CRAFTERS CHOICE SWAN COSTUME

Instructions

Reference the downloadable project sheet for project pattern diagrams.

Step 1: Cardboard Box

• Grab a cardboard box large enough to fit your child.
• On the top edge cut off the foldable top of the box

Step 2: Cardboard Box

• Flip over to the bottom and draw a circle large enough for your child's torso to fit
• Cut the circle out using the scissors

Step 3: Cardboard Box

• Use the white paint and a paintbrush
• Paint the top, front and back fully
• Paint the sides in the sections where the wings will not be stuck down - let it dry

Step 4: Feathers

• Using the 200gsm A4 White Board cut down the middle of the long edge
• Cut those halves in half again on the long edge to make 4 x strips per A4 page

Step 5: Feathers

• Fold the strip in half longways
• Fold in half again on the short edge
• You can draw an outline to trace OR cut the feather shapes manually
• You will need the Feathers for the wings,
• Repeat steps 4 and 5 as needed for more feathers

Step 6: Wings

• Using the 400gsm White Board, draw a wing shape using the pencil, cut this out
• Use the first wing back as a template for the other side's wing back
• Outline on another sheet of board and cut out

Step 7: Wings

• Paste the glue on the bottom part of the feather
• Stick the feathers to the wing back
• Use weights to hold down while they dry if needed

Step 8: Wings

• Do both wing backs at the same time so they match
• Focus on gluing 1 line of feathers at a time from the top of the wing to the bottom corner

Step 9: Wings

• Cut the Feathers in the corner to finish off the wings
• Set the wings aside to dry

Step 10: Swan Head

• Using the 1000gsm board and a pencil, draw your swan shape, take your time, draw it thicker when you like the design
• Erase the lines you do not need
• Cut out the swan head shape, leave the crown

Step 11: Swan Head

• Cut some gold foil into 2x small pieces for the crown
• Use the liquid glue to stick the foil down on both sides
• Use a pen if necessary to mark the crown shape on one of the sides
• Cut the crown shape

Step 12: Swan Head

• Mix some yellow, red and white paints to make the orange for the beak
• Paint beak as desired
• Use the black paint to paint an eye as desired
• Let it dry and paint the same on the other side

Step 13: Crown

• Use the gold foil to cut it in half down the long way
• Take both strips and draw the crown edge you desire, like a scallop edged crown
• Cut both strips to the shape

Step 14: Crown

• Try to align one edge of the crown to the other
• Cut any parts off that don't overlap well
• Measure the size required for your child's head

Step 15: Crown

• Cut to the right size for your child
• Use the liquid glue and paint brush to glue together
• Use Bulldog clips or paper clips to hold while the glue dries.

Step 16: Shoulder Straps

• Measure your child's shoulders to hips to know how long you need to make the elastic straps
• Cut 2 straps of elastic, one for each shoulder
• Punch holes in the top of the cardboard box front and back for both sides

Step 17: Shoulder Straps

• Feed the straps through the holes
• Turn the box over
• Use a hot glue gun to fix the straps in place
• Hot glue gun the cardboard layer on top of the elastic layer to make more secure

Step 18: Attach Swan Head

• Grab your Swan head
• Measure and cut a slit down the middle of the front of the cardboard box for the Swan head to slip in to
• Secure the Swan head to the front of the box using the hot glue gun down both seams on the front
• Secure using the hot glue gun down both seams on the Inside

Step 19: Attach Wings

Secure the wings on each side of the box using the hot glue gun

Step 20: Finalise

• Try on and adjust straps, use extra glue where needed to secure anything loose
• The elastics can be tied in knots if they are too loose on the shoulder
• Costume ready for your Book Week