How can I make a canopy over my daughters bed using a curtain panel?

unless you plan to use several curtain panels I can't see being able to even begin to make one. Even using a twin bed it would take at least four . I would go from the ceiling down over the sides. A lot cheaper and much easier. .

thread the panels on to a hula hoop and hang from the ceiling. You can spray paint the hula hoop before adding panels.

Here's an easy one!

http://www.hometalk.com/diy/bedroom/furniture/hula-hoop-canopy-with-pom-poms-27905796

If you only have one panel, the only thing I can think of is to cut it into strips Start at the top and stop just before the larger hem at the bottom or leave enough room to make a casing if the hem is thin. If you do it with the bottom hem on the top, you can use that to gather it into a circle. A hula hoop would probably be too big, but maybe you could use an old embroidery circle and paint it. Look at garage sales or poke around the dollar stores for something else round that you can cut. You'll have to cut it to slip the panel on, then tape it back together. Hang it from the ceiling and spread out the strips that you cut. It won't be a 'true canopy' but it will dress it up a bit.

HTH :)

If the curtain is sheer, cut a slice in a hula hoop and slide the curtain casing on the hula hoop all around the hoop. Hang from the ceiling above the head of the bed so the curtain hangs from there, and spread the curtain like a canopy over the bed.