Paper cones come in handy for DIY. Do you need a tip for the paper rocket or a nose for the snowman? Do you want to organize a party with hats? This simple item has a lot of potential and, thankfully, it's easy to make. Once the base cone is made, you can improve and decorate it according to your needs.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Constructing a Paper Cone with the Disc Method
Step 1. Make a paper disc
The height of the cone depends on the radius of the circumference; the greater the radius, the higher the cone. You can print an image of a circumference downloaded from the internet or draw one on the sheet of paper you want to use. If you opt for this second solution, do your best to make it a perfect circle.
- If you make some measurement errors at this stage, the result will be very different from your expectations. It pays to put in a lot of effort and attention to make a circle as uniform as possible.
- To do this, you can use a compass or trace the outline of a round object, such as the lid of a saucepan or container.
Step 2. Draw a triangular wedge
Use a template to cut out a "slice" of the circle and get a triangular wedge. For this you need to find the center of the circumference and, with the help of a ruler, draw two straight lines from this point to the perimeter of the circle. If the two lines are close together, you will get a small wedge and therefore a cone with a wide base.
- Use a protractor to find the center of the circle if you're not sure where it is. If you used a protractor or compass to trace the circumference, you can save time by placing a point in the center of the disc before drawing its outline.
- You can trace the wedge using a ruler and pencil.
Step 3. Cut out the triangle
To make a cone with a narrow base, cut out a larger wedge. Use a pair of scissors or a precision cutter to make a straight-edged triangle. If you make any cutting mistakes, you will probably have to start all over again.
Step 4. Bring the edges together
To make the cone, join and overlap the edges of the circle you just cut to detach the wedge. Hold them together and make sure the bottom edge of both sides overlap evenly. At this point, the disc should have assumed the conical shape you want.
- Unfold the card again and try again in case the sides did not join properly on the first try.
- Do not make sharp creases on the paper, the cone must have a rounded surface.
Step 5. Use tape to close the cone from the inside
Once the two sides are brought together, block them with a piece of masking tape from the inside. These must overlap slightly and the tape must join them crosswise. At this point, the cone is ready to be used.
A single straight piece of adhesive tape provides all the necessary stability; if you use too many inside the cone, you will just make a mess. To do this, you should hold the edges of the cone steady with one hand while holding the tape with the other
Method 2 of 3: Making a Paper Cone with the Fold Method
Step 1. Cut out a triangular wedge
If you don't like the classic disc method, you can build a cone from a paper triangle. To be able to roll it up correctly, it must have a long side and two sides that are shorter and equal to each other. The larger the triangle, the larger the cone. Try to be as precise as possible as you measure and cut out the triangle.
- Even the smallest errors can make the cone asymmetrical or, worse, too small to be wrapped and glued into a cone shape.
- You can also start from a semicircle; in this case, you will get a cone with a rounded tip.
- If you don't want to measure yourself, you can look for some templates online to print. Check that the triangle you have chosen is isosceles with the two equal sides much shorter than the third.
Step 2. Roll the two distant corners of the triangle towards the center
Grab one of the two corners at the base and bring it towards the center, so that the edges of the figure touch in the center of the triangle. Take the other corner with the other hand and repeat the operation, taking care to wrap the second side over the first. When finished, you should get a cone.
- If you have trouble rolling and overlapping corners, the triangle may not be big enough.
- Distant angles are those that lie at the base of the triangle and are opposite to the wide angle formed by the two equal sides.
- Hold the first rolled corner steady as you bring the second one towards the center. You should use one hand for each corner.
Step 3. Make changes to the cone
Unless you've been able to roll it up perfectly, chances are you'll have to move the sheet of paper slightly to get an even cone. Tighten the circumference at the base just enough to get what you want. If you think the two corners overlapped irregularly, try again.
- If there is too long a flap of paper protruding from the cone, perhaps the starting triangle was not of a regular shape. In that case, you have to cut out the triangle to eliminate the extra portion with the help of a precision cutter. As long as the cone has a uniform base, the small error and correction you had to make will not be visible.
- This is a pretty straightforward process, so it's worth repeating a couple of times until you're happy with the result.
Step 4. Fold the free flaps into the cone opening
Excess lengths should be folded under the base of the cone and inside the cone. In this way, your creation will have a more uniform appearance and, at the same time, give stability to the structure. If you have rolled the paper correctly, there should be at least one triangular flap that needs to be folded inward.
- If for any reason you do not have this flap, you can solve the problem by fixing the cone to its base with a piece of adhesive tape, making it adhere from the outside to the inside of the structure.
- If you can't find a gap to fold the flaps back into, try loosening or tightening the grip around the cone.
Step 5. Secure the cone with adhesive tape
While the flaps folded inward provide stability to the structure, you can prevent the cone from opening by placing a piece of tape inside it along the joining line. If you think the cone will still open, add more strips of masking tape to the middle and top of the joining line. At the end of this operation you will have a cone ready to be used.
The free flap can also be fixed with the tape
Method 3 of 3: Customize the Cone Based on Use
Step 1. Choose the appropriate paper type
If you already have a clear idea of the end use, it is worth choosing the material wisely. Some types of paper are better suited than others for certain projects.
- Normal printer paper is great for decorative cones, as it leaves a lot of room for imagination and can be colored and decorated as desired.
- Thicker cardboard is a good solution for party hats.
- Parchment paper is ideal if you need a cone or funnel for cooking and baking.
Step 2. Cut the tip of the cone to get a funnel
If you want to make it for cooking, you need to give it the shape of a funnel. Take a pair of scissors and remove the tip. Now you can pour the icing or syrup by squeezing the funnel as if it were a pastry bag.
If the hole you drilled isn't big enough, you can cut another bit of tip. But remember that the diameter of the hole increases exponentially with the size of the portion you cut out. It is best to be cautious and thoughtful at this stage
Step 3. Draw a decorative pattern on the cone
If you've made the frame to make hats for a party, it's worth decorating and personalizing it. Grab your favorite colored pencils or markers and draw some pictures. Geometric patterns (such as jagged lines or spirals) are perfect for cones, but you can actually choose your favorite design and write words as well. Whether it's a party hat or a donkey hat, the writing allows you to immediately understand the purpose for which it was built (for example, you can write "Happy Birthday").
- If you are concerned about making mistakes, first draw the decorations with a pencil.
- It may be easier to trace the geometric patterns on the flat sheet before rolling it into a cone.
Step 4. Look for some ideas to inspire you
There are endless ways to decorate a paper cone. Even if you come up with original ideas, you can draw inspiration from other people's creative projects. Experiment with different cone construction techniques and then decorate it with original material. With DIY, the possibilities are endless.
