Octopus Costume

Total Time Needed:: 2-3 Hours

This disarming disguise starts with a cleverly sliced-up hoodie, which gives our octo-kid his requisite eight limbs. The suction cups are made from stick-on mailing seals.

Download a complete materials list and illustrated step-by-step directions.

Materials

Solid-color (or inside-out) pullover hooded sweatshirt, at least 2 sizes too big for your child
Duct tape
Plastic grocery bags
Aluminum foil

Black marker
White 1-inch-diameter mailing seals ($8 for a pack of 600 at office supply stores)
2-inch Styrofoam ball

Instructions

The Arms: Lay the sweatshirt flat on your work surface. Cut the front and back into
three flaps as shown, stopping 5 inches from
the neckline (A). If there's a front pocket, cut
its stitches and remove it
from the sweatshirt.
Form tubular limbs by joining each flap's edges together with a duct-tape strip applied
inside the tube (B). Stuff each limb with a large foil sheet, rolled and shaped into
a wide curve and wrapped inside a plastic bag. With a marker, color six mailing seals completely black, then adhere one to the tip of each limb?s stuffing, just inside the
cuff (C).
With the marker, color black spots in the centers of approximately 130 mailing seals. On the underside of each octopus limb, adhere 2 rows of 6 to 9 seals each, spacing the dots about 1 inch apart on either side of the seam.
The Eyes: Halve the Styrofoam ball with a sharp knife (a parent's job). Attach one half to either side of the hood with a loop of duct tape. Color 2 mailing seals black and affix one to each eye.