3 Ways to Decorate Your Graduation Cap (2024)

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Last Updated: January 11, 2020References

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   Always make sure you are allowed to decorate. You don’t want to spend hours slaving away over your cap only to find out you aren’t allowed to wear it. Ask a teacher or school counselor you trust to make sure you aren’t breaking any rules.^[1]

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   Have a plan. Before you decorate, sit down and think about not only the message you wish to portray, but the decorating scheme as well. This will prevent your cap from looking like a hot mess. Get some colored pencils and brainstorm on scrap paper.

   • Involve your friends to make this a fun group night. Have everyone bring over decorating supplies, make some snacks, and brainstorm together. Decorating together will also allow your group to apply a theme while keeping your hats individual. A theme will work especially well if you’re on a sports team or in a club together.
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   Gather up your supplies. There’s nothing worse than starting a craft project and realizing you’re missing components to it. By applying a plan, you can make a list of materials and gather them up before getting started.

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   Use a fabric pen to write out a message. Fabric pens are exactly what they sound like: Pens that can be safely and effectively used on fabric. They come in any color imaginable and have special features such as metallics, glitter or opaque. Fabric pens are used similarly to regular pens, with the exception being that you squeeze while you move the pen to release the color.^[2]

   • Use caution when working with glue. If a fabric pen gets in your eye or is accidentally deposited onto skin, immediately use a water rinse to remove it.^[3]
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   Apply crystals with a glue gun. A glue gun is a practical way to neatly add on rhinestones. To apply, lay your rhinestones upside down on a piece of paper towel or cardboard.^[4] Squeeze a small amount of glue onto the back of the rhinestone. Count to three so the glue becomes tacky, and using tweezers, gently pick the rhinestone up and push into your desired spot on your cap.^[5]

   • Rhinestones and a glue gun can be picked up at most dollar or craft stores. They come in a huge assortment of sizes and colors, so get creative.
   • If you don’t have a steady enough hand for applying rhinestones, invest in a pre-made embellishment. These will often have several rhinestones in the shape of words or pictures with one, solid, tacky back, so they can be applied all together.^[6]
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   Glue glitter paper onto the base of your hat. Glitter paper is available at most craft stores and can be trimmed to fit the base of your hat. After trimming, apply glue with the glue gun or glue stick to the edges of your paper.^[7] Line up the edges with your hat and gently but firmly apply the paper to the top of your hat.

   • Not a fan of the glitter paper? This trick would work with any paper, including newspaper, wrapping paper, or maps.

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   Make your own stencil. To make your own stencil, draw out your design or lettering on a simple piece of printer paper. After laying down a protective top to your table, such as cardboard, lay the printer paper right side up. Use an exacto knife to slowly and carefully cut out your design.^[8] Once satisfied with your cut job, voila! Your stencil is ready to go.

   • Many pre-made stencils are available at your local dollar store.^[9] This allows you to skip both the drawing and cutting of your stencil. Another option is to print your desired image directly onto your paper, so it only needs be cut.
   • Up your stencil game by laminating your paper before cutting. This allows your stencil to have a smoother edge and prevents bleeding into the rest of your cap after painting.
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   Stick the stencil onto your grad cap. Lie up where you want your stencil to be placed and play with different locations.^[10] Once you’ve decided on the spot, tape the stencil down taut against your cap. The tape will prevent the stencil from shifting while you paint.

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   Get painting. Using a smaller paintbrush for more control, gently paint within your stencil. For a precise edging, hold down the stencil firmly to the cap while painting the edges.^[11] Be careful to not overdo it, as any excess paint runs the risk of bleeding.

   • If you can, use fabric paint. Specifically formulated for fabric, fabric paint will age with grace.^[12] If you don’t have the option of this, stick with simple acrylic from the dollar store.
   • Add some school spirit to your hat by stenciling in your school’s logo or colors.^[13] This can be a simple but effective way to add excitement for your peers and teachers during your drawn out, boring grad ceremony.
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   Wait for your paint to dry and remove the stencil. It is better to be cautious and wait overnight for your paint to dry. Waiting longer will mean your paint is solidified and the stencil will pull away cleanly. Once you are confident the paint is solid, you can lift the tape and gently pull the stencil away.^[14] Waiting will also ensure any wet paint on the stencil does not rub off onto your hands or the rest of your cap.

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