How to Make a Lightbulb Costume

Dress up as an energy-efficient or regular lightbulb.

Being environmentally responsible means recycling everyday objects, reusing materials and reducing the amount of energy used in a day. Building awareness about how to treat the Earth can help preserve our resources for the future. Remind the world about conserving energy by dressing up as an eco-friendly lightbulb for Halloween. This all-white costume will evoke glowing reviews from children and adults alike.

Things You'll Need

• White, long-sleeved shirt
• White pants
• White socks
• White shoes
• White face makeup
• Makeup sponge
• Twelve or less white, latex, long and narrow balloons
• Balloon inflator
• Safety pins
• Headband
• Hot glue gun
• Five or six white, 11-inch latex balloons

Instructions

1. Get dressed in your all-white shirt, pants, socks and shoes.

2. Dip a makeup sponge into the tin or white face makeup. Apply the makeup to your cheekbones. Smooth it in a circular motion down to the jawbone and across the chin. Add more makeup as needed and cover the nose, up the temples and around the eyes. Dip the sponge in the makeup again and complete the forehead. Assess the face for even makeup distribution.

3. Place a balloon on the tip of the balloon inflator. Draw the handle back and pump the air into the balloon. When full, tie off the balloon by grabbing the tip and pulling it around two fingers. Insert the tip between the two fingers and pull while releasing the fingers. Blow up, tie and set aside all the balloons.

4. Place the tip of a balloon at your shoulder and pin the tied-off tip to your shirt. Draw it downward around your chest, bending the balloon into a circular shape. Notice where it ends and pin another balloon tip at that spot. Spiral the next balloon around your back. Continue securing each balloon, with a safety pin through the tip, until the balloons wrap around your hips.

5. Plug in the glue gun. Wait five minutes until hot. Squeeze a drop of glue in the middle of the headband and press a balloon tip onto the headband. Continue gluing the balloons around the headband. Lay flat and allow to dry. Slip the band onto your head.

Tips & Warnings

• Blowing up the balloons by mouth may be faster than using a pump.

• Deflated balloons are a choking hazard. Avoid the eyes when applying face makeup. Children should not be around a hot glue gun.

References

• lilsugar: Ecoween - Light It up in a Fluorescent Suit
• care2.com; Eco-themed Halloween Costumes; Ronnie Citron-Fink