Fairy Costume Ideas

Fairy costume ideas are every little girl's dream. If you want to make Halloween night a special treat for your little girl, make a fairy costume for your child and a fairy godmother costume for yourself.

Fairy Costume Basics
For a little girl's fairy costume and her mother's godmother costume to appear authentic, several specific items will be needed.

Both costumes:

• wings
• ballet slippers or something similar

Fairy costume:

• leotard with a matching, gauzy wrap skirt
• tights

Fairy godmother costume:

• hooped ball gown
• tiara
• wand

Fairy Costume
Once you have the leotards, tights and ballet slippers, begin making the wings. Wings can be made out of cardboard or out of wire. The wings for a fairy can be small and rounded or slightly larger and elongated, like butterfly wings. Because the wings should be light and airy, it's best if you make them with a base that is either a thick beading wire or by using wire hangers.

If you're using wire, you'll need two pairs of tights to cover the wings. In order to bring the glimmer and glamour of the fairy to life, wings should also have a healthy covering of glitter. Spray glitter works well over large surfaces, but if you're looking for a pattern on a small fairy's wings, the only way to go is with a steady hand, a bottle of glue and lots and lots of sprinkle glitter.

How to Make Godfairy Wings out of Cardboard
You will need two pattern pieces. One piece will be for both the wings, the second will be the piece that goes between the wings. Use a double thickness of newspaper. Trace the wing onto the newspaper and then cut out two identical pattern pieces. Cut out another pattern piece that is approximately six inches by eight inches, depending on the size of the wings.

Place the wings side by side on the cardboard, with the second pattern piece between them. Cut out the wings carefully. Decorate the wings but do not decorate the middle piece.

How to Make Fairy Wings out of Wire
In order to make a full set of fairy wings with wire hangers, you'll need a little muscle power and a pair of pliers. Because each full set of wings consists of four wings-two on the top and two on the bottom-you'll need four wire hangers.

Using the pliers, straighten out the hook at the end of each hanger. Twist the straightened hooks of two wire hangers together to join them in the middle, then shape the triangular part of the hangers into a symmetrical wing shape. Do the same with the other pair of hangers. Make the top wings different from the bottom wings. You should have two top wings that are the same and two bottom wings that are the same when you're done.

For four coat hanger wings you will need two pairs of tights in whatever color you choose. Slip the tights onto the wire and fasten the ends over the wire in the center. Do the same with the second pair of wings. Finally, duct tape the two pairs of wings together, one above the other.

How to Attach Fairy Wings
Cut two long strips of wide ribbon. Wrap the ribbon around the central part of the wings, where they're joined together. The wings will be secured like a backpack, with one ribbon on each end. You'll need enough length to wrap around the shoulders and tie the loose ends in a bow. The ribbon can be shorter if the bows will be in the front, or cut it longer to hide the bows in the back.

Fairy Costume Accessories
Make antennae out of pipe cleaners and add them to a headband. If you don't have pipe cleaners, make shorter antennae by using twist-tie fasteners. Decorate the wings with paint and glitter. For a finishing touch, use body glitter and glitter mascara.