" by 15" will go towards the back and the smaller one sized 3 1/2" by 12" will go more in the middle in front area.

On the side of the headdress near the earpieces, on each side you're going to make two holes. You will loop a string through the holes closest to the ear pieces and then loop it through the other hole, where it will then sit in the back and you can tie it tight to your head if you would like to wear it. This step is not necessary if you will be keeping it on a shelf or designated area, but can be worn if you desire to.

At this point you should have all the pieces put together and have a wonderful piece of work that can be displayed or worn if chosen! Share with your friends and have fun crafting!