This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Amazon, as part of my participation in the Mom It Forward Influencer Network; the content and opinions are my own.
Since my son’s very first Halloween, I’ve had a blast channeling my creativity into our family’s costumes. I love the challenge of trying to pull together something unique, fun, and not too difficult — all while placating the kid and not embarrassing the husband (too much).
This year I’m kicking the challenge up a notch in a partnership with Amazon… our costumes will include repurposed Amazon Smile boxes! The official term is “BOXTUME,” by the way.
GET STARTED!
After you’ve read through my step-by-step directions, go grab all the Amazon Smile boxes you can find, get to brainstorming, and come up with your own boxtume masterpiece! If you don’t have any boxes, take the opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping, or empty out your own wish list! Amazon Prime has pretty much anything you need (including everything used to make these costumes!) and has the fastest — and free-est — delivery around!
Then snap a photo of your cardboard creations and share it on social media using the hashtag #Boxtumes.
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OUR COSTUMES
First of all, I didn’t want to make anything too literally boxy. Who wants to walk around a party or crowded sidewalk in a giant box? That’s a spilled bag of candy waiting to happen!
So to keep things relatively easy, these start with a toga base. Why togas? Togas are comfy, simple to make, and can be easily layered with long johns or sweats if it’s chilly on trick-or-treat night. Also because I came up with some awesome visual puns around everyone’s favorite toga-wearer, Caesar!
LIL’ CAESAR
Click for extra-sized adorableness!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
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• 1-2 large Amazon Smile boxes
• Orange twin bed sheet
• Mailing tube or gift wrap tube
• Acrylic paint (yellow, green, red, black)
• Styrofoam floral cone
• Craft paper or paper bag
• White chord, rope, or belt
HOW TO MAKE IT:
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PIZZA
Draw 2 large circles (approx. 12”) on your deconstructed box. Draw a smaller circle inside one of the circles. Tip: I used 2 different sized colanders for this, but you can also use mixing bowls.
Cut out the circles using a matte knife, to create your base (full circle) and crust (ring).
Paint the base yellow to simulate cheese, let dry. Glue the crust on top of the base, trim edges as needed.
Cut out pepperoni from cardboard or construction paper, paint red, let dry. Glue onto pizza as shown.
Repeat to make second pizza.
SPEAR
Wrap Styrofoam cone in craft paper, taping or gluing it to the paper underneath as you wrap (nothing really sticks to Styrofoam). You can either trim the paper so it’s flush with the bottom of the cone, or fold a small edge underneath and secure with duct tape. However, leave enough foam exposed so that the handle can be attached.
Measure the width of your handle, then use a Sharpie to mark a circle of similar width on the bottom of the cone. Apply a line of strong glue (craft, wood, or hot glue) on the circle, then slowly twist the handle into the bottom of the cone, until it feels secure.
Tip: If you’re using a giftwrap tube that’s not very sturdy, stuff it with tightly rolled-up magazines to reinforce it.
Using the same measurement from your handle’s width, find the center of your pizza, draw a circle on the back and cut out with a matte knife. Slowly slide the pizza up from the bottom of the handle. The fit should be tight enough for it to stay put, but you can secure with duct tape on the bottom if necessary.
TOGA
There are a myriad of ways to wrap a toga. I suggest researching online using whichever looks best to you. We went for a simple wrap around the chest, throw the extra over the shoulder and pin it in the back. Thick white chord was used for the belt.
To create the pattern at the bottom of the toga, cut out 6-8 6”-long rectangles. Then trim a smaller rectangle from inside it, leaving a ½” border. Paint black and apply to bottom of toga (once it’s already on your Lil’ Caesar) with strong double-stick tape or quick-drying glue. Tip: No hot glue!
LAUREL WREATH
Measure the circumference of the wearer’s head. Cut out a strip of green construction paper 1-2” wide and tape together. Fold the band so it creases at either end — this shows where the back and front end. Wreath shown uses 20 leaves.
Sketch and trim out leaves similar to those shown (about 4” long), then paint or cover with green construction paper. Starting at the back, affix leaves with hot glue or other fast-drying glue, layering new leaves under as you move forward. Add leaves until you reach the front crease; repeat on other side.
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And what’s pizza without a side salad? For my good-natured (and always hungry) husband, I made him a Caesar Salad!
CAESAR SALAD
Click for more epic Caesar-ness!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
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• 1 medium sized Amazon Smile box
• 1 large sized Amazon Smile box
• 8-10 small square boxes (approx. 6” square)
• Green twin bed sheet
• Acrylic paint (white, yellow, brown)
• Floral wire or pipe cleaners
• Aluminum foil
• Velcro tabs
• Green chord, rope, or belt
HOW TO MAKE IT:
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LAUREL WREATH
Follow directions above, instead sketching/trimming out larger leaves (about 6” long). Wrap leaves in aluminum foil, affixing the same way as above. Wreath shown uses 14 leaves. Band can be black construction paper or wrapped in foil to match leaves.
FORK
Draw a fork on the largest piece of box you can find (one shown is approx. 3 feet high). Trim out with matte knife, cover with aluminum foil.
Tip: I tried wrapping it, and it was a mess. Instead, apply a thin layer of school glue to the fork and smear over entire surface. Lay one large sheet of foil over it and smooth until fully applied. Put fork foil side down, trim around the fork, then repeat foil on other side.
TOGA
See directions above. You can fold the sheet in half (or more) depending on how short/long you want your hem to be). Belted with green chord.
CROUTONS
Tape small boxes securely shut, then using a sponge or sponge brush, apply layers of white and yellow paint to emulate a crouton. Tip: If you like your croutons crispy, create highlights of light brown or ochre along the edges. Let dry.
Apply Velcro tabs or rolls of duct tape to the bottoms of each box. Adhere to toga as shown.
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Additional costume ideas for this theme:
JULIUS CAESAR
Create the OG Caesar’s classic look with a white or gold toga and gold or green laurel wreath. Create numerous daggers out of cardboard boxes, trim out and cover in aluminum foil. Cut slits in sheet and glue daggers to simulate going into the toga (or cut off the tips of the daggers if you don’t want to ruin your sheet). Add red paint to simulate blood around where daggers are attached.
CESAR ROMERO
Dress as the Joker from the 60’s Batman TV show (green wig, white face, red smile), but instead of his purple suit, wear a purple toga, preferably with a green shirt underneath. Accessorize with large comic book “talk bubble” showcasing the Joker’s maniacal laughter. (HAHAHAHAHA!!!) Trim out talk bubble, affix to wrapping paper tube or wooden dowel. Top your wig with a red laurel wreath.
CESAR MILAN
Style your toga to look like your favorite dog (brown sheet, white sheet with black spots, fuzzy brown throw, etc.); accessorize with dog collar and giant cardboard bone. Laurel wreath should match toga, but add floppy ears to hang from underneath. Paint face to look like dog or draw on facial hair and spray paint hair silver to look like the Dog Whisperer.
GREEK SALAD
Create costume similar to CAESAR SALAD, but instead of croutons, adorn toga with black olives (flat cardboard painted black or mini footballs painted black), slivers of red onion (cardboard painted red/purple), cucumbers (cardboard painted green) or cubes of feta cheese (white boxes).
Tip: All of these costumes can be made for any size person — the joy of togas and boxes. One size doesn’t have to fit all because it’s flexible.
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Using Amazon Smile boxes as a base “ingredient” for your Halloween costume is a fun (and earth-friendly!) challenge I hope many of you take on. Be sure and let me know what you end up making and I’ll be looking out for your #Boxtumes hashtags.
Happy Halloween!
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