DIY Stenciled Cowgirl Hat & Ball Cap Makeover
I had so much fun creating these custom hats using the brand new Essential Stencil hat collection. As soon as I saw these stencils, I knew I wanted to try them on a cowgirl hat and a simple ball cap. They turned out even prettier than I imagined, and they were honestly easier to create than they look.
Supplies Used
- Cowboy hat from Amazon
- Cotton ball cap
- Essential Stencil “Amazing Grace” stencil
- Essential Stencil “Wild Floral Leopard” stencil
- Essential Stencil stencil brushes & dome brushes
- DecoArt acrylic paints
- Metallic silver paint
- Traditional Burnt Umber paint
- Rich Espresso metallic paint
- Buttermilk paint
- Lush Green paint
- Painter’s tape
- Coffee filters or paper towels for offloading paint
I found both hats on Amazon, and they were perfect for stenciling. The cowgirl hat already had such a fun western look with the buckle detail, so I decided to keep the design soft and vintage-inspired. I used the “Amazing Grace” stencil along with a cross from the same set and stenciled it in a soft silver metallic paint. I didn’t want the silver to be too bold, so I kept it slightly muted and weathered looking.
One thing I always recommend when stenciling on fabric is making sure you offload your paint really well. Even though fabric absorbs paint better than wood, it’s still important to work with light layers. I used stippling motions instead of heavy swirling, especially around the curved areas of the hats. Holding the stencil in place with my fingers while working slowly around the brim helped a lot too.
Stenciled Ball Cap
The second hat might actually be my favorite. I used the floral leopard stencil from the new collection and layered soft cream florals with traditional burnt umber leopard spots. Then I added a metallic espresso color over top to give it a vintage shimmer. After that, I shaded the leaves with lush green paint to give the whole design more depth and softness.
What I love most about these hats is that you can completely customize them to fit your own style. You could make them farmhouse, western, boho, vintage, colorful, neutral, or even seasonal. The possibilities are endless.
One of my favorite things about using stencils on fabric is that if the design ever fades over time, you can simply line the stencil back up and refresh it. These stencils are reusable and so easy to clean with a simple disinfecting wipe or soap and water.
I hope these projects inspire you to try decorating your own hats. They were such a fun creative project for Memorial Day weekend, and I absolutely love how both of them turned out.
Which one would you wear — the vintage cowgirl hat or the floral leopard ball cap?
