What is your family doing for New Year’s Eve? This year, we are making easy DIY paper hats into King Julien’s crown for a Madagascar-themed party! If you love Dreamworks Animation and the Madagascar film series, you’ll love this kids’ craft.
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All Hail King Julien!
If you have kids, you have probably been acquainted with King Julien, Ruler of the Lemurs, since the first Madagascar movie in 2005. He is a self-appointed monarch who is so self-centered he even invents words based on his own name. For example, January becomes Julianuary.
His crazy antics (and those of the Penguins of Madagascar) have continued through Madagascar 2, Madagascar 3, the Penguins of Madagascar television series, and multiple holiday specials.
…and don’t you LOVE his stylish crown?!?
New Year’s Eve Party Theme for Kids
Ring in Julianuary with King Julien … JUNGLE STYLE!
- Madagascar is 9 hours ahead of US central time. This is the perfect time for youngsters to ring in the New Year, Madagascar style!
- Your New Year’s countdown can happen at 3 p.m. (midnight in Madagascar), allowing your little lemurs to participate in all the fun while still making it to bed on time!
Here’s my simple party plan to keep your little lemurs busy this New Year’s Eve:
- Make party hats, or rather, fabulous King Julien CROWNS to make sure your guests celebrate in style. (See full directions below and get the free PDF printable.)
- Get ready to dance! Download your favorite Madagascar hits so you can host your own dance party at midnight (or 3 p.m. Madagascar time). Some of our favorite Madagascar movie hits:
- I Like To Move It and Stayin’ Alive from Madagascar
- Copacabana and New York, New York from Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
- Firework and Afro Circus Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
- Make tasty, kid-friendly appetizers.
New Year’s Eve Paper Hat Tutorial
Now, let’s get down to the fun craft project…. folding paper hats. It’s a very easy DIY that just takes a bit of practice.
Supplies
- 9×12 sheets of construction paper (use yellow, orange, and green for King Julien’s crown).
- tape or glue
- King Julien crown FREE printable PDF file!
Note: Any 8.5×11 or larger rectangle-shaped paper will work, it will just change the size of the finished hat slightly.
How to Make a Paper Hat from Construction Paper
 Follow the following instructions to turn your paper hat into a crown!
- Begin with a rectangular piece of paper. The size will determine the final size of your hat, but a sheet of construction paper (9 x 12 inches) or a standard letter-size sheet of copy paper (8.5 x 11 inches) works well.
- Fold the paper in half vertically (from top to bottom), creasing it firmly. This will create a folded half sheet of paper.
- Fold the left corner of the paper in towards the center crease, creating a triangle at the top left side.
- Repeat this fold on the right side, folding the right corner towards the center crease to form a triangle at the top right side.
- Fold the bottom edge of the paper up to meet the bottom edge of the triangles on the front side of the hat, creating a flap at the bottom of the hat. Turn the paper over and repeat this fold on the back side of the hat.
- Unfold the front and back flaps. Fold in both corners of the rectangle flaps (front and back), 4 fold total.
- Fold the flaps back up, tucking the folded triangle corners in and securing the flap with a bit of glue or tape.
- Turn the hat so the folds face the back. Your hat is finished!
- Wear your handmade paper hat proudly and enjoy your New Year’s Eve celebration!
How to Make King Julien’s Crown
- Start with the free printable pattern and three sheets of construction paper. Use yellow, orange, and green paper to make King Julien’s hat. Cut out all the shapes.
- Fold the green half circle in half 4-6 times to create pie-shaped creases in the paper.
- Unfold and cut notches into the center top of the half circle to look like tropical leaves.
- Fold the orange feather shapes in half to create a center crease.
- Wrap and glue the yellow paper strip into a funnel-shaped cylinder.
- Glue the yellow cylinder to the top of the hat.
- Glue the green shoes to the back of the hat as pictured.
- Glue the orange feather to the green shapes.
- Punch small holes in each corner of the completed hat and thread with yarn to create a chin tie.
- Wear your King Julien crown proudly and enjoy the festivities! Adjust the crown as needed to ensure it fits securely and sits comfortably on your head.
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