Ushering in fall and winter holiday season, Halloween is the time for people to express their most creative side. Store bought costumes for adults and kids are often expensive, poor quality, and everyone has seen them all before. For the same amount of money or less, and with no sewing skills, almost anyone can make a real impression with this costume.
Christmas Tree Costume Materials
- Four to six hoops of decreasing size (Use balsa wood hoops from the craft store, or make hoops from hardware store wire.)
- Green Christmas garland with an internal wire
- Strong clothes hanger on which to hand the project while working
- Dark green sweat pants and shirt
- Brown socks
- Two shoe boxes
- Wrapping paper
- Plastic Christmas tree decorations
- Candy canes (optional)
- Battery operated Christmas tree lights (optional)
Making the Frame for the Costume
Make sure the smallest hoop fits comfortably around the chest. Depending upon the height of the person, use four to six hoops of decreasing size to form the basic shape of the tree. Adult costumes take more hoops than children’s costumes.
Mark each hoop into four quarters. Tie the end of a strong string about 10 inches long at each quarter mark on the largest hoop. Tie the other end of the string to the quarter marks on the next largest hoop. Connect all the hoops like this.
Creating the Tree With Garland and Decorations
Wrap green Christmas garland around each hoop and the strings. Double or triple up the garland to make crisscrossing shoulder straps at the top hoop. Make sure to try it on for fit and comfort.
Hang the tree from a strong clothes hanger from this point on to continue working.
Inexpensive battery powered tree lights are sold at dollar stores and sometimes stores like K-mart and Walmart. Begin at the hoop that will fall nearest to the waist and wrap a string of lights loosely around the hoops of the tree. When worn, the battery box should be tucked inside the sweat pant pockets.
Securely fasten non-breakable ornaments to the wire hoops. Add candy canes.
Finishing Touches
With the top off, turn each shoe box upside down. Cut an “x” in the bottom big enough to slip a foot through. Wrap it, but do not wrap the open portion where the lid would ordinarily go. Using a razor or sharp knife, carefully slit the wrapping to match the slit in the box. Feet are slipped through the slits and shoes put on beneath the boxes. The wrapped boxes will cover the shoes. Add bows if desired.
Top it all off with a cone made of green construction paper and a gold star as a hat. Kids love this costume, and adults are amazed by it.
Now That is a Winning Costume Design
With a few supplies, anyone with a crafty side can put together this awesome homemade costume. Unlike those sewn from fabric, this tree looks almost real and is sure to take the prize at costume contests and turn heads at costume parties.
Kimbra Cutlip - Kimbra Cutlip is a feature writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including the Washington Post, Environment magazine, ...
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