The J. Paul Getty Museum

Bring some pomp and circumstance to your next celebration—be it Mother's Day, Father’s Day, a graduation, or a birthday—by giving your special someone the royal treatment with a Getty-inspired crown.

Crowns, diadems, and tiaras date back to the ancient world. They were worn throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and are still used today. Crowns often signify regal or saintly status, and are typically made of precious and symbolic materials.

Working with examples from the Getty collection, discover how to make family-friendly crowns for all ages and skill levels using fun and handy materials. Below you’ll find a set of three activities for radiant, coronation, and royal crowns to get things started. Who knows, these crowns may encourage courtly behavior in your family!

Share your creation online and tag us #GettyMuseum

First, gather your materials:

• Primary: construction paper, cardstock, paper plates, crayons, colored pencils, markers, paints, brushes, glue (glue sticks or white glue), tape, scissors, ruler
• Optional: stapler, glue gun, hole punch
• Alternatives: paper bags, gift bags, scrapbook papers, cereal boxes, lightweight cardboard or foam sheets
• Royal Bling: decorative stickers, glitter, sequins, tin foil, noodles, cereal, lace, pom poms, pipe cleaners, or cut paper shapes. You can cut or hole punch elements from old greeting cards or wrapping paper for more decorative options. Use your imagination!

Tips for starting:

• Gather all materials beforehand. If you don’t have the exact materials, improvise!
• Try a practice run to get familiar with the crown designs.
• Think about who or what you are celebrating as you decorate your crown. Make it personally meaningful and have fun!