Halloween Costume - Rubik's Cube

Halloween is a great time of year to let loose, be creative, and get in one more "just for fun" night before the cold winter and hustle and bustle of the holiday season descends on the world. What to dress as is always a big question for me, though. I despise "store-bought" costumes…even if it's kind of a witty idea; it's not YOUR idea. Halloween is a great time to flex your creative muscles, even if, like myself, your artistic ability is somewhere between "can't draw a straight line with a ruler" and "kindergartener with mittens on".

Last year, I made my own costume. It was fairly inexpensive and took only a couple hours (and not all at once). It got rave reviews from all the parties I attended, and like I said, it wasn't hard. What was the costume? A Rubik's Cube!

To make your own Rubik's Cube costume, you'll need:

- A square box large enough for you fit over your shoulders. (I used a moving box from U-haul, but what you use will depend on your size)

- A package of construction paper at least five colors plus black paper (official Rubik's colors were blue, orange, green, red, yellow, and white).

- Scissors

- Spray glue (available at craft stores, comes in an aerosol-style can)

- Rubber Cement

- Ruler

The first step is to cut three holes in the box to fit your head and arms through. You'll need to put the box on to get a rough idea of where to put the holes. Start with small holes, and then slowly cut more and more material off the box until it fits comfortably. Cut the flaps off the "top" of the box (opposite of where the "head" hole is). This part of the box will rest over your body, so the flaps aren't needed. You will see in the picture that I wore my box "kitty-cornered" as opposed to more straight on. I liked the effect that gave, making more than one color visible at all times, plus, the box I used was a bit tight if I wore it "straight". Either way will work, of course, so go with what you like best.

Next, we'll add the color to each side of the box. It's much easier to create a "solved" Rubik's Cube, so I'll describe that. If you have the ability and time to create a "jumbled" Rubik's Cube, go for it!

Use the spray glue to put a thin layer of adhesive on one side of the box, and stick colored construction paper to the box, using only one color per side. Repeat for each side, with a new color. You should now have a box that is one solid color on five sides, with the 6th side being where your body fits in. Make sure to leave the holes for your head and arms open and free of obstructions.

Now, take black construction paper and cut it into approximately 1-inch thick strips. Use a ruler to make them all the same width. On each side of the box, use the rubber cement to stick a border of the black strips around the perimeter of the box. Using the ruler to help, determine how to split the side of the box into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Using the rubber cement, affix more of the black strips to the sides of the box. With the border you already created, you are visually splitting each side of the box into nine smaller colored squares. Make sure to wipe up any excess rubber cement right away, before it dries.

You're done! Let the project dry, and go around with rubber cement to touch-up any spots that aren't stuck down quite right. Now, you're ready to party! Happy Halloween!