Easy Halloween Costume: Carnival Strong Man
A last-minute no-sew costume that's sure to be a showstopper — just add muscles and a mustache.
Cheri Heaton
Materials Needed
- (2) 6" or 8" foam balls
- 3/4" x 36" wooden dowel
- red or black biker shorts
- boy's ribbed tank top
- red permanent marker
- low-temp hot glue gun and glue sticks
- black acrylic paint
- paintbrush
- butter knife
- self-adhesive faux mustache
Make Barbell
Center wooden dowel on foam ball and trace around dowel with pencil (Image 1). Use knife to carve out circular shape 1" deep (Image 2). Add hot glue to end of dowel and insert into carved hole on foam ball (Image 3). Secure dowel by adding additional glue to fill in around edges of hole (Image 4). Repeat steps on other foam ball. Tip: Use coolest setting on hot glue gun to void melting foam. Paint barbell with black acrylic paint (Image 5). Tip: Due to the porous nature of the foam ball, pour paint onto ball, then gently brush it around to coat all textured areas. Don't attempt to use spray paint; spray paint melts foam.
Cheri Heaton
Cheri Heaton
Cheri Heaton
Cheri Heaton
Cheri Heaton
Make Striped Tank Top
Place paper inside shirt to prevent marker bleeding through onto other side. Draw stripes on tank top with permanent marker or fabric marker, using the ribs of shirt as a guide and pulling marker along fabric rather than pushing it (Images 1 and 2).
Cheri Heaton
Cheri Heaton
Complete Costume
Pair tank top with biking shorts. Tip: To easily find shorts that work, search for girl's biking shorts typically worn under skirts. Add tall socks. Apply mustache and flex.
Cheri Heaton
