The angel has long been a favorite character when it comes to playing dress-up. For many years, little girls as well as big girls have enjoyed the celestial aura of the angel. Here you will learn how to put together an angel costume for dress up, Halloween, or character play.
Most of the items you will need can be purchased at a craft, school, or office supply store. The white nightgown or tunic can be bought at any children’s clothing store.
Items you will need:
basic white (no print) duster type or tunic nightgown
silver or gold Garland
cardboard
about 2 feet of craft wire for the halo
aluminum foil
hot glue gun
heavy-duty scissors
school glue
single hole puncher
dark felt-tipped marker
roll of elastic
glitter, beads, or any kind of craft decorations you want
old newspapers to cover your workspace
Using the nightgown or tunic, take the garland and hot-glue it along the hemline of the dress and along the cuffs and neckline. Exercise caution when using a hot glue gun. To avoid injury, only adults should operate the hot glue gun. Using cardboard, draw a pair of large wings using a dark, felt-tipped marker. Be as basic as possible when drawing the wings to make it easier to cut and wrap the aluminum foil around them. A large triangle with a wide open top should work as a basic wing pattern. Cut them out using some heavy-duty scissors. Lay the wings out on a flat surface. Before gluing the aluminum foil to the wings, make sure you line your work space with newspaper. Use school glue, and apply only a minimal amount along the edges of the wings. Pull out a sheet of aluminum foil and place it along each wing. Cover it as much as possible. If there is still cardboard showing, cut off the last sheet, and then cover the wing until one side is fully-covered. Trim the edges. Repeat, and do the same for the back of the first wing and for the front and back of the second wing. You can decorate the wings with glitter, beads, garland or whatever you choose to make them sparkle.
Punch a hole in the inside part of each wing on the top and bottom. You will be tying elastic to these holes in order for your child to wear the wings. Knot the ends of the elastic to each of the holes on one wing. Repeat for the other wing. Have your child put on the wings as if she was putting on a backpack. It should be secure. If it is loose, then untie one of the knots, make it shorter, and trim accordingly.
For the halo, take a piece of craft wire and loop it around into a circle. Twist to close. Take the garland and cover the wire by twisting it around the wire continuously. Cut a straight piece of wire, and twist it on the part of the circular wire, fixing it so that halo will hover over your child’s head. Secure it to a headband, and trim down the wire as necessary to maintain a reasonable height for the halo.
And you’re done! Now your little one can dress up like the angel she is!
