Create some amazing DIY kids’ costumes using items from your recycling bin. Tips on how to make wings, dresses, accessories, and more! Project by Danielle Falk from Little Ginger Studio.
Updated April 2025
Kids of all ages love dressing up—and there’s something extra special about making your own costume instead of buying one.
Still not convinced? Just look at the amazing creativity from this art camp activity!
Our 4–10 year olds wowed us with their fun and imaginative costume designs. They made everything from masks and shields to fairy wings, tutus, and hats using everyday materials like cardboard, newspaper, and packing scraps.
To keep things simple, I’ll show you how to make a basic skirt, bodice, and wings—but remember, the possibilities are endless!
DIY Kids’ Costumes from Recycled Materials
MATERIALS
- Newspaper
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- White glue
- Large brown paper grocery bags
- Variety of tapes (duct tape, masking tape, and washi tape)
- Chalk markers / paint markers
- Hot glue gun
- Stapler & staples
- String
- Ribbons / streamers
- Pom poms
- Elastic band any width (for the arm straps)
- Any other shiny, pretty and bright papers or craft materials for decorating
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make a skirt out of newspaper
Start by folding one sheet of newspaper lengthwise a few times to make a “belt”.
Next, grab another single sheet and fold it fan style to make some pleats.
Staple this set of pleats at right angles to hang from your belt. Repeat with more pleats along the entire length of your belt until you have a tutu-style skirt!
Add streamers or ribbons for a final colorful touch.
- Create a bodice (for a dress) or vest
We love using brown paper (grocery) bags to make costumes.
Simply cut a hole for a neck, two more for arm holes and voila! It’s a bodice for a dress! All you need to do is attach a skirt.
Or, cut the bodice open, draw on some buttons and you have a vest. Add paper cut fringes and it’s a cowboy vest!
Then it’s time to decorate using paper, markers, and more.
- Make a pair of fabulous wings
We had a lot of fun creating magical wings with some of our students using thin packing foam. You could easily use cardboard for firmer wings as well.
First have an adult cut out the wing shapes.
Next, attach wings using hot glue gun to a rectangle of cardboard.
You can add some long cardboard “struts” to support the wings.
After this, kids can decorate their wings using tape, shiny paper, feathers, pom poms, etc.!
Add elastic bands or ribbon loops with a stapler or hot glue gun to wear the wings.
Don’t forget to have some fun with accessories! Our students loved creating hats, handbags, swords, jewelry, and shoes galore!
Kids will really surprise you when you give them the freedom to just create and most of our students did so with little instruction.
I hope you and your kids give these DIY kids costume ideas a try–they are so much fun!
More Costume Ideas for Kids
- 12 Creative DIY Costumes for Kids This Halloween
- How to Host a Costume Making Party for Kids
- How to Make Cardboard Masks with Kids
- How to Make Party Crowns for Kids
- How to Make Magic Animal Masks for Kids
- How to Make DIY Paper Wings for Kids
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