How to Make an Indian Costume From a Paper Bag

This is a fast activity that you'll enjoy doing with your kids. Paper bag costumes can be made to be as fancy or simple as your child chooses. This craft uses materials that you probably already have around the house, so it has the added bonus of being free or inexpensive to make.
While constructing your costume from the paper grocery bag, keep in mind the bag's three basic parts--the sides, the top slightly serrated edge of the opening, and the base or flap.

Things You'll Need

• Large paper grocery bag
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Glue
• Permanent colored markers or paints
• Colored paper
• Glitter
• Narrow ribbon about 36 inches long (optional)

Instructions

1. Have your child use permanent markers or paint to cover the advertising that usually appears on the front or on the bottom flap of the uncut paper bag.

2. 

   Spread the bag out on a flat working surface with the serrated top edge closest to you and the folded bottom flap facing upward. Use the ruler to find the center of the bag's top edge and mark it with a pencil.

3. 

   Draw a 4-inch circle or square in the center of the closed bottom flap for the neck opening. Completely open the bag and cut a straight line from your center mark of the top edge to the circle on the flap, creating the costume's front opening. Cut the circle or square out.

4. Measure down the sides about 2 inches from the bottom flap of the bag. Draw a 6-inch elongated oval down each side for arm openings. Cut out the ovals.

5. Punch sets of matching holes on either side of the costume's front opening from top to bottom, if you want to create an optional lace closure for it. Make the sets of holes about an inch apart. Thread the ribbon through the holes just like you would do when lacing a shoe.

6. 

   Cut slits about 2 or 3 inches in length along the entire bottom edge of the costume to make fringe. You can squash the fringe strips with your fingers to crinkle them, making them more noticeable, if you wish.

7. Have your child decorate the costume with permanent markers or paints, glitter and shapes cut from colored paper.

Tips & Warnings

• The lacing is only an optional closure. You can omit Step 5 and make a plain fronted vest.