2 Easy Bug Duct Tape Costumes
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!
Why use duct tape instead of paint?
Before I got on this duct tape streak, I would have probably just painted these costumes. You can get some really neat and clean designs painted using freezer paper stencils. But, I really like the idea of using duct tape because you don't have to wait for paint to dry, AND, you can use the shirts over again for something else (which is a big plus in my book!)
Ok. Let's get making!
Materials Needed
- Pipe Cleaners
- Headband
- Duct Tape
- Shirts
- Craft Knife
- Cutting Mat
- Paper
- Pen
Let's Make some Duct Tape Bug Costumes!
How to Cut Duct Tape Pieces
I used to use scissors to cut duct tape. Ehh, what a big no-no. My scissors always got super sticky afterwards. I ended up using smelly nail polish remover to clean them.
Here's my current, easy, no-mess method for cutting duct tape. I simply roll my duct tape onto a cutting mat and then neatly slice it with a
craft knife. The lines are neat and the blade doesn't get sticky at all.
And here's how I cut out larger shapes from duct tape-
I pull and cut out strips of duct tape, overlapping them over the cutting mat to create a duct tape "sheet." Then, I draw and cut out a template from paper. (Here I cut out a wing shape.) Then, I trace around that shape with a craft knife on the duct tape. And then I peel out the shape and stick it wherever I want. Again, no messy, sticky blade!
And here are some up-close shots of the two bug costumes.
(I wrapped pipe cleaners around a black headband to form the antennae. I also wrapped duct tape around our red play glasses to make them look more ladybug-ish.)
This costume just required strips of duct tape in front...
This was definitely Chuck's favorite costume. But, we found that the top piece of black duct tape made it hard to pull the shirt over his head. (Duct tape really makes the shirts quite stiff!) So I ended up pulling that off in the end.
Happy making, friends!
And if you liked this idea, here are lots of other easy no-sew kids' costume ideas!
I used to use scissors to cut duct tape. Ehh, what a big no-no. My scissors always got super sticky afterwards. I ended up using smelly nail polish remover to clean them.
Here's my current, easy, no-mess method for cutting duct tape. I simply roll my duct tape onto a cutting mat and then neatly slice it with a
craft knife. The lines are neat and the blade doesn't get sticky at all.And here's how I cut out larger shapes from duct tape-
I pull and cut out strips of duct tape, overlapping them over the cutting mat to create a duct tape "sheet." Then, I draw and cut out a template from paper. (Here I cut out a wing shape.) Then, I trace around that shape with a craft knife on the duct tape. And then I peel out the shape and stick it wherever I want. Again, no messy, sticky blade!
And here are some up-close shots of the two bug costumes.
Easy DIY Duct Tape Ladybug Costume
(I wrapped pipe cleaners around a black headband to form the antennae. I also wrapped duct tape around our red play glasses to make them look more ladybug-ish.)
Easy DIY Duct Tape Bee Costume
This costume just required strips of duct tape in front...
and lovely white duct tape wings in back.
This was definitely Chuck's favorite costume. But, we found that the top piece of black duct tape made it hard to pull the shirt over his head. (Duct tape really makes the shirts quite stiff!) So I ended up pulling that off in the end.
Happy making, friends!
And if you liked this idea, here are lots of other easy no-sew kids' costume ideas!
Let's Keep in Contact!
You can always find other fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts! Or, you could always sign up for my weekly newsletter in the pink bar above!Happy creating, friends!