Ideas for making children’s animal costumes?

5 Comments

1. fluflu66 says:

   October 2, 2009 at 3:29 am

   evee has a good idea. I worked with Boys and Girls club for years with hardly any $. You could bring in some mirrors and chairs…music playing……and let these guys paint themselves or each other. Simple plain sheets and ribbons (you know, props) could be at the ready for THEM to make this what they want. A great face paint is a water color pencil made by CARAN de ASHE (spelling?) You dip the pencil in water than blot on a paper towel. These are absolutely amazing with many vibrant colors. These guys would love to do the painting themselves. You can find the pencils at art supply stores. At 7-9 they will let you know quickly if they do not like what you made. Let them do this and own it…….Less work, more empowerment!! (That sounds like a commercial?)
2. Michelle says:

   October 2, 2009 at 3:29 am

   My sister is a youth minister at her church and was looking for the same thing. She went on Ebay and found a costume purchased it and since has been making them on her own. She said it was very cheap and once she saw how the other was put together she has been able to make many different costumes and puppets.
3. Evee says:

   October 2, 2009 at 3:29 am

   Face paint should become your best friend.

   Then for the rest of the outfit. Have them wear something that is one color. For an animal with a tail, sew a long piece of fabric to the seat. For something with special ears ?(like an elephant. Get a headband and attach Ear shape pieces from felt onto it.

   If it is a bird you can make a beak out of construction paper or felt again (The same is true for an elephant nose).
   Neatly attaching felt over the tops of shoes can make them look like the appropriate animal feet.
   Paint the felt (or anything else) to to get the desired affect.

   Hope that helps…
4. t says:

   October 2, 2009 at 3:29 am

   A sweatshirt and sweatpants in an appropriate color for the animal. Like gray for a mouse or elephant. Then face paint or a simple plastic mask or rubber nose.

   Family fun has a bunch of costumes. Here is a mouse.
   http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10244

   Best of luck.
5. Lanikai K says:

   October 2, 2009 at 3:29 am

   I once saw cardboard toilet rolls used as dragon skin…paint them green and tape them on. I’m sure they could be used as crocodile scales…
   Again face paint is a winner. With that they barely need costumes. If that’s too time consuming use masks.
   For ears use a hairband with ears stuck on.
   e.g. FOR A LION: Yellow leotard, face paint, hairband with ears stuck on, tail pinned on, yellow tights.