Total Time Needed: 2-3 Hours
This disarming disguise starts with a cleverly sliced-up hoodie, which gives our octo-kid his requisite eight limbs. The suction cups are made from stick-on mailing seals.
Download a complete materials list and illustrated step-by-step directions.
Materials
- Solid-color (or inside-out) pullover hooded sweatshirt, at least 2 sizes too big for your child
- Duct tape
- Plastic grocery bags
- Aluminum foil
- Black marker
- White 1-inch-diameter mailing seals ($8 for a pack of 600 at office supply stores)
- 2-inch Styrofoam ball
Instructions
1. The Arms: Lay the sweatshirt flat on your work surface. Cut the front and back into three flaps as shown, stopping 5 inches from the neckline (A). If there's a front pocket, cut its stitches and remove it from the sweatshirt.
2. Form tubular limbs by joining each flap's edges together with a duct-tape strip applied inside the tube (B). Stuff each limb with a large foil sheet, rolled and shaped into a wide curve and wrapped inside a plastic bag. With a marker, color six mailing seals completely black, then adhere one to the tip of each limb?s stuffing, just inside the cuff (C).
3. With the marker, color black spots in the centers of approximately 130 mailing seals. On the underside of each octopus limb, adhere 2 rows of 6 to 9 seals each, spacing the dots about 1 inch apart on either side of the seam.
4. The Eyes: Halve the Styrofoam ball with a sharp knife (a parent's job). Attach one half to either side of the hood with a loop of duct tape. Color 2 mailing seals black and affix one to each eye.
Crafts
