Crafty Fun: Birthday Crowns!

I love birthdays. And let's face it--Kindergartners LOVE birthdays. I want to celebrate and make each of my students feel special without spending huge amounts of time or money. I used to buy the standard birthday crowns that every teacher store carries. But a few years ago, I found myself staring at an adorable 5 6-year old on her birthday with NO CROWN anywhere in my room.  So being the resourceful kinder teacher that I am, I used scrap paper and a sentence strip a whipped one up on the fly. And you know what? It was adorable! Way cuter than the pre-made ones, and WAY cheaper, too!

So now I make all of my crowns. They are super easy--I promise!

I do it assembly-line style! First, I take an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of colored cardstock and cut three 3 x 8.5 inch strips. That will leave you with a 2 inch strip--save that! You'll need it to make candles. So you can get 3 crowns from one piece of cardstock. You can use a fancy scrapbook cutter, or you can eyeball it--honestly!

Next, I cut a piece of white cardstock into approximately 1.5 X 8.5 strips. Then I use my scissors and cut a squiggly line down the middle. Now I have 2 icing strips. So you can get about 13 or 14 icing strips from one piece of cardstock, depending on how thick you make them. (Again--don't measure! Just eyeball it).

Glue an icing strip on top of the cake.

Now--you know all of those 2-inch strips that you have leftover?

Use your scissors and cut them into strips that are about 1/2-inch wide. These are your candles.

Glue the desired number on the back of the cake. Most of my kids will turn 6 during the school year.

Now we need some candle flames. I just use scrap orange or yellow paper and hand-cut teardrop shapes. (I fold my paper and cut several at a time). This is the most tedious part. I probably have a punch or Cricut cartridge with a shape that would work if I looked, but I'm too lazy. It's easy enough to cut them out while I watch mindless reality TV.

Glue the flames on the tops of the candles.

Now it's time to fancy the cakes up with markers...

and glitter glue!

Here's a finished crown. I put stripes on the candles and little dots and circles for sprinkles. And then I add lots of glitter (it's hard to see in this picture, but that crown is blinged out!) I don't actually add the names. I have no idea what my my children will be named next year. But I wanted you to see a finished example. Let's just hope I have an Ethan next year. Let's face it--chances are good.

Here you can see a girly example, too. I use all different colors, mostly because I get bored. I store the finished crowns (sans names)  in a plastic tub. When it's someone's birthday, I pull one out, add his/her name, staple it to a sentence strip and staple it to their head. Just kidding. Do not actually staple it to their head.

I made all my crowns in a few hours last night (watching TV at the same time). It probably cost under $4. (I get my cardstock at Hobby Lobby. Repeat after me--Never buy it if it's not on sale. It's on sale this week! Joanne's also has cardstock packs.)

Tomorrow, I will show you how I make my birthday cards. In the meantime, I would love to hear how you make birthdays fun for the kids and cheap and easy for you. Link up or leave a comment!

Comments

[Sue]

I love the crowns. I may add that to my birthday bag. Thanks for sharing.

Sue

[Camille Johnson]

The crown idea is wonderful! Both of us who have shared so far do birthday bags - too funny!
Camille
An Open Door

[Kerri]

These crowns are so cute! I think I've been inspired.
Ms. Kerri and her Krazy Kindergarten

[Kathy]

Birthdays are so fun for the kids. I have a birthday box. I buy cheap little things, put them in the box and it comes out for their birthday. They just LOVE digging around for a trinket.

[Mrs. Parker]

Great tutorial. I love using left over border and let the kids go wild to make their own crown; just because.. :)

[susan w]

I've made a "Fake Cake" of ceramic with holes for candles (including 'One to Grow On'). We bring that out and make a ritual of lighting each one, explaining "On her FIRST birthday ____ was ONE year old, and on her SECOND birthday...etc. Last year ____ turned FIVE years old and TODAY ____ is SIX years old - next year she will be SEVEN" or something like this. Then we sing and blow out candles.

[Dale Abraham]

Thank you so much for sharing this cute... and inexpensive idea. I have piles of scrapbook paper that I've collected as a scrapbooking consultant...can't wait to sit and watch tv and make my crowns for my kindg. students while I have time. I even have a candle punch,as well as a cupcake one so I plan to use those to decorate my crown.

[Lyn Goff]

I LOVE these. I think I might have to try making them tonight :)
Lyn
Mrs. Goff's Pre-K Tales

[Kathleen]

These are sooo cute! I'm going to have to add them to my to-do list!!
Kathleen
Growing Kinders

[Lyn Goff]

Hi Kathryn
I just received the Versatile Blogger Award. I now have to give the award to 5 other blogs. I immediately thought of your blog and you can “pick up” the award at my blog. I do think all these awards are a little crazy, so please don’t feel any pressure to pass the award on. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your generosity in sharing all of your great ideas. :)
Lyn
Mrs. Goff's Pre-K Tales

[heather]

What a cute idea and summer time is the perfect time to work on this! Thanks for sharing!

[Liz Mccaw]

I love this idea and am busy making my own tonight. I posted about you on my blog right away. Thanks for your generosity.

Liz Mccaw

http://crazyforkindergarten68.blogspot.ca/

[Julie]

I LOVE this idea! Thank-you for being such a great teacher and for being such a great virtual colleague! I teach French Immersion Kindergarten so most things I will have to recreate or try to translate but I just think that sharing like this is so wonderful! Thank-you!
Julie P.