How to Make a Crocodile Suit
Making a crocodile suit is a creative way to "take a bite" out of your next Halloween or costume party. Crocodile suits are effortlessly assembled using a series of household items. The trick to crafting a successful suit is to make a faux head with a snout and mouth long enough to resemble an actual crocodile. Once your suit is assembled, wear it carefully so you can keep it on hand for costume parties down the road.
Things You'll Need
- Butcher paper
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Plastic grocery bags (multiple)
- Stapler
- Cardboard
- Permanent epoxy
- Yellow tissue paper
- Green, black and white acrylic paint
- Paint brushes
- Strapping tape
- Green sweatsuit
- Green gloves
Instructions
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1
Measure and cut a piece of butcher paper to a 1-by-3-foot dimension. Fold the paper in half, lengthwise. Position the paper so the long folded end is nearest to you.
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2
Trace an upward curved line from the bottom left corner to the top right corner of the paper. Cut out the paper along this line to form the tail. Staple the perimeter of the tail along the curved outline.
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3
Stuff the open end of the tail with plastic grocery bags. Insert bags until the tail is full. Staple the open end of the tail shut. Place the tail aside for use in later steps.
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4
Measure and cut four pieces of cardboard to 10-by-24-inch dimensions to make the crocodile mask.
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5
Measure the size of your head from its widest point -- from your chin all the way around your head. Trace and cut a circle at the end of one of the 10-by-24-inch pieces. The circle is where your head will insert into the mask. Set the piece with the circle aside.
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6
Draw two identical sets of teeth onto the remaining 10-by-24-inch pieces. Draw a scale-like outline and nostrils onto the final piece.
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7
Paint all of the cardboard pieces and the tail with green and black paint. Paint the nostrils and tail in black and the teeth in white. Allow two hours for the paint to dry.
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8
Fit the four 10-by-24-inch pieces together to create a three dimensional rectangle. Position the nostril piece on top and the two teeth pieces on the sides. Glue the edges of the rectangle with permanent epoxy to secure the bond.
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9
Ball up two pieces of yellow tissue paper. Dot the middle of each yellow ball with black paint. Glue one ball to the top center edge of the right side of the mask. Glue the second ball to the top center edge of the left side of the mask. The mask now has eyes.
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10
Measure and cut a 10-by-18-inch cardboard piece of cardboard. Paint the cardboard green and allow it two hours to dry. Glue the piece in a downward vertical direction off the back of the mask. The 10-by-18-inch piece acts as a neck brace for the mask.
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Put on your green sweat suit and gloves. Secure the tail to your backside with strapping tape. Carefully place the mask over your head so the mouth is facing forward. Secure the bottom edge of the neck brace to the middle of your back with strapping tape.
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References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
