Duct Tape Costume Ideas

Duct tape comes in a number of colors, including green.

Duct tape is a handy tool for almost any project. In fact, television shows like "Mythbusters" and "The Red Green Show" have created specific episodes to it for years because of its wondrous abilities. Duct tape can be used to repair parts on a car engine, fix leaky pipes in a house, repair a broken board game, tie up a burglar and patch a leaky boat. With so many uses, it isn't surprising that it also can transform ordinary materials into extraordinary costumes.

Robot

A roll of duct tape and a few cardboard boxes can easily become a robot costume with a little creativity. Start by cutting a head and arm holes out of a box and making sure it can fit over your head with ease. Decorate that box using duct tape to emulate a metal, bulky robot frame. For a helmet use either another small cardboard box, a small bucket, a funnel or anything that can be coated in duct tape. An easy way to do the arms and legs is with aluminum dryer ducts, but a less expensive option is to cover the arms of an old sweater in duct tape, which also will give you added mobility in the costume. Consider purchasing silver spray paint and coating the box with it so you don't use a whole roll of duct tape. Add buttons and knobs using colorful lids and bottle caps, or sketch your own on paper and glue them on.

Baked Potato

To create this costume, you'll need a roll of aluminum foil and duct tape, which is essential to keeping the costume together. This likely will be a two-person project because you'll have to construct the costume on the wearer. Start by wadding up newspaper or using pillows to give the person bulk around his midsection, taping everything securely so it doesn't fall off. Wrap his whole midsection in aluminum foil, taping everything with silver duct tape. Wrap the potato all the way over his head, cutting a face hole, or just have it go up to his neck and shoulders. Add a square made with yellow duct tape tin the middle o represent a pat of butter.

Prisoner

Going as a prisoner is an easy costume to pull off. Start with a gray or white sweat suit with matching sweater and sweat pants. Tape black duct tape stripes all the way down the neck to the feet. As an added element, dirty the prisoner's face or have her carry a pick axe to emulate breaking rocks for the warden.

References

• Octane Creative: Duct Tape Halloween Costume Ideas