How to create medals for women that you admire

Women's History Month

Women's History Month, celebrated each March, is the opportunity to celebrate and highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

Remarkable women from our collections

Within the Museum’s collection there are medals that celebrate women who have done great things.

Grace Darling

Grace Darling was born in 1815 and achieved great fame for the rescue she made with her father, keeper of the Longstone lighthouse, when the 'Forfarshire', a paddle-steamer bound from Hull to Dundee, was wrecked on the Farne Islands on 7 September 1838. The public came to see Grace as a Victorian heroine.

Learn more about Grace

Attracta Rewcastle

Dr Attracta Rewcastle (1897-1951) was the first woman to be commissioned as a naval officer (acting surgeon-lieutenant RNVR).

Find out more

(Source of red ribbon with a golden badge picture)

Create a medal for women that you admire

You can choose someone from history, or someone closer to home who you would like to give an award to. Perhaps you could then send it to them as a nice surprise?

What you will need:

- Fabric scraps

- Ribbon

- Coloured paper

- Scissors

- Glue

- Pens

- Safety pins, tape, buttons, decorative bits - like pompoms or stickers, scissors and felt-tips

(Source of materials needed e.g. coloured papers, scissors, glue, pins, tape picture)

Step 1

Measure and cut a piece of paper or fabric to the width of the safety pin bar, so that it will hang easily. Make sure to cut a long strip – mine are about 20cm long.

Step 2

Fold the paper in half longways and you can cut the bottom into a V shape.

Step 3

Open up the paper and on the lower half, write the name of the person who is receiving the medal and the reason why they have been given it. It's also nice to include the month and year.

On my fabric strip I have stuck some masking tape to make it easy to write on.

Step 4

Fold over and start to colour in the front with felt-tips, you can also glue on bits of ribbon and other strips of paper.

Step 5

Slide the pins in as shown on the photo. Make sure to keep the pin bit free so the medal can be pinned onto clothes.

Step 6

Use a piece of ribbon or tape across the top and stick down to secure the pin.

Step 7

Enjoy decorating your medals with all your bits and bobs – have fun and play around!

Step 8

You are finished - now all you have to do is present your medals!!!

Well done!

Donate your medals to women that you admire!

And share your crafts with us!

If you've enjoyed this activity, make sure to check out our range of crafting projects on our Family Activities page! We've got lots of ideas to keep your little ones entertained, from playtime games to bedtime stories.