How to Make an Angel Costume for Halloween

Angel costumes work well for Halloween and can be used for other holidays as well.

Certain types of costumes come in quite handy throughout the year. Children can use them to dress up, to complete a holiday production put together by a local theater group or church, or for masquerade parties and, of course, for Halloween. An angel costume is versatile enough for any occasion, but is especially handy for Halloween.

Things You'll Need

• White bed sheet or fabric
• Strings of silver tinsel
• Foam core board
• Silver spray paint
• Spray-on angel dust glitter
• Elastic
• Needle and thread
• Low temperature glue gun and glue
• News or butcher paper
• Wire hanger
• Wire cutters
• Silver sequin trim
• Face glitter
• Hair glitter

Instructions

1. Design the angel costume on paper to clarify how it will be put together and to determine how much of each item will be required. Write down the materials and accessories you'll need, and make the purchases necessary to put the costume together.

2. Cut the sheet or fabric to fit the child who will be wearing the costume. Make a hole in the center of the fabric just large enough to fit the child's head. Sew the neckline closed if necessary to make certain that the angel dress will remain in place. Stitch the fabric loosely around the arms to form a free-flowing sleeve. Cut off the bottom of the angel dress just above the ground so that the child won't trip as she walks.

3. Draw out a wing pattern on newspaper or butcher paper. Once perfected, transfer the pattern to foam core board. Cut the wings out with a knife.

4. Spray paint the angel wings in silver metallic paint and coat with spray-on angel dust glitter.

5. Trim the edges of the wings with silver tree tinsel, gluing it firmly into place with a low temperature glue gun.

6. Glue elastic bands onto the wings for the child to put his arms through if you want the wings to be removable. Otherwise, simply glue the wings directly to the costume once it is in place on the child.

7. Untwist a wire hanger, straightening it out as much as possible. Then reform it into a round angel halo the right size to fit on the back of the child's head.

8. Cut off a piece of the silver tree tinsel the same size as the wire halo and glue it into place on top of the halo. Cut a second piece of the tree tinsel and glue it to the bottom of the wire halo.

9. Fasten the halo to the headband either by sewing or using duct tape. If using duct tape, cover the headband with tinsel to cover up the tape. Be certain the end of the coat hanger is looped to avoid sharp edges.

10. Sew or glue silver sequin trim around the neck, wrists and bottom of the angel costume, if you want to add some fancy details.

11. Spray the child's hair with hair glitter.

12. Use a bit of face glitter on the child's face and hands.

Tips & Warnings

• A white bed sheet works best for the angel costume. It has just the right amount of body to flow properly.

• If white fabric is to be used, try white muslin or a heavyweight silk or satin.

• You can use gold, copper, blue or pink tinsel instead of silver.

• Substitute strings of beads for tinsel on the halo and the trim for the dress. Aurora borealis beads make a beautiful halo.

• Substitute the coat hanger halo with a headband of tinsel for a halo or a chenille stem halo attached to a barrette at the back of the head.

• Be very careful not to burn yourself or the child during the wing attachment. Even low temperature glue can be hot.

• Be sure that face and hair glitter is allergen free.