Craft Creative Costumes

O ften it seems that the most creative costumes require expert sewing skills. Not anymore; these adorable getups can be assembled with only basic needle and thread (or even glue if you’re so inclined).

Flamboyant Flamingo

Which little girl isn’t enthralled by the color pink? This soft costume will wrap your little princess in cozy femininity with a touch of whimsy.

You will need:

• 4 strips of pink boa feathers

• 1 yard (.9 m) of pink ribbon

• hot glue

• pink black yellow and white felt (or scrap of white material)

• 1½ (1.4 m) yards of pink tulle for making a tutu

• pink or white T-shirt tights or leggings tiara pink or white gloves (optional); see below for dyeing instructions

How to make the costume:

1. To make the flamingo skirt: Cut the boa feathers in halves thirds or quarters depending on their length. You want the cut boa strips to be double the length of your finished skirt. Leave one piece longer for the flamingo neck and set it aside.

2. Starting at the center of the ribbon glue the center of a cut boa feather to the ribbon. Let the two ends hang down evenly. Continue gluing the feather strips to the ribbon adding feathers to either side of the center feather until you have a full skirt. (It’s okay if the feathers don’t go all the way around as long as they cover the front.) Tie the ribbon around the child’s waist for a feather skirt.