How to Make a Humpty Costume

They might not have been able to put him back together, but you can put together a great Humpty Dumpty costume nonetheless.

Alice meets several colorful characters on her journey "Through the Looking-Glass" in Lewis Carroll's famous literary adventure of the same name. The ornery-but-poetic Humpty Dumpty is a popular costume choice for all ages on Halloween night. With a few basic craft supplies, create a clever version of the character that features your head and face as the "egg." Doll clothing, coupled with plastic doll limbs, serve as Humpty's small-sized body, which sits atop a brick wall made from a cardboard box.

Things You'll Need

• Large cardboard box
• Box cutter
• Red construction paper
• Scissors
• Paste
• Silk flowers
• Hot glue gun
• Doll-sized button-up shirt and pants
• 1 pair doll arms and legs
• Safety pins
• White face paint
• White "bald" cap

Instructions

1. Select a cardboard box that is wider than your shoulders and longer than your torso. Use the box cutters to remove the loose flaps from the top of the box. Turn the box over and cut a hole in the bottom of it large enough to fit your head through.

2. Fold several sheets of red construction paper into quarters to make "bricks." Cut out each brick with scissors and arrange the bricks on one side of the box to create a "wall" look. Paste each brick into place. Repeat the brick pattern on all sides, keeping the hole cutout for your head open. Allow the paste to dry overnight.

3. Arrange the silk flowers along the bottom half of the front "wall" and hot-glue them into place. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

4. Slide the doll arms into the sleeves of the shirt. Apply hot glue along the inside edge of the shirt cuffs and affix the doll's wrists to the cuff fabric. Repeat this process for the doll's legs, securing each ankle to the inside edge of the pants' cuffs with hot glue. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

5. Complete the "egg" portion of your costume by wearing the white "bald" cap and painting your face completely white.

6. Slide the cardboard box over your head and let it rest on your shoulders. Button the doll-sized shirt around your neck and safety-pin the pants to the inside bottom hem of the shirt. Arrange the "legs" of your costume to dangle over the edge of the box, as though Humpty Dumpty is sitting on his wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Button only the bottom two buttons of the doll-sized shirt for a comfortable fit and arrange the shirt collar around your chin appropriately. Wear all-black clothing underneath the costume. Place a doll-sized bowler hat on top of your head, held in place with string, for an added costume touch.

• Exercise caution when slicing cardboard with the box cutter. Avoid skin contact with the hot glue and unplug the gun after use.

References

• Heather's Creative Life: Wonderland Costume Round-Up: Humpty Dumpty
• Coolest Homemade Costumes: Coolest Homemade Humpty Dumpty Baby
• Costume Pop: Humpty Dumpty Costume

Resources

• Literature.org: "Through the Looking-Glass"; Chapter 6: "Humpty Dumpty"; Lewis Carroll