Easy Fisherman Costume

I love Halloween! And I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty excited that this Halloween I will have a legit belly! 2 years ago, I had a small belly, and made us this fun family halloween costume! Last year, I went way overboard, and made Maxwell, who was then 7 months 6 costumes, yep SIX! (cheeseburger, koala bear, panda bear, game boy, Bob Ross, and my personal favorite an organic carrot!) Just for the record, we didn’t even take the nugget trick or treating! Andy and I went to a Halloween party and Max stayed home with Grandma. What kind of horrible parents are we?! This year, I feel like he might get it more, and I want to let him attempt to trick or treat, but y’all I’m prego! And tired! He does not get 6 costumes. At least that is what I’m saying now, ha! I decided to whip him up a free costume made out of a brown paper bag! So stinkin’ easy and cute.

Just for the record, brown bags are fragile, clear tape does wonders, but the paper bag vest might be better suited for an older toddler!

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Here’s what you’ll need to make the paper bag fisherman vest:

• 1 brown paper bag
• scissors
• sharpie marker
• glue
• stapler

Here’s what you’ll need to complete the fisherman costume look:

• jeans
• white t-shirt
• floppy hat
• stick from outside
• string
• cereal box
• markers
• rain boots (if you have them!)

First, use scissors to cut a large brown paper bag flat so that it lays open. Then crumple it up! Kids are good at this part! To measure how big to make your vest, use one of your child’s t-shirts as a vague pattern. After the brown bag is cut into a flat rectangle, lay the t-shirt int he middle and fold the ends of the bag over to make the vest the right size. Error on the bigger size, paper bags tear! Then, round the corners of your rectangle with scissors.

Once you decide on the size of your vest you need to cut arm holes. Measure 2ish inches from the top of the bag, and cut a 4ish inch diameter circle (depending on the size of the kiddo) where the flap folds over to form the vest. To get the holes exactly symmetrical, fold the vest in half, and use the first circle to trace the 2nd one. Once the vest is made, it’s time to add the fisherman details! I added pockets by cutting a leftover peice of brown bag into a rectangle and folding it over to make a flap. Then staple the pocket onto the vest! Easy pesay.

After you attach 2 pockets outline the pockets with a black sharpie marker, then outline the vest also. You can add fish and hook details with the marker or if you have real fishing lures on hand, use those!

Oh and to make the fishing pole, hunt down a fishing pole looking stick in the yard and tie a string to it. Then use an empty cereal box to cut out a few fish and decorate them with markers. Hole punch each fish and tie the string around them, voila! This brown bag vest thing poses endless (free!) dress up opportunities! What to make next?!

Need more really awesome costume ideas, check out these 18 clever DIY Halloween costumes from my creative friends in blog land!

1. DIY Pineapple – Sugar Bee Crafts
2. Pinata Shoes – Morena’s Corner
3. Easy Mime – Ginger Snap Crafts
4. Fairy Wings– Crafty Lady Abby
5. Skein of Yarn – Dukes and Duchesses
6. Caps For Sale – Blue I Style
7. No Sew Mermaid Tutu – 365 Days of Crafts
8. Disney Frozen Olaf– Foster2Forver
9. Plants v. Zombies – Twin Dragonfly Designs
10. Inside Out Bing Bong – Desert Chica
11. Princess Anna Apron – Ruffles and Rainboots
12. Modern Mother Earth – BumbleBree Blog
13. Panda Costume for Teens – Three Mint Balloons
14. Woodland Fairy – Fairfield
15. Vintage Circus Strong Man – Life Anchored
16. Easy Fishermen Costume– C.RA.F.T.
17. Easy DIY Cow T-Shirts – Wait Til Your Father Gets Home
18. 10 Minute Charlie Brown with Football Treat Bag – Just JP