How to Make a Bell Costume

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Things You'll Need

  • Hoop skirt

  • Spray paint

  • Newspaper

  • Flour

  • Water

  • Scissors

  • Medium sized mixing bowl

  • Hot glue gun

  • Pot

  • Gold ribbon

  • Gold spray paint

  • Masking tape

  • Permanent marker

Bell costumes create a spirit of festivity, whether you're ringing in the new year, preparing for a Christmas pageant or celebrating Independence Day. With a little creativity and easily acquired materials, you can create a bell costume for adults and children alike. This outfit also doubles wonderfully as a Halloween costume and is easily assembled at home.

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Step 1

Adjust the hoop skirt waist so that it is cinched wide enough to comfortably fit your head and neck through.

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Step 2

Place the hoop skirt over your head. With a permanent marker, mark the areas where your arms will need access. Then, remove the hoop skirt and lay it flat.

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Step 3

Cut circular arm holes measuring 6 inches in diameter using scissors. Reinforce the edges of the holes with masking tape.

Step 4

Create a papier-mâché mixture. Mix 4 parts water with 1 part flour in a pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Allow the mixture to cool.

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Step 5

Papier-mâché the hoop skirt and mixing bowl. Cut long strips from the newspaper and pull them through the papier-mâché mixture. Apply the strips generously to the outside of the hoop skirt until the outer surface resembles a smooth bell and to the outside of the bowl, twisting the top of the layers into a 5-inch protrusion.

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Step 6

Spray paint the papier-mâché hoop skirt and mixing bowl with gold spray paint and allow it to dry.

Step 7

Color the bowl's protrusion with black permanent marker.

Step 8

Cut a length of the gold metallic ribbon and hot glue its ends to the bowl's inside openings to create a chin strap for the bowl.

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Step 9

Wear the costume. Place the bowl on your head to represent the bell's handle and top. Don the hoop skirt over your head, placing your arms through the openings, to create the rest of the bell.

Tip

Create a Liberty Bell costume by using the permanent marker to write the bell's inscription and to draw the famous crack on the costume body. Tie a red bow at the base of the bell's handle to create a winter holiday look.

Warning

Always spray paint in a well-ventilated area. Keep hot glue guns out of reach of children.

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