Homemade Abe Lincoln Costume for Kids
An Abraham Lincoln costume is a great way to honor one of America's great leaders. Abraham Lincoln has become a symbol of honesty, courage and compassionate strength in trying times. Your child can wear this costume on Halloween, the Fourth of July, Abraham Lincoln's birthday or for a school play or presentation that includes Lincoln.
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Top Hat
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A tall top hat has become one of the iconic elements of Abraham Lincoln's appearance. To create a homemade top hat, use a tape measure to find the circumference of the child's head. Cut a rectangle of black construction paper that is 12 to 18 inches wide (depending on how tall you want the hat) and as long as the head's circumference. Tape it into a cylinder, Cut a circle 6 inches wider than the cylinder and cut a circle the width of the cylinder out of its center. Tape the smaller circle to the top and the remaining ring to the bottom as a brim.
Beard
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Abraham Lincoln's beard is also integral to making a recognizable imitation of his appearance. The fact that Lincoln wore a beard with no mustache makes the beard easier to emulate. Simply cut a length of string or elastic band long enough to stretch comfortably in a loop from the child's jaw to the back of his head and attach strips of black felt, cotton balls dyed black or even strips of black construction paper.
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Suit
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Abraham Lincoln is generally portrayed in a black suit. The key elements for a costume are a black formal coat and slacks, white shirt, and if possible a dark vest and black shoes. A dark bow tie or cravat completes the effect, but is not strictly necessary. If you do not have the components at home, check a thrift store or ask around among your friends to see if they have items you can borrow.
Accessories
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With the hat, beard and suit in place the essentials of the costume are complete. However, you can add a clever or humorous touch by adding a prop or two. To simulate Lincoln's famed height, wear baggy pants and make easy-to-use stilts out of large upside down coffee cans by poking holes near the base of the can and threading a long loop of string through each can. A shovel with writing on the back in grease pencil or actual ash recalls the story of Lincoln teaching himself to read and write by using coal on the back of a shovel.
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References
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