Halloween is right around the corner. So, don’t wait until the last minute to decide what your children are going to be. Are you stumped for an idea? Here are some ideas to get you started.
For young kids, a Big Bird costume is a great idea. You can either buy one or create your own. Here are the directions for making your own big bird costume:
What you’ll Need:
Yellow feather boa
Yellow Sweatshirt
Yellow material which can be obtained at a fabric store.
Velco
Optional:
Orange construction paper
Orange tights or socks
Step 1 – After folding the material in half, cut an oval large enough to cover the body from the neck to the knees.
Step 2 – Sew the material together inside out, but make sure you leave opening for the neck and arms. Leave the bottom section open so the suit can slip on. Hot glue the Velcro across the bottom for leg holes.
Step 3 – Turn the material the correct side out and hot glue a yellow boa across the body of the costume. Also glue the boas down each arm of the sweatshirt.
Other optional steps: Make a beak out of orange construction paper by folding in to a cone shape and stapling it together.
Put on orange tights or socks for the legs.
Owl Costume
For a scholarly look try and owl costume.
What You'll Need:
Two 2 1/4-yard lengths of brown felt, 72 inches wide
Chalk or white fabric pencil
1 yard string
Fabric scissors
Quick-drying fabric glue
1 yard brown ribbon
Brown knit cap
Black or brown tights
White long-sleeved leotard
Instructions
Step 1. Fold felt in half lengthwise. Tie an end of the string to the piece of chalk. Tie a knot 3.5 inches from the chalk. To make the cape's neckline, hold the knot at the folded corner, pull string taut, and draw a curve from fabric edge to fabric edge. For the bottom of the cape, make a knot in the string 32 inches from the chalk. Again, hold this knot at the same folded corner, and draw a curve as before. Cut on the top line, and on the bottom line, cut Vs along the edge for feathers.
Step 2. Fold the second piece of felt in half lengthwise. Use a 3.5-inch knot to make the neckline just like with the first felt. Then make a knot at the following intervals: 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches, and 32 inches from the chalk. Cut on all the lines, but cut Vs on the 32-inch line. Then, at the bottom of each piece, cut additional V shapes. Beginning 6 inches up from the bottom of the cape, glue these felt layers onto the cape, overlapping each slightly. Cut the brown ribbon in half and glue it to the inside edges of the cape's neckline for ties.
Step 3. Cut two ears from brown felt scraps; make a small vertical slit in the bottom of each one and then fold the ends over each other. Glue together then glue ears to the knit cap.
Step 4. Dress your child in brown or black tights and shoes and a white leotard for the body. Don’t forget the round black glasses for the finishing touch.
Are the above a little more work than you'd like?
How about these simple ideas.
For a cardinal have your child wear red tights and a red leotard. A red cape will complete the costume.
For an Oriole, how about a black cape, orange leotard, and black tights? Put on a black cap and use felt and poster board to make the ears which you glue on the cap.
For a bluebird try dressing your child in all blue.
Remember the key to these costumes is the ears as the giveaway that they are birds. Get creative with this. Have a little fun with it.
