Awesome Marionette and Wind-Up Doll Couples Costumes for Halloween

These couples costumes for Halloween were inspired by a vintage wind-up doll I saw in the window of an antique store. I initially thought to complement my wife as a Ventriloquist Dummy, but decided that they are too creepy and that a marionette had a sweeter appearance. Our costumes were a big hit at the neighborhood party and we received many complements. It was also very simple to build, only taking a couple of hours to construct.

Couples Costumes for Halloween Materials

Wind-Up Doll

Gold or silver paint
Paper towel tube
Cardboard
Scissors
Needle and thread
Black duct tape
Hot glue gun

Marionette

Foam board
Shelf lining paper
Coat hanger
Yarn
Hat
X-acto knife
Hot glue gun

Construction

The Windup Doll

I cut out a key shape in cardboard and attached it to a paper towel tube with glue. I then painted the entire key gold and let it dry. My wife then gently sewed the tube onto the back of her dress and we reinforced the key on her back with black duct tape.

The Marionette

I took an old piece of foam board, and cut three strips about 1.5 inches wide and ranging between 6-18 inches long. I then covered the boards in wood-lined shelf paper to give them a faux wood appearance. These boards were then glued together to make the control rod. I suspended the control rod over my head by affixing a coat hanger into the bottom of the center board and ran it down through the felt hat (available for ~$5 at any party store).

For the wire tip poking through the hat, I bent the end at a right angle so it would not poke my head or slip back out. I then hot glued it to the inside of the cap and covered the glue with tape for additional stability. Yarn was tied to the top of the control rods and looped over my hands and feet. To complete the look, I added white gloves, a red bow tie and a black jacket purchased from a thrift store.

Happy Halloween!