Costume Ideas
| Easy
Animal Costumes for Infants and Up |
Flower
green or brown hooded sweatsuit
2 sheets yellow or white posterboard
green felt
2 plastic headbands
craft glue
small stuffed bumble bee
From posterboard, cut out petals. From green felt, cut out
long leaves. Glue petals to one headband and glue green felt
leaves to the other headband. Put petal headband on head and
leaf headband around neck. Glue a small stuffed bumble bee to
sweatshirt. You can fashion one from felt or posterboard.
Fisherman
flannel shirt
blue jeans
life jacket
rubber boots
fishing pole (real or made from a stick or branch)
floppy fishing hat
cardboard
silver spray paint
black marker
12" piece of yarn
hole punch
Cut four fish out of cardboard. Spray paint silver on both
sides, let dry. Use marker to draw an "X" in place of the
fish's eyes. Punch hole near mouth of each fish and string
from a piece of yarn. Carry fishing pole in hand and sling
fish over shoulder.
Artist
red beret or other hat
cardboard
craft paint in several colors
cape or smock
paint brush
Have child wear hat tipped sideways. Draw on a black mustache
with eyeliner or face paint. Cut out an artist's paint palette
from cardboard. Paint five or six circles in different colors
around palette. Hot glue paint brush onto palette or hold in
hand.
Firefighter
Yellow or red raincoat
rubber boots (yellow, red or basic black)
toy fire hat
cardboard
aluminum foil
stuffed Dalmatian toy
Make an axe out of cardboard and aluminum foil. Get dressed
and carry puppy!
Farmer
flannel shirt
overalls
galoshes
straw hat or baseball cap
plastic pitchfork (or fashion from cardboard)
stuffed pig or chicken
Very simple, just get dressed! Carry pitchfork and stuffed
farm animal.
Tired Woman
well-worn nightgown
well-worn terry bathrobe
big fuzzy slippers
curlers
plastic coffee mug
Get dressed. Put curlers in child's hair. Have her carry a
coffee mug and hang a sign around her neck that says "I'm Not
a Morning Person!"
Pretzel
brown hooded sweatsuit
dark brown tights
cotton batting or old pillow stuffing
hot glue
white packing peanuts
Stuff tights with cotton batting or pillow stuffing. Fold into
a pretzel shape and hot glue in place. Use white packing
peanuts as salt and hot glue on.
Teletubbies
red, blue, yellow or green hooded sweatsuit
2 matching colored chenille sticks
plastic headband
thin cardboard
silver spray paint
Twist chenille sticks onto headband for antennas. Paint
child's face same color as s
sweatsuit. Cut a tummy sized square of cardboard and spray one
side with silver paint, let dry. Glue to tummy of sweatsuit.
Pizza Slice
2 sheets of red, yellow or orange poster board
yellow, green, red, and brown construction paper OR craft
paint
Cut the posterboard into 2 pie shapes (triangle). Then on one
side of each piece, glue on red circles for pepperoni, brown
splotches for sausage, green squares for green peppers, and
yellow strips for cheese. You can use pieces of posterboard or
construction paper, or you can paint them on. Then when you
are done, use some more posterboard to connect the two slices,
by cutting two long strips and attaching them to the wide end
of the slice and draping them over the child's shoulders
(imagine those signs that people where in the city streets,
the walking billboards of yesteryear). Pizza!
Patch of Dandelions
green sweatpants or leggings
light blue sweat shirt
yellow felt
big yellow buttons
green felt
white pompoms
cotton batting or cotton balls
Cut leaves out of green felt and glue or stitch onto green
pants. Cut yellow felt into circles, slitting them to make
fringe around the edges. Hand stitch on over green leaves with
big yellow buttons. Hand sew white pompoms on to make
dandelions that have gone to seed. Glue cotton batting or
cotton balls onto blue shirt for clouds. Cut a large yellow
circle from felt for the sun.
Bubble Bath
white sweatsuit
small white balloons
shower cap
bath scrubby (with rope to hang from wrist)
rubber ducky
Pin small white balloons all over shirt. Put on shower cap,
hang bath scrubby from wrist and carry a rubber ducky or glue
him to the shoulder of the shirt.
Bag of Jelly Beans
(or gumballs)
clear plastic bag (dry cleaning bags are great)
balloons, several different colors
bright colored scarf
white posterboard
black marker
craft glue
Have child step into bag to make holes for the legs and arms.
Fill bag with balloons use a bright scarf to tie around the
top of the bag. Cut a square of posterboard to create a sign
that says "Jelly Beans 5¢". Glue it to the front of the bag.
M&M
black sweatsuit
2 pieces of cardboard
craft or spray paint, any color of M&M's
black craft paint or markers
heavy duty string
Cut two large circles out of cardboard. Paint. Draw or paint
on "m&m" onto both circles. Use heavy duty string to attach
the 2 pieces together and hang over shoulders, sign style.
Table for One
cardboard
red checkerboard table cloth
play dishes
play food
silk flowers
plastic headband
Cut cardboard into a circle, cut out a hold for your head. Put
head into hole and rest on your shoulders. Cover with a red
checkerboard tablecloth. Make your head into a centerpiece by
gluing silk flowers to the headband. Glue play dishes and play
food onto the table, add accessories (salt and pepper shakers,
napkins, menu, etc.).
Mr. Potato Head
black sweatsuit
burlap bag
old shirt or rags
white felt
black felt
red felt
peach felt
brown felt
Velcro fasteners
fiber fill
red clown shoes
white gloves
Fill the burlap bag with old shirts or rags. Using felt, cut
out the eyes (black and white), nose (peach), mouth (red), and
mustache (brown). Attach Velcro to the backs of the pieces of
felt. Use fiberfill to stuff each parts. Attach the Velcro
backs to the suit.
King & Queen of Hearts
4 pieces of white posterboard
2 pieces of cardboard (from nylon package)
gold spray paint
red lipstick
Draw the King of Hearts face on one side of the white
posterboard, then just hearts on back side. Put a strap (scrap
of material) stapling the two posters to fit over child's head
on to their shoulder. Make gold crown out of nylon cardboard.
Put a heart of lipstick on child's cheek. Repeat for the
Queen.
Grapes
purple or green sweatsuit
purple or green balloons
double-sided tape or adhesive Velcro circles
chenille sticks or raffia
Stick balloons to clothing. If using tape, twist it around
tied-off end of balloon and crimp tightly onto clothing.
Velcro circles come apart. Each half can be attached to a
balloon and the clothing. Make a "stem" by twisting together
brown and green pipe cleaners or raffia and attach to hat.
This works best as an indoor party outfit and should not be
worn by children under five -- balloons are a choking hazard.
Grape Vine
brown sweatsuit
brown shoes
double sided tape
purple balloons
Cover your body with double sided sticky tape. Then fill up
purple balloons and attach the balloons to the double sided
tape. You may use a garbage bag tie to attach the balloon to
the double sided tape. This is preferred if you are going
outside in the wind.
A Highway
black sweatsuit
yellow craft paint or yellow tape
small plastic toy cars
Paint two solid yellow lines down the middle of the shirt, or
use 2 inch pieces of yellow tape. Glue on plastic cars.
Laundry Basket
hooded sweatsuit, any color
small round laundry basket
string
odd socks
armful of clothing
empty detergent bottle
empty fabric softener bottle
Cut a hole in the bottom of the laundry basket to fit to
child's body. Attach twin strings to act as suspenders to hold
the basket up. Fill it with clothes and empty detergent
bottles.
Static Cling
Mismatched clothes
safety pins
dryer sheets
socks
small towels
hair gel
Wear any kind of mismatched clothes, pin one pant leg up, pin
dryer sheets on you as well as socks, small towels, etc. Use
hair gel to make your hair look like it has static.
Punk rocker
black pants
leather jacket
colored hair spray
sunglasses
hair gel
hair spray
Use hair gel and hair spray to tease hair into crazy spikes.
Color.
Priest
black pants
black button-down shirt
black shoes
white posterboard
rosary
bible
Create a priest's collar from white posterboard and insert
into front collar area of shirt. Works best if you use a shirt
that has the same type of self-faced collar as priests wear,
or you could tuck under the collar points for a similar
effect. Add rosary and bible. Especially a cute costume for a
boy who is constantly in trouble!
Crayon
any color sweatsuit
matching color construction paper or posterboard
black marker
Paint the word "crayon" sideways in black, and use the same
color construction paper to make your pointed hat. Staple a
string on it and tie it under your neck to keep it secure, you
can paint your face the same color too.
Scarecrow
denim bib overalls
plaid flannel shirt
rope or twine
straw hat
gloves and boots
straw or shredded raffia
corncob pipe
Dress child in overalls and shirt. Stuff the pockets full with
straw or shredded raffia. Tie twine or rope around waist for a
belt. Add a few touches of straw to the hat, gloves and boots.
Plaid and polka dot patches are a nice touch to denim jeans,
but not required. Finish off with a corn cob pipe.
Cowboy/Cowgirl
blue jeans
western shirt
cowboy boots
cowboy hat
neckerchief
bandana
toy gun and holster
sheriff's star
rope
Dress in blue jeans, a western shirt or flannel shirt, and
cowboy boots. Top with a cowboy hat and tie a neckerchief or
bandana loosely around the child's neck. Carry a rope as a
lasso and attach Sheriff's star to shirt. Adorn the outfit
with toy gun in holster.
Indian
brown pants
white shirt
brown vest
moccasins
headband
feather
face paint
plastic tomahawk
Dress up basic brown pants and vest with moccasins and a
tomahawk. Make a headband from brown posterboard by cutting a
1 1/2 inch wide strip that fits around your child's head. Glue
or tape the feather to the headband. Smear on war paint in
diagonal lines along cheek bones.
Magician
black tux or suit jacket
black pants
white dress shirt
red silk carnation
top hat
stuffed bunny
magic wand
Pin silk carnation to breast pocket of black jacket. White
gloves are a nice touch to this costume, but not necessary.
Princess
lacy or frilly nightgown
nylon scarf or crepe paper streamers
ribbons, sequins, fake jewels
gold foil
poster board or party hat
string elastic
tape
glue
cardboard tube/paper dowel from clothes hanger
Tape together a poster board cone hat or use a party hat.
Decorate with glued on sequins, fake jewels, glitter, etc.
Attach scarf or streamers to top point of hat. Punch holes on
sides of hat, tie on elastic string. To create a princess
scepter, use cardboard tube covered in foil, glue on sequins
and fake jewels and attach ribbons to the end.
VARIATIONS
Fairy
For a Fairy, cut a star from poster board, cover with foil,
attach to dowel from hanger, tie ribbons underneath the star.
Miss America
Make a cardboard crown and spray paint it gold with glitter.
Then make a sash from fabric or sheets and write Miss America
on with fabric paint.
Bride
Add a veil made from netting and a plastic headband. Carry a
bouquet of silk flowers.
Knight
about 40 frozen juice can lids
silver tights
black or gray gloves
knight helmet
cardboard
silver spray paint
plastic sword
Punch small holes in juice can lids for wires to be inserted
through. Thread the wires through to create a suit of armor
that will drape over child's shoulders. Be sure to leave a
hold for the head! Cut cardboard in the shape of a shield and
spray paint silver. A nice touch is to paint on a coat of
arms.
Pirate
red & white horizontal stripe shirt
black jeans or sweat pants
boots
bandana
gold clip-on hoop earring
toy sword
plastic eye patch
face paint for mustache
small stuffed toy parrot (optional)
Fringe bottom of black jeans by cutting slits at the bottom of
pant leg. If using sweat pants, tuck them into the boots. Tie
bandana around child's head with knot sticking out at side.
Clip on earring and put on eye patch. Attach parrot to
shoulder of shirt with double sided tape or a few hand sewn
stitches. use our face paint recipe above to create a brown or
black mustache. Add a wide belt with large buckle as an added
bonus.
Angel
white dress or white sheet with arm and head holes cut out
clear spray paint
glitter
white chenille sticks (enough for halo)
clothes hangers
sheer white cloth or netting
If you decide not to use the dress and to make your own, spray
the sheet lightly with some clear spray paint and dust glitter
on it before paint dries. Make halo from chenille sticks,
twisting together until long enough to wrap around head. twist
another chenille stick (or two) straight up and form halo from
remaining sticks. Make the wings by bending clothes hangers
and wrapping in white cloth or netting. Cloth or elastic
strips can be used to attach wings to body backpack style.
Ready made wings are also available, inexpensive and safer for
use by children.
Clown
white or tie-dyed sweatshirt
red sweat pants
three pom poms, bright colors
fabric paint, different colors
colorful store bought wig, or yarn wig
craft glue
Using craft glue, attach pompoms down the front center of the
sweatshirt. Using fabric paint, draw swirls, stars and other
fun shapes on the front and back of the sweatpants. Paint face
white and paint on a red nose, or purchase a clown's nose. Top
with colorful wig. Oversized shoes are optional, but not
recommended for smaller children.
Bum or Hobo
large men's pants
large dark sport coat
shirt with patches
tie
old hat
stick with a bandana tied to the end (stuffed with newspaper)
Get dressed and carry stick over shoulder! You can add a
"dirty" look by using the r paint on a scruffy beard.
Ninja
black hooded sweatsuit
long strip of black cloth,
long enough to wrap around head and hang down a foot or so
cardboard
aluminum foil
long stick or broom handle
paper towel rolls
black construction paper
twine
Cut eye holes in black cloth for mask. Make machete from
cardboard and wrap in aluminum foil. Use the long stick or old
broom handle for a bow. Using two paper towel rolls, connect
them with piece of twine and cover with black construction to
create num-chucks.
Rock Star
wig
sunglasses
toy or cardboard guitar
wild clothing (be creative!)
leather jacket
spiked dog collar
clip on earring (cross or hoop works well)
Instead of a wig you can spike your child's hair with gel and
hair spray and then spray with temporary hair color. Carry an
electric guitar. Make your outfit as crazy as you like and top
off with sunglasses and leather jacket. Don't forget to clip
on the earring and put the *spiked collar around their neck!
*spiked collar not recommended for children under 5 years of
age.
Movie Star
long white dress or nightgown
long white gloves
bracelets
necklaces
rings
*fancy dress up shoes
sunglasses
feather boa
make up
Put dress or nightgown on first, then gloves, then jewelry
over the top of the gloves. Paint on a pretty face with Mom's
make up or by using our make up recipe (top of page). Paint a
beauty mark under one eye, level with the bottom of child's
nose. Finish off with sunglasses, feather boa and dress up
shoes.
*dress up shoes not recommended for children under 5 years of
age.
Hippie
tie-dyed shirt
fringed vest
bell bottom pants or jeans
beaded necklace and/or peace sign necklace
sandals
rose tinted sunglasses
bandana
Dress in t-shirt, then vest. Put on necklace(s) and
sunglasses. Tie bandana around head as a headband and put on
sandals. Voila!
Gypsy
puffy long sleeved blouse
long skirt
4 or 5 scarves
clip on hoop earrings
necklaces and bracelets
black boots
fake eyelashes
Tie a few scarves around your child's waist and one around her
head. Add earrings, necklaces and bracelets. if you child can
stand it, use fake eyelashes and finish with purple eye shadow
and bright lipstick.
Zorro
black sweatsuit
black cape or piece of black material
strip of black cloth
strip of red cloth
toy or cardboard sword
black boots
Tie cape on over sweatsuit. Cut eye holes on strip of black
cloth for mask. Tie strip of red cloth around waist. Carry toy
or cardboard sword.
1950's Greaser
black or blue jeans
white t-shirt
loafers
white socks
sunglasses
plastic comb
leather jacket (optional)
chewing gum
Slick hair back with styling gel. Get dressed, adorn
sunglasses, put comb in back pocket and chew gum!
1950's Girl
light colored short sleeve blouse
big skirt
saddle shoes
white socks
scarf
You can use a plain skirt or make a poodle skirt. They are
quite simple: literally a circle with the waist and hem
finished, and an appliqué. Sewing stores have many patterns.
Put child's hair in a pony tail and tie with a scarf.
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