Our painted donut hat remains one of our most beloved DIY projects, and our matching sunglasses were a close follow-up. We wanted to create another simple, wearable donut idea and discovered that Peter Pan collars make the perfect canvas. This DIY donut collar cost less than $20 to make and wear, and the result is adorably charming.
DIY Painted Donut Collar
Total Time: One hour active time, plus drying time
Supplies
Shirt with a Peter Pan collar (you can find cropped or long-sleeve versions)
Fabric paint in tan, pink and your choice of sprinkle colors
Paintbrushes in medium and small sizes
Parchment or wax paper to protect the garment while painting
Directions
1. Lay the collar flat on a sheet of parchment or wax paper to protect the rest of the shirt.
2. Paint the entire collar with tan fabric paint and allow it to dry completely. If your shirt is not white to begin with, consider applying a coat or two of white paint first as a primer so the colors appear true.
3. With pink paint, create an irregular wavy line roughly 1/2″ from the collar edge to mimic donut frosting. Make the waves uneven for a natural look. Fill in the frosting area with pink paint, leaving about 1/2″ of tan visible at the bottom. Allow the paint to dry fully.
4. Add sprinkles by painting small dashes and dots in your chosen colors scattered across the pink frosting. Let everything dry completely. Optional: swap any original trim or ribbon for a mint or pastel ribbon to finish the look.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Donuts on my neck, donuts on my grill. The possibilities for painted collars are endless — think pizza, wreaths, watermelon and more. Would you wear a donut around your neck?
P.S. This recalls our very first donut project, a DIY donut piñata, which started our love affair with donut crafts.