DIY Light Up Minnie Mouse Ears
-
Daniela Kretchmer
- Updated: Oct 27, 2023
- Accessory, Disney, Popular Posts
Learn how to make light up Minnie Mouse ears. These no-sew DIY Disney ears instructions includes a free Minnie ears template to easily make your own headband.
Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.
Table of Contents
Right before the pandemic, I had planned my first trip to Disney World for September 2020. Naturally, that trip got postponed. However, right before everything shut down, my boyfriend and I had gone to Disneyland twice and Disneyland Paris once in less than a year. This was not intentional, but happened to work out that way.
However, it made us realize we are Disney-obsessed. Also part of the realization may have come from the fact that I had just made about 5 pairs of my own Disney ears in the last week. Or from an entire drawer full of sequin fabric I acquired specifically to make Mickey Mouse ears. Or from the two large plastic bins of headbands and plastic ornaments used to make them. But who’s to say?
I also made Disney World 50th Anniversary Ears since we rescheduled the trip for right before the 50th, but I unfortunately wasn’t able to attend. In the meantime, I can at least share this fun craft project for how to make Mickey Mouse ears.
Even though I’ve made ears for various Disney characters and villains, I figured the best place to start would be with the ultimate classic Disneyland ears, but with a twist – light-up Minnie Mouse ears. You can also see how I made these Alice in Wonderland ears for a fun variation.
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Free Printable DIY Minnie Ears Template
I created this free printable Disney ears template to make it easy to cut out the fabric for the ears and to cover the headband. Download below or from the shop. These fit a 90mm disc ornament and the 1 inch satin headband linked in the materials. This will not fit a plain plastic headband – it will be too big. However, you can always just trim off the extra.
When printing, be sure to print at actual size, without margins. I included a 1 inch ruler on the page to make sure it printed at the correct size.
Download the Free Light-Up Minnie Mouse Ears Template
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Get the Full PDF Tutorial and Pattern
Get the entire PDF tutorial and template to make these light up Minnie Mouse ears. It includes added diagrams not listed here and recommendations for where to get all of the materials. This way you can follow along more easily or gift the project to a Disney fan.
It includes instructions to make other variations including rose gold Minnie ears and for the Disney villain fans, Cruella Deville ears.
And as a thank you for visiting the AB Crafty blog, use code DISNEYLOVE for 20% off.
Materials for DIY Light Up Minnie Mouse Ears
- 2 90mm fillable plastic disc ornaments (you can also find them here). You can also get this smaller pack of 3, but then you’ll have 1 extra.
- 1 Set of 6.6 ft fairy lights
- Glue gun
- Minnie ears template (download and print it for free)
- Black sequin fabric
- Red sequin fabric
- Headband (I use a 1 inch wide satin headband)
- Satin ribbon
Instructions to make Light Up Minnie Ears
Attach the Fairy Lights
Start by breaking off the nub of both sides of the fillable plastic disc ornaments. It should leave a slight gap along the edge.
Tip: The easiest way to do this is by holding the ornament firmly in one hand and then with the other, bend the nub back and forth until it snaps.
Since these are light up Minnie Mouse ears, we need to start with the lights. Therefore, unwrap the fairy lights. Then use a glue gun to begin glueing them into one half of an ornament.
Tip: Place the glue on the wire near the LEDs, but not on the lights themselves. You want to make sure the wire is secure enough so that it doesn’t shake around. I made that mistake with the first pair of DIY Mickey ears. Let me tell you, it gets very annoying to listen to wires constantly shaking as you’re running to get to your next ride.
Continue glueing half of the lights into the ornament. This should come to 10 lights. You’ll want to twist the wire around so that they’re roughly evenly spaced. The last light should be close to the gap you created when breaking off the nub. Place the wire into this gap.
Tip: Turn the lights on to easily check how the lights are distributed.
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Connect the other half of the ornament, lining up the opening, and snap it shut.
Then bring the wire across and into half of the other ornament through the opening. Make sure the next fairy light is just passed the opening of the other ornament. Use the glue gun to glue it down.
Repeat the process of glueing the fairy lights into the ornament. When you reach the end of the lights, bring the rest of the wire and battery pack back through the hole. Then snap on the other half of the ornament.
Cover the Ears with Fabric
Fold over the black sequin fabric and place the Minnie Mouse ears template on top. Use a rotary cutter or scissors to cut around the template. Repeat this process for one layer of fabric on the ears. For darker ears, cut out 2 additional sets so that you have 8 circles of fabric in total.
Tip: Put a piece of double sided tape on the back of the Mickey Mouse ears template so that it stays in place when cutting.
Take one of the circles of fabric and glue it onto half of one of the ornaments. Make sure it is centered so that it fits all the way around.
Tip: Glue a dot in the middle first. Then glue down one side and then the opposite so that you’re putting even tension on all sides. While glueing, make sure the fabric is tight against the ornament. The fabric should reach just past the where the sides connect.
Glue another piece of sequin fabric onto the other side of the same ornament. Glue down the edge along the seam of the ornament. Cut off any excess so that it’s nice and smooth.
Tip: If you would like your ears to be darker, glue another layer of fabric on each side using the same method.
Repeat the same process on the other ornament. These will form the light up ears.
Get the PDF tutorial to have on hand for yourself or give it as a gift to a Disney fan!
And as a thank you for visiting the AB Crafty blog, use code DISNEYLOVE for 20% off.
Cover the Headband with Fabric
Fold the black fabric and place the Minnie headband template on top so that the edge that says “fold line” is along the fold. Cut around the template, avoiding the fold line.
Tip: Again, use a piece of double side tape on the back of the template to help it stay in place while cutting.
Unfold the cut piece of fabric and lay it face down on the table.
Find the center point of the headband and add some glue to it. Flip it upside down and attach it to the center point of the fabric.
Continue to glue the fabric to the top of the headband.
Tip: Work with one side of the headband at a time, glueing it down inch by inch until you reach the end.
Fold one edge of the sequin fabric towards the inside of the headband and glue it down. Be sure to the fabric fits tightly around the headband.
Tip: Just as with the top of the headband, glue the fabric down one inch at a time.
Do the same to the other side of the headband. If there is excess fabric, trim it off. You do not want the fabric to overlap in the middle or it will be bulky and uncomfortable.
When you get to the ends, fold them back and glue them onto the inside of the headband.
Cut the satin ribbon to roughly two inches longer than the length of the headband. Glue the center of it to the center of the inside of the headband.
Then fold in and glue the edges of the end of the ribbon. Be sure to fold them at an angle so that the ribbon gradually becomes more narrow. Since the headband is more narrow at the ends, you want to make sure the ribbon is too. Otherwise it will stick out at the bottom.
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Fold over the end of the ribbon over and glue it to itself. This way you have a clean edge to the end and the ribbon won’t fray.
Repeat the steps on the other side of the ribbon. Then glue the ribbon to the inside of the headband.
Tip: Just as with the top of the headband, it’s easiest to glue from the middle to the ends, glueing inch by inch.
Make the Bow
Cut an 8×11 inch rectangle out of the red sequin fabric. This will form the main part of the iconic Minnie Mouse bow.
Additionally, cut a small strip of the fabric an inch wide and at least 3 inches long. This will form the ribbon around the bow.
Lay the rectangle face down and fold the top and bottom of the long edges towards the middle. Overlap the fabric slightly and glue it in place.
Fold over the edges of the short sides so the ends don’t fray. Then bring the sides to the middle and glue down.
Now begins the process of folding and shaping the bow. To start, add glue to the very middle and fold it in half, long ways. This will make the middle of the bow. Hold it together until the glue dries.
Next, focus on one side at a time. Add some glue close to the edge of the fold you just made. Then fold the fabric backwards, holding it in place until the glue dries.
Next, place glue on top of the fabric in the middle and fold it back towards the center.
Again, hold it in place until it dries. You should now see the bow taking its shape.
Repeat the same process on the other side so that you have a bow with pleats. Make sure all of the folds have glue and squeeze on the middle until it dries.
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Next, we’re going to make the ribbon to wrap around the center of the bow.
Take the strip of red sequin fabric and do the same as you did with the rectangular piece. Fold the long edges towards the middle, overlapping one side slightly and glue in place.
Glue one end of the strip to the bottom of the bow. Wrap the other end around the bow and cut off the excess. Then glue down this end, overlapping the first.
Assemble the Minnie Ears
Place the headband on the table and space evenly space the ears above it. Make sure the wire between the ears is stretched across the top of the headband. You don’t want it under the ears or the ears will be too close together.
Tip: The middle of the ears should be spaced around 4.5″ apart. Measure from the part that touches the headband, along the headband. If you use the recommend fairy lights (6.6 ft lights), the distance should already be around 4.5″ inches so you don’t need to worry about it.
Start glueing the ears to the headband by putting glue right under the ear and holding it in place until the glue is dry. Then go all the way around the base of the ears with the glue to make sure they won’t move.
Wrap up the wires and glue them to one side of the top of the headband. Glue the battery pack on top of the wires. Make sure to leave enough room on the headband for the bow, which means it may hang off the edge.
Tip: Glue the battery pack with the screws facing up so that you can easily change out the battery in the future.
In theory, you could also leave them like this to have light up Mickey ears. But, since we’re making Minnie Mouse ears today, we need to add her iconic bow. Therefore the last step is to glue the bow to the middle of the headband in front of the battery pack.
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And of course you have to see how the light up Mickey Mouse ears look actually lit up at night! So now if you’re in Disneyland at night, your family and friends can easily spot you in the crowd!
If you make your own, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @ab.crafty.
Get the PDF tutorial to have on hand for yourself or give it as a gift to a Disney fan!
And as a thank you for visiting the AB Crafty blog, use code DISNEYLOVE for 20% off.
More Designs for Light Up Mickey Mouse Ears
There are all types of ears you can make once you know the basics. These are some of the ones I’ve made so far. And don’t forget, you can also get the full pdf tutorial.
Iridescent and Gold Ears for Disney World's 50th Anniversary
These ears use purple, blue, and pink iridescent fabric and a gold bow (Amazon) to match the colors for the 50th Anniversary of Disney World.
The unique part about these ears is the soft stretch fabric. When using a stretchy fabric you want to make sure to stretch it while glueing so there aren’t ripples.
Here are the step by step instructions to make the Disney World 50th Anniversary ears.
Alice in Wonderland Ears
The Mad Hatter himself would be proud of these ears. These use a pattern fabric (that you can get here) and a black sequin bow.
These looks so fun when lit up in the dark thanks to the checkerboard pattern fabric!
Here are the step by step instructions to make these Alice in Wonderland ears.
Rose Gold Minnie Ears
The DIY rose gold Minnie ears are made the same way as the classic ears, but instead of using black and red sequin fabric, use all rose gold (such as this one). What’s neat about these is the pink tones from the rose gold come out in the dark, making the headband glow a slight pink color.
Rainbow Candy Mickey Ears
These colorful rainbow Mickey ears look like candy or Dippin’ Dots to me. Instead of using fabric to cover the ornaments, I glued on little foam beads and used purple fabric for the bow.
101 Dalmatians Disney Ears - Cruella Deville Mickey Ears
Once you know how to make the basic light up Minnie Ears, it’s easy to make any type of Disney ears. For example for these Cruella Deville Mickey Ears, I made one ear black (Amazon) and the other white (Amazon). The headband is covered in red sequins fabric.
To make the Minnie bow, I used a sharpie to color in spots onto white sequin fabric first. Then I cut out a piece smaller rectangle than normal and followed the instructions above to make it into a bow. Instead of both having a ribbon around each, I wrapped a single ribbon around the two.
Because the ears are different colors, they’re also unique Disney ears to wear at night.
Which types of Mickey ears headbands are your favorite? Do you like the solid colors or patterns or ones based on Disney movies, characters, or villains?
And if you’re also planning a trip to Universal Studios to see Harry Potter World, you can make this golden snitch EOS.
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DIY Light Up Minnie Mouse Ears
Learn how to make light up Minnie Mouse ears. These no-sew DIY Disney ears instructions includes a free Minnie ears template to easily make your own headband.
Materials
- 2 90mm clear plastic disc ornaments
- 1 set Fairy lights
- 1 Satin headband
- Black sequin fabric
- Red sequin fabric
- Satin ribbon
Equipment
- Glue gun
- Scissors
- Minnie Mouse Ears Template
Instructions
Attach the Fairy Lights
- Break off the nub of both sides of the fillable plastic disc ornaments.
- Unwrap the fairy lights and glue half of the lights into one half of an ornament.
- Twist the wire around so that the lights are roughly evenly spaced. The last light should be close to the gap you created when breaking off the nub. Place the wire into this gap.
- Connect the other half of the ornament, lining up the opening, and snap it shut.Then bring the wire across and into half of the other ornament through the opening.
- Repeat the process of glueing the fairy lights into the ornament. When you reach the end of the lights, bring the rest of the wire and battery pack back through the hole. Then snap on the other half of the ornament.
Cover the Ears with Fabric
- Fold the black sequin fabric in half and place the Minnie Mouse ears template on top. Cut around the template. Repeat so you have 4 circles.
- Take one of the circles of fabric and glue it onto half of one of the ornaments. Make sure it is centered so that it fits all the way around.
- Glue another piece of sequin fabric onto the other side of the same ornament. Glue down the edge along the seam of the ornament. Cut off any excess so that it’s nice and smooth.
- Repeat the same process on the other ornament. These will form the light up ears.
Cover the Headband with Fabric
- Fold the black fabric and place the Minnie Mouse headband template along the edge where it says “fold line.” Cut along the edge of the template.
- Unfold the cut piece of fabric and lay it face down on the table.Find the center point of the headband and add some glue to it. Flip it upside down and attach it to the center point of the fabric.
- Continue to glue the fabric to the top of the headband. Work with one side of the headband at a time, glueing it down inch by inch until you reach the end.
- Fold one edge of the sequin fabric towards the inside of the headband and glue it down. Be sure to the fabric fits tightly around the headband.
- Do the same to the other side of the headband. If there is excess fabric, trim it off. You do not want the fabric to overlap in the middle or it will be bulky and uncomfortable.When you get to the ends, fold them back and glue them onto the inside of the headband.
- Cut the satin ribbon to roughly two inches longer than the length of the headband. Glue the center of it to the center of the inside of the headband.Then fold in and glue the edges of the end of the ribbon. Be sure to fold them at an angle so that the ribbon gradually becomes more narrow.
- Fold over the end of the ribbon over and glue it to itself. This way you have a clean edge to the end and the ribbon won’t fray.
- Repeat the steps on the other side of the ribbon. Then glue the ribbon to the inside of the headband.
Make the Bow
- Cut an 8×11 inch rectangle out of the red sequin fabric and a small strip of the fabric an inch wide and at least 3 inches long.
- Lay the rectangle face down and fold the top and bottom of the long edges towards the middle. Overlap the fabric slightly and glue it in place.
- Fold over the edges of the short sides so the ends don’t fray. Then bring the sides to the middle and glue down.
- Add glue to the very middle and fold it in half, long ways. This will make the middle of the bow. Hold it together until the glue dries.
- Add some glue close to the edge of the fold you just made. Then fold the fabric backwards, holding it in place until the glue dries.
- Place glue on top of the fabric in the middle and fold it back towards the center.
- Hold it in place until it dries. You should now see the bow taking its shape.
- Repeat the same process on the other side so that you have a bow with pleats. Make sure all of the folds have glue and squeeze on the middle until it dries.
- Take the strip of red sequin fabric and do the same as you did with the rectangular piece. Fold the long edges towards the middle, overlapping one side slightly and glue in place.
- Glue one end of the strip to the bottom of the bow. Wrap the other end around the bow and cut off the excess. Then glue down this end, overlapping the first.
Assemble the Minnie Ears
- Place the headband on the table and space evenly space the ears above it. Make sure the wire between the ears is stretched across the top of the headband.
- Start glueing the ears to the headband by putting glue right under the ear and holding it in place until the glue is dry. Then go all the way around the base of the ears with the glue to make sure they won’t move.
- Wrap up the wires and glue them to one side of the top of the headband. Glue the battery pack on top of the wires. Make sure to leave enough room on the headband for the bow, which means it may hang off the edge.
- Glue the bow to the middle of the headband in front of the battery pack.
- Your ears are now complete and ready to wear!
Video
Notes
Download the free Minnie Mouse ears template to easily cut the fabric and make the headband.
Daniela Kretchmer
Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.
2 thoughts on “DIY Light Up Minnie Mouse Ears”
These are super cute and i love them but they feel heavy and fall off my daughters head very easily. is there another way they can be done to be more secure to stay on childrens heads?
A part of why they could be slipping off is the ears may not be weighted evenly across the headband. Additionally, the battery pack will offset the weight so you can try centering rather than leaving room for the bow. Then you can put the bow on top of the battery pack or more forward on the headband. They are more heavy due to the plastic and battery pack, but making sure everything is balanced on the headband will make them less likely to fall forward or back.