How to Make "Backyardigan" Costumes

Use facepaint and lipstick as part of your Backyardigan costume.

This Halloween, skip the traditional ghost and witch costumes and have your kids dress in costumes inspired by their favorite Backyardigan characters. Whether your daughter wants to dress as the species undefined Uniquoa, the yellow hippopotamus Tasha or the moose Tyrone, Backyardigan costumes are not complicated to construct. The costumes consist of long sleeved-shirts, leggings, shoes, felt and face paint and require only a small amount of time to construct.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer
• Scissors
• Sewing marker
• Felt
• Sewing machine
• Fabric tape measure
• Leggings
• Shirt
• Pipecleaners
• Headband
• Makeup
• Face paint
• Pins
• Buttons
• Shorts

Instructions

Uniqua

1. Download the Uniqua costume templates from the Nick Jr website. Enlarge the pattern until it is the proper size for your child. Print from your home computer

2. Cut out each template from the paper. Use a sewing marker to trace the outline of the pattern onto pieces of light pink felt. This will give you the pieces you need for Uniqua's jumper.

3. Use a sewing machine to construct the jumper. Sew the seams for the shoulders, side and crotch.

4. Measure and mark 8 5-inch diameter circles on hot pink felt. Cut out the circles from the felt. Use a hot glue gun to glue the circles around the front and back of the costume.

5. Dress your daughter in pink leggings and a pink long sleeve shirt. Cover her up with the jumper you constructed. Have her wear pink slip-on shoes.

6. Slit two small holes in a pink headband. Place a pipe cleaner in each hole. Reinforce with hot glue gun. Wrap the pipe cleaners around your finger to coil them. Place the headband and antennae on top of your daughter's head.

7. Apply foundation with a pink tint to your daughter's face. Follow with a layer of blush. Use lipstick for pink dots on her cheeks.

Tasha

1. Download the Tasha costume template from the Nick Jr website. Enlarge the templates until they are large enough for your child and print.

2. Pin the patterns onto orange pieces of felt. Cut around the patterns. This will provide you with the front and back portions of Tasha's dress.

3. Use a sewing machine to stitch the pieces together. Sew the seams for the sides of the dress.

4. Trace the flower shapes from the template onto yellow felt. Cut out the flower shapes. Use a hot glue gun to secure the flower shapes to the dress.

5. Sew or glue two buttons onto the back of the dress. Cut slits for button holes on the opposing side of the dress.

6. Place a yellow beanie hat onto your work surface. Trace the shape of Tasha's ears onto yellow felt and cut out. Fold the ears and dab a small amount of glue to the ears' bottoms and glue them to the sides of the hat.

7. Dress her in yellow leggings, a long sleeved yellow shirt and the dress you constructed. Place the hat on top of her head. Have her wear red shoes.

8. Paint your daughter's face with yellow face paint. Let dry. Cover her mouth with black lipstick.

Tyrone

1. Download the antlers and hair patterns from the Nick Jr. Website. Print out the pattern. Cut out the pattern from the paper.

2. Trace the hair pattern onto red felt with a sewing marker. Cut out the hair.

3. Trace the antlers onto yellow felt with a sewing marker. The felt should be stiff or you can glue pipe cleaners to the sides to make the felt stiffer. Cut out the antlers.

4. Place a yellow headband on your work surface. Use a hot glue gun to glue the antlers to the sides of the headbands. Glue the hair in the middle of the headband.

5. Dress your child in orange shorts and a blue and orange striped t-shirt. Attach the headband to his head.

6. Paint his face orange with face paint. Highlight his mouth and eyebrows with black face paint.

References

• Nick Jr.: Uniqua Costume
• Nick Jr.: Tasha Costume
• Nick Jr.: Tyrone Costume