This makes a great costume for a pair, or you can have a single flip flop, as seen here. This costume is relatively simple to put together, here’s what you’ll need . . .
Pool Noodles (these will become flip flop straps)
Cardboard
Measuring tape (or not)
material in any color you have or like (you can use an old sheet if you want!)
4 pieces of styrofoam (or a pool noodle cut into 4 pieces)
First measure the person who will be wearing the costume on a large piece of cardboard. Just place their backside towards the bottom of the cardboard so they would still be able to walk. You can lay the cardboard down on the floor and then drawn the shape according to their height.
Then draw a flip flop around each person making sure we have a left and a right flop!. Then, cut out the cardboard and then trace a second shoe for the back of the shoe. This is optional, but really adds depth to the shoe and also stability so it lasts all night.
Again, have the person who will be wearing the costume lay down on the cutout and marked up around their heads and made marks where their arms would go through the sides.
Next you,” use the four pieces of Styrofoam for stability at the bottom. We hot glued them at the bottom of the back of the cardboard.
(Make sure the Styrofoam is wider than your child so they can slide into the costume easily).
We then bent cardboard in the U shape and hot glued it around the top of the cardboard. We then used the hot glue and fastened the front of the shoe to the Styrofoam and cardboard.
Now, glue your material around the sides and top of the flip flop. I left 12 inches of material at the bottom of both sides. I had also cut out the front of the happy face material and the back out of black material. I also left a foot of material at the bottom of both of these to wrap under and hide the styrofoam. Next, cut a hole and slide in the pool noodles to make the toe and then made two smaller holes about half way down and hot glued the pool noodles into these holes.
Now, gently slide on the costume onto the person who will be wearing it and cut an X for the arms to slide through. Add four small cardboard strips inside with hot glue and attached a pair of suspenders to hold the flip flop steady so it won’t flop all around. I added a flower with a wire and the costume was complete.
Total Spent: $12
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Flip Flop Costume Idea
Equipment
Materials
- Pool noodles
- Cardboard
- Fabric in any color you have or like
- Old sheet optional
- 4 pieces of Styrofoam or a pool noodle cut into 4 pieces
- Suspenders
- Decorative flower with wire optional
Instructions
- Measure the person on a large piece of cardboard, placing their backside toward the bottom so they can still walk.
- Draw a flip flop around the person, then cut it out.
- Trace and cut a second matching shoe for the back of the costume.
- Lay the wearer on the cutout and mark the head and arm placement.
- Hot glue 4 pieces of Styrofoam to the bottom of the back cardboard piece for stability.
- Bend cardboard into a U shape and hot glue it around the top of the cardboard.
- Hot glue the front of the shoe to the Styrofoam and cardboard structure.
- Glue fabric around the sides and top of the flip flop, leaving 12 inches of fabric at the bottom of both sides.
- Cut the front from the main fabric and the back from black fabric if desired, leaving about a foot at the bottom to wrap under and hide the Styrofoam.
- Cut a hole and slide in the pool noodle to make the toe piece.
- Cut two smaller holes about halfway down and hot glue pool noodles into them to form the straps.
- Slide the costume onto the wearer and cut an X for the arms to slide through.
- Hot glue four small cardboard strips inside and attach suspenders to keep the costume steady.
- Add a flower with wire if desired.
- https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/flip-flop-costume-idea-.jpeg
- https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/homemade-flip-flop-costume-idea.jpg
- Total spent in the original project was $12, so estimated cost is based on that figure and should be treated as an estimate.
- Make sure the bottom supports are wider than the wearer so they can slide into the costume easily.
- The second cardboard layer is optional, but it adds depth and stability.
- Keep the lower edge trimmed high enough that it does not drag while walking.
- Use caution with hot glue and let seams cool fully before fitting the costume.
- For better visibility outdoors after dark, add reflective trim if desired.
