I want to share with everyone the product I use that has truly changed my Halloween costume making and has made anything possible.
After years of experimenting with paper mache (too heavy), wire and fabric (not stable enough) and many other methods, I finally found plumbing pipe insulation. This is extremely light weight, bendable, sturdy when glued into forms and is really inexpensive. All you need is a little imagination, some pipe insulation, lots of hot glue and time!
My daughter, Taylor, loves Halloween and starts talking about her costume in September. We have done a headless costume in the past and really liked the idea of having a costume that incorporates your own body into the costume, without your body being the focus.
I tried to think of a different version of this and finally came up with a Homemade Swallowed by a Monster Costume. I began by taking pipe insulation and forming it around my daughter’s head to ensure her face would be visible in the finished mouth. Once I had the basic shape that fitted nicely on her shoulders, I started to fill in the spaces and build up the monster’s head with the strips of insulation. I used Styrofoam balls for the eyes and craft foam for the ears.
For the hands inside the mouth I used Dollar Store costume gloves. I cut the rubber from the gloves and glued strips of foam inside to strengthen them. I painted them and glued them inside the mouth. I added a nose, horns, teeth and a tongue using the insulation.
Using fun fur, I covered the whole thing and painted over any glue seams with acrylic paint. I then painted the eyes, nose and mouth. To create monster drool, I used hot glue in big globs and let it drip down.
I sewed a suit using fun fur and attached hands made from pipe insulation with craft foam claws. The feet of the monster slip on top of my child’s shoes and were made the same way the hands were.
I finished with long fun fur on the chest and eyebrows and a little make-up on my daughter’s face. This costume took s lot of time but only cost $20.00 to make, the fur being the most expensive part of it.
The best I have seen so far. You did a wonderful job! And thanks for sharing that secret. It will be a huge help in the future!
What a costume!!! Wow!!!!
This costume is absolutely amazing. Your ideas and final result are more than artistic. You definitely have a talent and should keep up the good work as I would most definitely like to see more of you work. It is lovely that you have shared with us what you have used to make your costume.
Its the honey monster gone bad.
an amazing costume, very well done. like the slobber hehe.
Thanks to everyone who commented on my costume.
I love your costume . Can you tell me what you painted the Styrofoam balls with to get the eyes so realistic.