A fun and original costume, a Palm tree Halloween costume is easy and inexpensive to make. As an added bonus, it will fit easily over a snow-suit for those in cold climates, and there is very little chance of running into three or four other Palms at a Halloween party.
Materials needed:
- Large cardboard box
- Scissors
- Strong tape or glue gun
- Markers, crayons, coloured pencils
- Green construction paper or Bristol board
- Two to four small, round balloons
- Four knee-high stockings in "neutral" or brown
Assembly Instructions:
Trunk
- Unfold the cardboard box and cut it into the shape of a tree trunk. Make sure that the trunk reaches from the shoulders to the knees of the person who will be wearing it, but not below the knees so they do not trip while walking. Cut another, identical piece of cardboard.
- Using strips of cardboard, or spare scraps of cloth if you have some handy, attach the strips to the top of each trunk piece. This will form the "shoulders" of the costume, so make sure they are in the right place for the person who will be wearing the costume.
- Decorate the cardboard to look like a tree trunk, being as creative as desired.
Leaves
- From large pieces of green Bristol board or stiff cardboard, cut out several large leaf shapes. The leaves will be worn on the head like a hat, so make sure they are not overly large in comparison to the person who will be wearing the costume.
- Cut a strip of the Bristol board, and attach it at the ends to form a headband that will fit around the top of the head.
- Attach the leaves around the headband with glue or tape, pointing upwards. Curve them slightly so that they look more realistic.
- Decorate the leaves.
Coconuts
- Blow up several small, round balloons and tie them off.
- Place each balloon into the end of a brown or “neutral” knee-high stocking, and tie off the stocking. Cut off the excess stocking.
- Attach each of the coconuts around the top edge of the trunk, near the neck.
Once the Palm tree costume has dried thoroughly, the person who will be wearing it should dress in brown pants and a brown long-sleeved shirt. If it is too cold for this, a brown coat could be worn also. The trunk assembly should be slipped over the head like a sandwich board, and the leaf hat placed on the head. Voila!
For that little “something extra,” a toy parrot could be affixed to the shoulder, or a toy monkey hung from the trunk!
For treat ideas, see this article on easy treats to make with kids.
Heather Switall - I am an avid home baker and passionate "foodie" with a flair for entertaining on a budget. Parties are all about the food, aren't they? I ...
