How to Make a Plex Costume

Plex is the lovable yellow robot from Nick Jr.'s "Yo Gabba Gabba," a television show for preschool-aged children. If your little one is a fan of the yellow robot, create a costume for him using everyday items for Halloween or everyday dress-up. Making the costume yourself takes little time and money, and the resulting costume is something that is sure to be different from all of the other kids' costumes.

Things You'll Need

• Black felt
• Sewing machine
• Yellow puffy vest
• 9-by-9-inch square box
• Yellow electrical tape
• Black electrical tape
• Yellow spray paint
• Black spray paint
• Utility knife
• White acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Spray adhesive
• 9-by-9-inch foam square
• Drill
• 3 plastic jar lids
• Gray spray paint
• 3 12-by-1/4-inch dowel rods
• Hot glue
• Red pom-pom
• Gray sweat suit
• Yellow gloves
• Yellow shoes

Instructions

1. Cut a 6-inch circle from of a piece of black felt. Cut the circle down the center so that you have two half circles.

2. Attach the half circles to the front of an adult size puffy yellow vest. Sew the circle onto the vest around chest level, with one-half of the circle on one side of the zipper and the other half of the circle on the other side of the zipper. Sew using a sewing machine with a straight stitch. When the vest is zipped up, the two halves should look like a complete circle. If you cannot find a yellow puffy vest, use acid or all-purpose fabric dyes to die a white one. Allow all dyes to dry overnight before continuing.

3. Cover a 9-by-9-inch square box in yellow electrical tape. Alternatively, use yellow spray paint to paint the box yellow. Add a 5-by-5-inch black square to one side of the box using electrical tape or spray paint. This becomes the box's front.

4. Cut two ovals from the center of the black square to make the eyes. Use a utility knife to make the cuts. The ovals should measure 4 inches high and 2 1/2 inches wide. Angle the top of the eyes in towards one another like Plex's eyes. Line the outside edges of both of the ovals with a 1/4-inch white line using white acrylic paint.

5. Cut the bottom out of the box. Discard the cut-out section. Use spray adhesive glue to attach pieces of foam to the inside sides of the box. The size of foam needed depends on your child's head size. You want the foam to sit on either side of your child's ears without being tight. This keeps the Plex head from shifting around on your child's head. Allow the spray adhesive to dry for 4 to 6 hours.

6. Drill a 1/4-inch diameter hole into the side of two plastic jar lids. Center the holes between the top and bottom edge. In a third jar lid, drill a hole in the top center of the lid. Spray paint the jars lids gray. Allow them to dry overnight.

7. Spray paint three 12-by-1/4-inch dowel rods black. Allow the paint to dry overnight. Insert one dowel rod into each of the three drilled lids. If the dowel rods are loose, apply hot glue around the inside of the lid to secure the rods.

8. Attach the two lids with the dowel rods in the side onto each side of the box head. Attach the third lid on the top of the box. Secure them in place with hot glue. Place the one on top in the center of the box. On the sides, place the jar lids in the center of the box, level with the top edge. Position them with the dowel rods up. Hot glue a large red pom-pom to the top of the dowel rod on top of the box head.

9. Dress your child in a gray sweat suit. Put the yellow vest on top of the sweat suit. Place the box head on your child's head. Give your child yellow gloves or mittens to wear and a pair of yellow shoes.

Tips & Warnings

• For the shoes, either purchase a pair of yellow shoes or spray paint a pair of old shoes.

References

• Yo Gabba Gabba!: Official Yo Gabba Gabba Website
• Gabba Friends: Javier's Plex Costume