Surely by now you know I have a *thing* for cardboard. I kinda love that it’s free (hello, Amazon Prime), easy to work with, and has almost limitless potential when paired with a little hot glue and paint.
Around Sept I started saving boxes. By early October the kids placed their Halloween costume orders and I got to work.
Bug crushed the trick-or-treat scene as Optimus Prime from the Transformers series.
Arm guns included. Duh.
When he laid down flat, the whole costume transformed into Optimus’s signature semi-truck mode. Be sure to scroll to the end of this post for a video of him in action as well as some behind-the-scenes clips…
And then my animal lover: Songbird, the elephant. The entire headpiece was fashioned on the fly: cut, fit, re-cut, glue. Old-fashioned trial and error.
Little plastic snaps and straps of elastic kept all 4 “feet” secure, while still allowing full range of motion. A small loop of cardboard glued to the back of the tail easily attached it to the hoodie with a kilt pin.
The night prior to Halloween, I stayed up past my bedtime to make myself a cardboard hat. I feel a kinship with the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland; we both frequently feel as though we’re losing our minds, have large heads that look great in hats, and think that wanting to sit and sip (sweet) tea in peace is really not asking for much.
Some people might wonder why I would spend so much time and effort on something that’s worn for just one night. It’s the same reason people spend thousands of dollars on a wedding dress that’s worn once: love.
The love of a making my kids’ dreams a reality and shaping their childhood memories. The love of succeeding at a challenging project. My love for changing up the daily routine and a great excuse to dust off my paintbrushes.
As an artist turned homemaker, I’m not going to see my work hung in a fancy gallery any time soon. For now I’ll just enjoy it hanging on my kids.
Be sure to watch the video for Bug’s awesome transformation!
Amazing!!!!! The video is great too.
Awwwwsome! I’m a huge Transformer fan. Don’t be surprised when Hasbro contacts you to design the whole line. Get a patent
Could you make one for me and my son? We live in Brazil…
Hi Marcelo – Thanks for the inquiry about building one for you and your son, but this was a one-time thing! It took more man hours than I care to admit – but hopefully it can inspire you (or a talented Brazilian friend of yours) to make one yourself! Good-luck!
Hey I’m from new Zealand. Do u have a step by step tutorial on how to make this please
That´s so awesome!!!! The best transformer design i have seen yet on the internet. Got me wanting to try it out myself but don´t know if i´m being too ambitious… Do you mind me asking how many boxes did you use to make the main shell and how did you fit your sons feet through the leg boxes? Did it have some kind of opening?Thanx
Hi Haley, I like how the transformer design came out and I would like to make one for my son, I was wondering If you can explain step by step in detail on making the main shell and the fitting on the arm and leg pieces? Thank you
Dearly
I found ur designd incredible and u inspired me.
I’ve done something earlier for my kids but this is the next level.
Thanks for excellent video and I invite u to my Gdisk to watch what I made – of course: copyright is yours!
:))
Warm greetings from Croatia
Please comment or make sugestion on my email
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByVgyV3Y5o8PRFdLUGZsc3ljV3M
My link
Sorry
Joseph, this is AWESOME! Love all the details on your helmet. It’s very time-consuming to create these things for our children, but I like to think that when they are older they will think fondly of us for taking the time to “transform” them into their favorite heroes. Thank you for writing – sending warm wishes back to you and your family!
Awesome !!!❤
I want to make one for my little one.
Thank you for sharing :)
What did you use for the silver? and the exhaust pipes. (I feel like paper towel rolls are just too skinny.) I am trying to make a costume for my husband to wear for my sons 4th birthday. its getting very interesting making an adult sized one. LOL
Hi Tosha – I did use paper towel rolls, which were perfect for a 4-yr-olds size costume. But I can see where they may look dis proportionally small on an adult size one. Maybe you could use those rolls that are inside wrapping paper? Or perhaps a couple shipping tubes from the post office? Good luck!
Hello! I am in the process of making a version of this myself. Was wondering what size box you used for the body. My kiddo is about the same size as your bug. Thanks!
OH BOY!!! wish me luck!!! its the tenth of October, and so that leaves me, what….at least 16 (plus a few depending on) days to make this costume…..or as close as I can get.
You did such an Amazing job(!!), and thank you for the post. I will work off of your design as it paid the most attention to a comfortable fit for the child and stayed true to a great transformation!!!
How’d it turn out?!
Hello, I am currently creating a costume similar to this one for my 6 year old and I cant figure out how you got the hand and feet pieces to stay on any advice would be great. My son is so excited to wear this costume for halloween. Thank you so much for the inspiration.
Liz
Hey Liz – sorry for the late reply!!! I hot glued lengths of elastic across the inside (top and bottom of each piece), so that when he slides his arm in it holds the it tight to the box. That make sense?
Yes the elastic is exactly what I did my son loved this costume for trick or treating…..thank you so much for all of the inspiration
Hooray! I’d love to see how it turned out – post a pic to my FB page or tag me on IG (@greyhousehaebor)! Happy Halloween.
What is your facebook name I would be glad to post some pictures to your wall.
Just search Grey House Harbor and you’ll find the blog page… can’t wait!
Hello! I am working on a costume like this. Can you share how you got the leg and arm pieces to stay on? You did an amazing job! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Beth – I hot glued lengths of elastic across the inside (top and bottom of each piece), so that when he slides his arm in it holds the it tight to the box.
Hi there, I’m struggling with balancing the weight of the costume. I added a chest piece but even with the addition of the belt, the costume keeps tugging back. Sigh.. he has to wear it soon and I’m so tired lol…
I’d really appreciate any insight! Thank you!!!!!
Hi Veera – Hope I’m not too late… it’s a tricky thing getting it all balanced out. I had several trial and errors. The belt was key in keeping the front tight to his belly… I hot glued it to the inside front of the costume and hot glued velcro to the straps to make it nice and tight. I feel ya on the tired part, sister – it’s a doozy of a costume!!!
Hey Hayley,
Thanks for replying! I just happened on this page today and saw your reply! I’m awfully late lol!
I ended up figuring something out and he won the local competition! Thanks to your genius idea, he was thrilled to be the winner!
Thanks again for sharing your awesomeness with us! Xoxo
Amazing costume! You inspired me and I am about 85% done the day before Halloween. =) Also looking for advice on how to get the ankle and wrist pieces to stay on. Love your video (my kids have watched it maybe a trillion times).
Hi Judy – I know all about those last minute costumes!!! Still working on ours for this year (T minus 2 hrs!). The secret to keeping the ankle/wrist pieces on is hot glued lengths of elastic across the inside (top and bottom of each piece), so that when he slides his arm in it holds the it tight to the box. Share a photo on my FB page of your creation, would love to see it!
I just wanted to say that I watched your Optimus Prime video so much that my son and I started saying “fittings, fittings, fittings” along with Bug and “dang you Optimus, you and all of your flames” lol. My son requested this costume and i completed it yesterday morning! He loved it and he was told multiple times that he “won Halloween” yesterday. It was definitely one of the most rewarding Halloweens far us this far. I’d love to show you a clip/pics if you would like to see how it turned out. Thank you so much for sharing the video!
Hi thanks for Sharing tour video i love the costume and I m working on one for my 9 yo son.
This is really incredible. I’ve seen a few DIY Optimus Primes and this is by far my fave. Detail is beautiful! How did you “hinge” the flap that comes down as the front of the trunk when he transforms? Everything else I can figure out from the video but I can’t seem to see how you attached that. I’m gonna try to make it for my son. He’s turning 6 in July with Transformers themed party and he has already said he wants the theme to carry over into Halloween! Lol!
Can you provide step by step tutorial for the transformer costume plz
I want to make one for my son…can you post or instructional video..how you did the transformer please. Thsbk2 you
Ps your an amazing mother and an inspiration to us moms that nothing is impossible..if you sent your mind and heart to it!
do you have a template of some sort i can print out and use to make costume . please email to PrestonWayne.d@gmail.com, im hopong to gave done for this Halloween
This blog is amazing! Loving all the way from Belgium!
Witam! Czy mogę użyć farby Akryl do decupage? Jaką Pani poleci?
Thanks for sharing.
I am using this as inspirations for my son’s halloween costume this year. However, I can’t for the life of me figure out how you made the hood come down when lying down and pop back up when standing. Any tips would be appreciated.
What I did was cut one of the sides of the box on the corners but left it attached at the bottom and than I glued that flat to the top of the other box. I’m not sure if that is what she did or not but it seemed to work well.