These adorable preppy cruise Mickey ears are perfect for your next Disney cruise. After making so many ears, this is one of the easiest to make DIY mouse ears.

Preppy Cruise Mickey Ears with a Fun Nautical Charm

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I’ve made quite a few DIY Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears. From Mouse hats to headbands, I’m learning how to make sturdy sets that can withstand a 7-year-old.

One of the biggest complaints I have with most tutorials (even some of mine) are that the ears rely on paper or foam core to hold them up. Now, there’s nothing WRONG with this, but I was worried about what happens when it rains?

Would the cardboard insides turn to mush or would my ears be okay? These are the things I stay up thinking about… So I started looking for lightweight alternatives to use as mouse ear forms and I’m so happy I did! Let’s get started.

Pin for Later

Not going on your Disney cruise for a while? Pin this to your favorite Disney planning board on Pinterest and it will be here for you when you need it.

Tips for Making Preppy Cruise Ears for Disney

I’ve made quite a few ears and will tell you these are ridiculously quick to make. They qualify as a beginner’s sewing project (because you just have to sew along a traced line).

All fabric and ribbon used for these preppy cruise Minnie ears, I picked up at a craft store. I picked up the scrubby pads at a dollar store.
You can use “fat quarters” sold in folded squares at craft stores. Iron them well before attaching the interfacing.
Iron-on interfacing isn’t necessary (you can use the sew-on kind) but I find it easier to work with.

How Do I Make These Preppy Cruise Mickey Ears?

I’m so glad you asked! Below is our written tutorial, but I urge you to watch the full DIY preppy cruise Mickey ears video tutorial here on YouTube.

Yield: 1 Pair of cruise Mickey Mouse Ears

Preppy Cruise Mickey Ears

These adorable preppy-style cruise Mickey ears are the perfect DIY if you're heading out on the water. They are lightweight and will bring oohs and ahhs from fellow passengers.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

1/4 yard white cotton fabric
1/4 yard teal and white stripe cotton fabric
1/8 yard pink cotton fabric
iron-on interfacing
rope ribbon (thin for the trim)
a burlap looking ribbon for the headband (it is smooth and soft)
nautical charm and thin string or embroidery thread to tie it on
scrub pads
polyfill (for stuffing the ears)
white 1-inch wide plastic headband

Tools

hot glue gun and glue sticks
scissors
sewing machine (can hand sew)
pencil

Instructions

Outline the outer ear fabric template on the back of your fabrics in a light pencil. Use an iron to secure interfacing to fabric and trace the inner ear template using a light pencil stroke (this is your sew line).
Cut all fabric (2 each fabric for ears WITH interfacing attached and 2 forms (I used scrub pads).
Sew along the line, leaving the bottoms of the ears open.
Snip the seam allowance from the outside edge to just near the sewing line all around the ear. Turn right-sides out.
Push the scrub pad into the ear pouch and stuff with polyfill until desired thickness is reached.
Snip two small pieces of ribbon and cover the bottom of the plastic headband by securing them with hot glue. Wrap the entire headband in the ribbon and glue to secure.
Fold the bottom fabric flaps onto themselves, tucking one edge up into the ear and securing with glue. Lay down the other and create a nice, flat surface. Repeat with the other ear and secure them to the headband with hot glue. It will not show through because you have created a large surface area.
Measure a piece of rope ribbon for the ear trim and secure one end with scotch tape before cutting it. That way, the rope doesn't fray. Attach the end to just behind the ear and secure it in place. Bring the rope around the bottom front of the ear (along the headband) and then around the ear along the seam. Secure the end behind the ear. Repeat for the other Mickey ear.
Cut the fabric for the bow (10.5-inch by 7-inch for the large piece and 5-inch by 2-inch for the small). "Hem" the pieces using hot glue (see the full video tutorial if you've never done this).
Make the Minnie Mouse bow by accordion-folding the fabric in towards the center. Secure with hot glue in the creases. Attach one end of the center fabric.
Thread the charm onto the embroidery thread and gently tie (double knot) into place without scrunching the fabric. Secure the thread with hot glue and then secure the center piece of the bow to the back.
Position the bow on the headband (not along the edge, but along the top, flat part) between the ears. Secure with hot glue and your cruise Mickey ears are done!

Notes

For more amazing DIY Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears, visit Ruffles and Rain Boots.

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