R2-D2

My first scratch-made Halloween costume was this year's R2D2 for my 4 year old. Somehow over the last 9 Halloweens, I'd managed to get away with "assembling" costumes from stuff around the house. So here is proof that I did make at least one home-made costume!

Supplies: trash can, silver spray paint, 1 inch and 2 inch blue painter's tape, X-acto knife, silver, black and blue Sharpie pens, cardboard circles, glue gun, fabric strips, stick on door stop, duck tape, bubble wrap.

Starting with the white plastic swing-top trash can, I spray painted the top silver and the hubs cut out arm holes and cut of the bottom. I wrapped the armholes with shiny silver duck tape to smooth the rough edges.


Then the real work began, so I brought in some assistants...I wrapped the top edge of the can with the 1 inch blue painter's tape. Using the black Sharpie and a picture of R2D2, I free-handed shapes onto the can.

Next, for the "body", I used the 2 inch blue tape and taped on the 2 rectangles horizontally and used the X-acto knife to cut away the excess tape to reveal the "pointy shapes". Moving down, I used more blue painter's tape for the vertical rectangle and square. The cardboard circles were spray painted silver and hot glued on. The bottom "dial" was drawn free-hand with the silver and black Sharpies as were the additional designs on the silver top part. The inside of the swinging door was secured with duck tape and cushioned with small bubble wrap sheets.

Tim cut out another section for a "face hole" and again, I wrapped the sharp edge with the shiny duck tape. Next, for R2D2's "eye", I spray painted the white door knob stopper and hot glued it on. Then I hot glued fabric strips to the inside of the can to rest on his shoulders to support the weight of the can with out it sitting on his head. I used felt, but it stretched out after a while, so I would recommend using something different.

The Star Wars crew at Trunk or Treat...

Happy Halloween!