Golden Goddess Horned Headdress

Intro: Golden Goddess Horned Headdress

In this instructable, I will walk you through making a DIY Golden Goddess Horned Headdress. It is relatively simple to make and can be put together in just a couple hours. If you are looking for a statement piece, a headdress is a fabulous option. It can add some intrigue to any outfit and is great for festivals and photo shoots.

STEP 1: Supply List

Gather together the following items:

E6000

Duct Tape

1 Can Gold Spray Paint

1 Pair of Horns

1 Spool of Ribbon

1/8 Yard of 1/2 inch Thick Foam

16 Gauge Craft Wire

1 Lomey Pedestal Holder

Floral Wire

Scissors

Wire Cutters

Hot Glue Gun

Glue Sticks (4-6 mini sticks)

1 Bunch (5 stems) Golden Hydrangeas

2 Cream Hydrangeas

1 Delia

5-6 Rose Budding Stems

4 Open Rose Stems

1 Cream Grass Bunch

2 Golden Amaranthus

2 Rusty Brown Amaranthus

2 Autumn Leafy Stems

You should be able to find everything at your local craft store with the exception of the horns and the pedestal holder. Some craft stores may have the pedestal holder, but many do not carry them. If you seem unable to get your hands on one, you can always make one with some duct tape and dry foam.

STEP 2: Painting the Horns

In a well ventilated area, spray paint the horns per the manufacturer's directions. Apply as many coats as needed to hide the original color. You can move on to the next step between coats of paint. Once the horns are dry, do one last check to make sure they are fully painted from every angle. If you find a spot that is lacking, apply more paint and leave to dry. My horns took three applications before I was satisfied with the color from every angles. I think I could have had it in two applications, but I didn't want to get hasty and end up with a paint drip

STEP 3: Building the Base

Ideally, you will want the individual the headdress is for present. If they are not available, you can use your own head for the mold or that of a willing friend. I am using a mannequin, as it is the easiest way for me to show the process. Should you own a mannequin and elect to use it, check the sizing as you go to be sure it will also fit your head properly. Gather the foam, ribbon, scissors, wire cutters, E6000 and duct tape.

STEP 4: Base Phase I

Starting an inch or so past center, on your models head, bend the wire down towards the ear. At about the ear, bend the wire back up, over the head and down to the other ear. Bend the wire again, this time, going back towards the center of the head. You will want there to be an inch or two of overlap where the wire meets. Cut the excess wire. It should roughly resemble a head band.

Take a short strip of duct tape and wrap it around where the wires meet. The tape only needs to wrap around the two wires a few times. Place the newly formed band back onto the head. Form the, pressing it against the head till it sits snug to the head.

Taking a hold of the wire, mold another piece for around the base of the head. It should run about ear to ear. Most importantly, it should run below the curvature of the head. If it is too high, the headdress will easily fall off when the wearer looks downward. You will want to bend the ends up to attach to the previously formed band.

Take small strips of duct tape and attach it to the band. Check the fit and make any adjustments as needed.

Make two more attachments at the top of the head connecting the front and back of the band. Space the two connections 1-2 inches apart connecting them to the frame with duct tape.

STEP 5: Base Phase II

Cut the foam into one inch wide strips. You will need enough length to cover all of the wire frame. Put some E6000 on the end of your ribbon and on the end of the foam. Starting at a joint, fold the foam around the wire. With the foam around the wire, start wrapping the ribbon around the foam. Carefully move around the frame, closing the foam and wrapping in ribbon.

Once you reach the end of each section, put some E6000 on the foam and the ribbon's end. Hold the freshly glued end for about a minute before moving on to the next section.

When the entire frame is padded and wrapped, check to fitting again.

Note: If you cannot find foam, it is not necessary. I add it, as I believe, it adds a little extra comfort.

STEP 6: Horns Attachment Phase I

Once your horns are adequately dry, attach them to the pedestal holder. You will want to tighten the band that holds the horns together. This can be done by simply untying the strap and retying at the desired size.

Poke a small piece of wire through the pedestal holder being sure it goes around some plastic. Through a premade hole on the horn, attach the horn to the pedestal holder. Make sure the wire is twisted tightly. Repeat for the opposite horn.

STEP 7: Horns Attachment Phase II

It is now time to attach the pedestal to the base frame. Stick two pieces of wire through the pedestal holder, again, being sure that it passes around plastic. Wrap the wire around the top of the base frame securing firmly to the frame.

Place the headdress framing back on the model. Make any adjustments as needed.

STEP 8: Decorating the Base

Gather together the flowers you wish to decorate the base and a glue gun. I listed in the supplies what flowers and the quantity I ended up using. You are free to use whatever flowers you like and in any color you desire. If you feel a little lost in picking your selection, you can use my list as a general guide of what to get.

Note: If you select seasonal flowers, at the end of the season, you can purchase them for up to 80% off. I often go at the end of a season and stock up for future projects.

STEP 9: Hiding the Base

Starting in the front and working around, use a glue gun to attach leaves to the base frame. In the back, you can glue the leaves to each other, allowing them to lay smoothly around the back of the head.

STEP 10: Drooping Flowers

Place drooping flowers or greens on both sides of the head. I used amaranthus. Hold the stem at the desired location to determine where the stem should be cut. Cut the stem and slide into the pedestal holder.

STEP 11: Hydrangeas

Cut the hydrangeas from the bunch to desired length. Insert the stems into the pedestal holder. Try to make them as balanced as possible

STEP 12: Cream Grass

Part the grass out to smaller sections. I hit mine with a tough of the gold spray paint. Bend the wire in the grass stem so that it has a nice curve to hang down. Place a piece of grass on both sides of the back hydrangea. Place another one on the front of the headdress to the left side

Add the final hydrangea to front of the headdress. Place it low and to the center. If you are happy with the current placement of the flowers, add hot glue at the base of the stems. It doesn't take much to help hold them in place. Be sure not to cover the foam up to much as there are still more flowers.

STEP 13: Roses

Start filling in the areas left void with the roses. If need be, give the rose stems a little bend here and there to get them to flow how you like. When you are satisfied with their placement, again, add hot glue around the stems.

STEP 14: Dahlia & Cream Hydrangeas

Use the cream hydrangeas to fill in any remaining gaps. The hydrangeas, depending on the size, can be parted out. The ones I had could be dismantled into 3 parts, a center and two rings. The centers were used for the right and left side of the center rose in the back of the headdress. One of the remaining 4 rings was used around the dahlia which was placed in the center near the top of the front of the headdress. If you have small gaps that need filled, you can snip of small sections of the hydrangea and attach them to a new stem with wire. When everything is in place, add one last dose of glue around the steams. For this final phase of gluing, you can use the E6000 or the hot glue.

STEP 15: Completed Golden Goddess Horned Headdress

I hope you have found this instructable helpful. I would love to hear what you created your headdress for and see your beautiful creations.

Comments

[Michelledvm]

Wow, I am loving this instructable! Way to go on winning a contest. I was wondering if you could give more information on what type of foam goes around the wire? I’m not sure what search terms to use to order it online. Thank you!!

[HeartCrafting]

Sorry, for some reason I can't seem to add a photo but the link does appear to be working.

[HeartCrafting]

It has been awhile, but I beleive I purchased it at a Joann's Craft store. Not sure if it will work, but here is a link: https://www.joann.com/airtex-0.5-16-oz-high-density-foam/2180313.html I will also try and attach a screen capture of it on their site. It is a .5 inch thick high density cushion foam sold by the yard. I would imagine you could find similar material on Amazon. It doesn't have to be exactly. 5" thick but if you go much more it could make it fit weird. Really, you just need a squishy material to make it not miserable to wear. I dont like accepting the saying "beauty is pain". We should be able to have fun and pretty things without having to tolerate them being horribly uncomfortable. Hope this is helpful and good luck crafting. I would love to see your finished product! It's always exciting to see how people adapt it to their own person style or event.

[Kalidava]

How much does it weigh? I'm wondering if it's the kind of thing that is good for a stage production or actually festival (i.e. all day) wearable. I know it'll be quite hot and rather awkward to walk around in.

[HeartCrafting]

Mine feels light when you pick it up and I didn't particularly find it bothersome to wear. I personally wouldn't elect to wear it out in the sun all day on a hot day but I also wouldn't want to wear anything on my head in those conditions. I over heat easily.

I got on and off the scale with it a couple times with and without it. It weighs in at right around 1 pound. It will vary in weight based on what you adorn it with. If I can find my food scale (moved and most my stuff is still packed in the garage) I can try weighing it on that. I think the food scale will be more accurate...but as a ball park...around a pound. SqueakyD and ashephard2 both made one and might be able to give you some insight on how comfortable theirs turned out.

Hope this is helpful.

[canjarna]

Hello. Thanks so much! I have a questıon. How can I carry ıt to the festival I am going, without gettıng damaged in my luggage?
Thank u

[HeartCrafting]

Great question! I have never traveled with mine. If your materials are pretty sturdy you might be able to get away with packing your clothes all around it. If it is on the fragile side or it worries you I would suggest it be in it's own carry on and use either tissue paper or bubble wrapped around it and in the voids. When I do travel with costume pieces I always bring an emergency kit with needles, thread, E6000 or super glue (sometimes both), extra gems, beads, or rhinestones if it has any, scissors and needle nose pliers with a spot for cutting wire. Hope this is helpful and good luck! If you find something that works really well, I would love to hear it.

[weepingsiren]

I own a shop on Etsy and do this for a living! Beautifully made piece! I like the wire headband style base and would like to try it, but, what if I want my horns to be attached to the base, so they aren't so high up? I've been using a cap like base for my headpieces. Any ideas? I'll send you a pic of what I make :)

[HeartCrafting]

Those are beautiful. You should be able to attach it to the base lower down. I haven't done it....but if I were going to try...I would drill a few holes around the base of the horns and stitch or wire it to the headband base. Hope this is helpful.

[weepingsiren]

I wish your reply was sent to my email, I just saw it tonight! Thank you and I will give it a try!

[rchandlerr]

Looking forward to trying this with different colors. Thank you for this clearly written instructable!

[HeartCrafting]

Fun! What colors? I would love to see a picture when it is done!

[rchandlerr]

Here's a pic of the front, still working on the back. Possibly to be used for Dia de Los Muertos or another event. Easy to follow instructions, but I might use a thicker wire next time. It's comfortable but feels too fragile for wearing for over 8 hours. Thanks for the inspiration!

[HeartCrafting]

Bravo! love it soooo much! The colors are great and I just love the addition of the butterflies! I have a tendency to put them on a lot of things...shoes, hair pieces etc. You did such a fantastic job.

[HeartCrafting]

Thank you so much to everyone for supporting my instructable. I am extreamly excited about winning. I have wanted a sewing machine for a long time. I have been hand stitching projects or driving up to my parents house to use my mom's machine. Seriously, I am doing a happy dance that I am going to get to have my very own! I can't thank you all enough! :-) Best day ever!

[Meglymoo87]

Congrats on the Grand Prize win!!! It's an awesome prize to be won...great job! Many blessings :)

[HeartCrafting]

Thank you so much! I can't even start to describe how excited I am! :-) :-) :-) There were so many amazing hats and headpieces!

[offseid]

Wow that really was simpler than it looks. Well done!

[HeartCrafting]

Thank you, I am in the process of making another one but using a different technique. So far, it has been simple and the base is very cheap to make consisting primarily of foil and duct tape. I am hoping that people will see how simple it is and feel empowered to give it a go.

[xenia003]

This looks amazing! And to be honest, it looks like it is supported by a much more complex structure!