Measure, mark and cut off 2 ½” from one end of 4 craft sticks using a craft knife, a ruler and a cutting mat. Tip: you can use a sharp scissors to cut off the ends, but be careful to not split the wood!

Using white paint and a foam brush (or a paintbrush) paint one side of all 4 of the craft sticks that you cut plus 4 of the whole ones; let dry.

Next, paint the remaining 6 craft sticks red (you only need to paint one side); let dry.

Starting about 1 ½” from the top of the construction paper, lay down the (whole length) painted craft sticks in this order - 2 reds, 2 whites, 2 reds, 2 whites, 2 last reds. Then lay down all of the cut whites so the rounded ends are facing out and the cut edges touch, in two rows of two, centered on the paper.

Once you’ve made your painted craft sticks into the hat shape and have it where you want it on the page, glue them down, one by one, starting at the top and moving your way down.

Use a pencil to draw the cat’s eyes, eyebrows, the outline of his head, the tip of his nose, and some whiskers; then trace over the pencil lines with a black Sharpie.