Take the drama out of Book Day with out 4-step tutorials
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GET crafty with your kids to make outfits for Thursday’s World Book Day.
Here, SIOBHAN O’CONNOR shows how to create six DIY costumes with the help of Francesca Ritchie, eight, from Tottenham, North London and Isaac Abban, six, from Sidcup in Kent.
Francesca says: “Violet is really funny but I can’t bend down to touch my toes!” Issac says: “The Cat in the Hat is my favourite – I love the belly.”
1. Draw peach shape on big piece of cardboard and cut it out.
2. Measure where the arms sit on the cardboard and cut out circles for the hands to fit through.
3. Stick different shades of orange card on peach and use red tissue paper to create shadows.
4. Draw James and different insects on white card, colour them in, cut them out and stick on to the peach.
5. Pierce holes with scissors and thread through red ribbon to make a neck strap.
1. Create the skirt by stapling together yellow bin bags, fasten together once on.
2. Draw teardrop shapes on to red card and cut out, stick them on to a blue T-shirt using glue.
3. Take three bits of white card and bend them into a collar shape and stick together with glue. Tuck this into the T-shirt and glue into place for extra security.
4. Draw and cut out red bows to stick on to the shoes and tie red ribbon in the hair.
1. Make the hat by folding black paper into a cone shape. Stick on a black piece of paper with a circle cut out of it to make the base.
2. Cut orange and brown card into strips and stick them together to make straw. Do this multiple times for the hands and feet.
3. Tuck these under sleeves of a top and hems of trousers and tie string around to hold in place.
4. Crumple cream card and glue together to make a fan shape for the neck and stick more strips of cardboard underneath.
1. Draw the shape of a fox’s face complete with the ears on a piece of orange card and cut out.
2. Outline the mask with a black marker, colour in the nose and use a white pencil to create a beard. Pierce holes and thread string through to create a head strap.
3. Cut out love hearts on red card and use double-sided tape to stick them on a yellow jumper or dress.
4. Take an old pair of brown tights, cut off one of the legs and stuff with kitchen roll to create a tail, then fasten this on the back using a safety pin.
1. Stick white strips to red card, bend it to make a hat shape and stick it together. Stick the top of the hat to a piece of red circular card to make the base.
2. Take two bits of white ribbon and stick to either side of the hat to create a strap, stick cotton wool to the outside of the ribbon to create fur.
3. Get an old black jumper and stick cotton wool down the middle of the tummy with glue. Also stick to the cuffs.
4. Draw a big bow on red card and cut it out. Stick this to the top of the jumper. For the final touch, draw some cat’s whiskers on your child’s face.
1. Use white card to cut out button shapes and outline with black marker.
2. After the child is dressed in blue trousers, take a pillow – preferably a soft sleeping pillow – and wrap round the body. Hold in place using strong parcel tape.
3. Take an old blue shirt and pull on over the top, to keep the pillow in place. Stuff with kitchen roll if needed.
4. Tie red ribbon round the bottom of the shirt to create a belt, and stick the white cardboard buttons on top of the shirt’s existing ones. For the final touch, add circles of blue face-paint on cheeks.
