How to Make Homemade Patriotic Costumes
Costumes aren't just for Halloween. Dressing up for other holidays, such as Independence Day, can be just as fun, especially if you or your children are in a holiday parade or pageant. Perhaps you're going to see fireworks and you really want to get into the spirit of the day or someone is throwing a themed celebration. Lady Liberty is a great costume choice because she's easily recognizable and you don't have to wear a lot of layers to a summer celebration. You can make a Lady Liberty costume at home quickly, easily and inexpensively. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Poster board
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Tape
- Paint brushes
- Light teal paint
- Teal fabric remnant
- Twine
- Flashlight
- Orange plastic bag
- Rubber bands
- Teal shirt
- Teal pants or shorts
- Old book
Instructions
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Draw two horizontal parallel lines about 18 inches long and 1 1/2 inches apart on your poster board. Draw seven triangles projecting up from the top line, with the center triangle being the tallest and the two on the ends being the shortest. This is your crown. Paint it in with the teal paint and let it dry.
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2
Cut out the crown and paint the other side. Let it dry, then try it on, wrapping it around your forehead. Tape the ends together once you have it adjusted and remove it. Bend the triangles down so they project out from the crown at about a 45 degree angle. Your crown is finished.
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3
Cut a 10-inch circle from your plastic bag, making sure there are no seams in your circle. Gather the edges of the circle around the head of a flashlight and secure it in place with a rubber band. Paint the flashlight green, or cover it in poster board painted green, with a hole for the on button. At night, the light will shine through the orange plastic and look like flames.
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4
Paint the cover of an old, heavy book green. Do this by opening the book and laying it page-side down so you can paint the whole cover at once. If you don't want to paint the book, wrap a green-painted piece of poster board around the cover and secure it with a green rubber band. This will also keep the book closed.
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Find a teal fabric remnant. Most fabric stores sell remnants for very little money; you may even find a piece of sparkly taffeta. Otherwise, find something lightweight, like cotton, that is 1 1/2 to 2 yards yards long and has no pattern.
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Put on your teal shirt and shorts or pants. You can wear either a T-shirt or a tank top if it is very hot. If you have no teal shorts or pants, wear shorts of any color and cover them with the cloth. Drape the cloth over your left shoulder and across your body. Tie it in place with twine, and your costume is complete.
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