How to Make a Firecracker Costume
Celebrate Independence Day in style with a homemade firecracker costume. If you or your child are planning on participating in a local 4th of July parade, skip the expense of a commercially made costume and construct one at home yourself. You do not need expert sewing skills to create a costume, just a little bit of creativity and some standard crafting materials. If you can sew, a red tablecloth can also be quickly stitched together in tunic fashion and adorned with a "TNT" fabric transfer to make a firecracker costume.
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Things You'll Need
- Wire cutters
- Chicken wire
- Wire brush
- Paint brush
- Paint
- Newspaper or butcher paper
- Scissors
- Bowl
- Craft glue
- Warm water
- Spoon
- Plastic headband - optional
- Patriotic decorations - optional
- Computer sticker paper - optional
- Computer and printer - optional
- Spool of wire or twine
Instructions
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Use wire cutters to trim a piece of chicken wire to reach all the way around the body The length of the costume is up to you, but it looks best if reaches from shoulders to knees. If the spaces between the chicken wire are not big enough for the wearer's arms to fit through, simply cut a bigger space with the wire cutters. Use a wire brush to sand away any sharp edges.
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Cut strips of newspaper or butcher paper into pieces approximately three inches wide and eight inches long. Mix together equal parts of warm water and craft glue in a glass bowl to make a paste. Soak the paper strips into the past briefly and then press them onto the chicken wire frame. Cover the entire frame alternating the direction you place each strip until the wire is entirely covered. Allow the project to dry overnight and repeat the steps to make a second layer of paste strips. After the second layer dries overnight sand away and bulges or rough spots with soft grit sand paper.
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Paint the costume with red acrylic craft or interior latex paint. Allow the project to dry for at least four hours before applying a second coat of paint, if you feel the project needs added color. You can print a firecracker or "TNT" emblem on computer sticker paper or draw the image freehand with acrylic craft paint in a chosen color. Slip the costume on and attach the ends together in the back with twine to sturdy piece of wire twisted together.
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Create a headband for added flare with decorated or painted wire. Twist pieces of wire around a plastic headband and add streamers or use colorful plastic patriotic decorations cut apart and glued to the wire. You should cut the wire so it will stand above the head at least five inches.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
