Gumball Machine Halloween Costume DIY

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gumball machine Halloween costume

I often like to dress up as weird objects. I went as a loofah and a Tootsie Roll in the past, so this isn’t too weird for those who know me. This past year for Halloween, I decided to go as a gumball machine.

Actual gumballs didn’t want to stick to my shirt (of course I tried) and just weighed down my top too much. So instead I used craft pom-poms since they resemble gumballs. I added some felt to an old red skirt for the body of the gumball machine and then I was done. If you don’t have any of these items hanging around (most of us throw away our college “clubbing” clothes after a few years, after all…), Amazon and Forever 21 are great places to pick up cheap basics.

Since this post went live, I’d like to note that this costume went viral on Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, and Buzzfeed. It resulted in good things, like a bunch of blog traffic and friends texting me saying “You’re all over Pinterest!” However, it also got a ton of nasty comments on Reddit and similar meme pages (most comments were about the placement of the .25 logo, my big nose, and my lack of hips). They say any press is good press though, right?

Want to recreate this costume yourself? Here’s how to make a gumball machine costume for less than $30.

Gumball Machine Halloween Costume DIY

Materials

Directions

  1. Try on the top and skirt together and mark where the top of your skirt meets your top. This is so you will know how far down to glue the pom poms onto the top (you don’t want the skirt to go over the pom poms since it’s uncomfortable and will look funny).
  2. To create the bottom of the gumball machine, cut out a square piece of gray felt and hot glue it to the dress. Use a small piece of white felt for the dispenser as you please. You can write and draw the wheel, the cost of the gumballs, etc. with a black Sharpie marker.
  3. To create the globe of the machine, glue on various colors of craft pom poms all over the front of the top. I kept the back bare (my hair covered my back anyway), but you could glue them to the sides and back of the top as well.

gumball machine halloween costume

James went as a “The Price is Right” contestant. I think my creativity is rubbing off a little on him- he made this one all himself!

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77 Comments

  8. You seriously are the best and most creative costume designer ever!! I almost died when I saw this on IG!! Absolutely precious and so clever!! Adding this one to my ideas for next year!!

    Reply

  30. In Germany, we do not celebrate halloween as such, but for “Karneval” which comes up in about 2 weeks i made a costume just like yours. sorry for stealing your idea, but this is the coolest come up i’ve ever seen! 🙂

    Reply

  31. I love this! I want to copy it for a concert I’m attending that encourages a “costume”. Could you possible email me so I can ask some details about it? C22rp@yahoo.com. Thank you

    Reply

  34. I absolutely love this! You did an amazing job and my husband and I plan to use this and put our own spin on it this Halloween… He will be going as a quarter 🙂 Thank you for sharing your creative mind!

    Reply

  39. Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!

    Reply

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