World Book Day 2019: Last-minute DIY costume ideas
World Book Day is back for another round this year with children across the nation set to ditch their school uniform in celebration of their favourite story.
But with little time (the event falls on Thursday, March 7) and a family budget, it can prove difficult to find a costume fit for the pages of a fairytale.
Thankfully, there’s no greater way to spend a rainy evening than with a paint brush to hand.
From Roald Dahl’s most famous characters to David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny, look no further for the best (last-minute) World Book Day 2019 DIY costume ideas:
How to Make Friends with a Ghost
A post shared by Andersen Press (@andersenpress) on Mar 3, 2019 at 1:48am PST
What you need:
An old white bed sheet
Paper
Felt tip pen
Scissors
Glue
If you thought last-minute DIY was beyond your reach then look no further than the classic bed sheet ghost. Seek inspiration from children’s novel How to Make Friends with a Ghost and you’ll have a costume within a matter of minutes.
Simply draw a set of ghoul-like eyes onto paper before cutting them out. Then, stick them to an old white bed sheet with glue.
That’s it! Perfect for parents who forgot to make a note in their calendar…
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A Wonka Bar
A post shared by Sarah Sawyer (@sossawyer) on Mar 5, 2019 at 2:43am PST
What you need:
Red felt cut to 22 x 73 inches
Brown felt cut to 16 x 30 inches
Fabric glue
White heat transfer vinyl
Yellow heat transfer vinyl
Multi-use Paper
Silhouette Cameo
Iron
Fabric scissors
Roald Dahl is undoubtedly one of the most famous children’s authors with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory a failsafe shout.
For those of you feeling adventurous, we’ve tracked down a step-by-step guide to the perfect DIY chocolate bar costume. While parents strapped for time can create the look simply by using cardboard and paint.
Mr Messy
A post shared by Emma Scott-Child (@__ladyland__) on Feb 22, 2018 at 9:44am PST
What you need:
Two sheets of white card
Pink and black paint
Tape
Rope
When scouring the Internet for last-minute costumes sure to put a smile on the teacher’s face, we came across blogger Emma Scott-Child who created this easy-to-follow costume.
Head over to her website for the lowdown on creating Mr Messy with a glass of wine to hand.
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Harry Potter
A post shared by The Root Of Magic (@therootofmagic) on Mar 5, 2019 at 3:29am PST
What you need:
Round glasses
Paint for the iconic scar
A black robe
A striped scarf
If you’re on the lookout for a costume that is instantly recognisable then Harry Potter is your best bet. Easily one of the most famous books of all time, JK Rowling’s magical character can be brought to life within minutes.
If you’re short on time, we recommend checking out Amazon for a children’s robe while you can make a wand from paper and paint with the help of this tutorial.
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs
happy world book day #worldbookday #harryandthebucketfullofdinosaurs
A post shared by R O S I E (@mother_diaries) on Mar 5, 2015 at 1:15am PST
What you need:
Scrap newspaper
Hot glue
Cardboard
Paint
Two balloons
Although it may not be one of the first children’s books you think of, we couldn’t resist adding the adorable Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs.
The surprisingly easy costume requires a paper mache dinosaur head while an old bucket and toy dinosaurs will prove the perfect finishing touches.
Check out the The Surpriseaholic tutorial for a step-by-step guide.
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The Cat in the Hat
A post shared by Emma Scott-Child (@__ladyland__) on Feb 28, 2018 at 5:58am PST
What you need:
One sheet of red card
One sheet of white card
Red crepe paper
White paint
A dinner plate to trace around
Double-sided tape
Gaffer tape
String to fasten the bow
Eyeliner to draw the whiskers
If you’re feeling adventurous and fancy an evening creating a costume with your kids then the Cat in the Hat is one for you.
An iconic Dr. Seuss character, there’ll be no mistaking your little one’s favourite book at the school gates. For a step-by-step tutorial, look no further than the Ladyland website.
Gangsta Granny
#worldbookday #worldbookday2018 #ganstagranny #davidwalliams
A post shared by James-jedi (@jamesmullady) on Mar 18, 2018 at 7:37am PDT
What you need:
Glasses
A walking stick
A grey curly wig
An eye mask
Granny uniform (we’re talking a collared blouse, button-up cardigan, slippers and tights)
A small pouch to make into a faux swag bag
David Walliams’ 2011 book Gangsta Granny is quickly becoming this year’s most popular source of inspiration for children across the nation. Thankfully, it’s a perfect last-minute choice.
If it’s the night before World Book Day, temporary hair dye is a good idea while eBay is selling a wig and eye mask for just £5.99.
