DIY Kung Fu Panda Halloween Costume

Kung Fu Panda is not only a favorite movie amongst children of all ages, it's also a character children desire to be. So what happens when your little one asked if they can dress as Kung Fu Panda for Halloween? For some buying an elaborate costume might not be impossible. However, for most of us parents, budget plays a big part in every decision. So hope about making your own Kung Fu Panda costume. It's easier then you think, and will not break the bank.

First you will need to start with a body. Panda's like all bears are furry, but fur material is costly. Instead buy a over sized black sweatshirt, and a pair of over sized black sweatpants. You will need the large enough to make you look fatter. Next turn both of the pieces inside out. The fleece lining is now your panda's fur. You will need to cut the tags off, but that's simple enough. Panda's aren't all black, they have a white belly. The white belly can be created by using a large piece of felt, or even a old white sweatshirt. Cut a large oval out of the white fabric you have chosen and attach it to the belly. By using a simple stitch that can be removed, tape, or safety pins you can re-use the sweatshirt later.

Now that the basic body has been created it's time to work on the face. You can find white face paint at almost every store during Halloween. You will also need some black paint to create circles around the eyes, and a nose. If worse comes to worse, you can lighten your face using talc power, and carefully draw and fill in the circles around your eyes, and your nose using a eyeliner crayon. For your ears, use a piece of black felt, and trace a circle using a cereal bowl. Next cut the circle in half. Make two small slits on each end of the half, and side a headband through them. When you put the headband on, you will have instant ears.

Accessories do play a large part in any costume. To make the shoes, use an old ace bandage, or tan cloth to wrap around your old shoes, and your ankles. If you only have white cloth (such as an old bed sheet) you can dye it. To dye white fabric tan, bring four cups of water to a boil. Next add 4 TSP full of instant coffee to the mix. Allow your mixture to cool off a little, and then add your strips of fabric. Allow your fabric to soak for one hour, the remove, air dry, and press if needed. The last thing that you need is tan shorts. You will need the shorts to also be large. You can find a pair of old tan shorts second hand, or even borrow a pair. If you feel like your a skinny panda, you can always use crumbled up tissue paper or newspaper for extra padding.

Halloween is meant to be fun, but you must stay safe. Remember the back of your costume is mainly black. It's a good idea to have a buddy walking with you, but you also need to be seen as well. If your trick-or-treating door to door you will need some reflective tape on the back of your costume. This tape can be found anywhere Halloween supplies are sold, as well as any home improvement store. It's always better to be safe then sorry. Have a Happy Halloween