Learn to make a DIY superhero costume for kids – the easy way! This costume is budget friendly and simple for anyone to do.

Is your child obsessed with being a superhero? It seems to be a theme that never goes out of style, and I have to admit, I love it too. We all have a bit of superhero within us! That’s why when the La Petite Academy challenged me to come up with a craft for their Awesome Kids Week, I was all in!

I made this awesomely easy DIY superhero costume for kids. If you’re wondering who the superhero lover is in my family, it’s my niece. She modeled her DIY superhero costume with pride:

La Petite Academy has year-round infant through school-age programs and has special events throughout the year like Awesome Kids Week. Thursday is Thrilling Thursday, and that’s superhero day . . . which is why I made this DIY Superhero Costume for Kids. This project was so easy and inexpensive! The greatest part? Kids will love to help make their own costume.

DIY Superhero Costume for Kids

Old t-shirt
Foam mask ($1 at the craft store)
1 sheet felt
10 yards tulle – I got 2 yards of five colors. You’ll need less for a baby and more for an adult!
36″ elastic
Mod Podge Gloss
Hot glue gun
Paintbrush
Glitter
Scissors
Velcro tabs (optional)

Drawing a lightning bolt on a t-shirt with Mod Podge

I started by inserting a piece of paper inside the shirt (we used an old shirt of my niece’s) and then squeezing Mod Podge into a lightning bolt shape on the front.

Mod Podge doesn’t come in a small squeeze bottle but I do keep it in there for outlining sometimes. You can also “draw” the lightning bolt on with a paintbrush and your Mod Podge!

Sprinkling gold glitter on Mod Podge on a blue t-shirt

Fill in the shape with Mod Podge and then sprinkle glitter over the top. Shake off the excess and let dry. You can use this same method on the arm cuffs. Just cut a piece of felt to fit your child’s wrists.

For the wrist cuffs, you can either use the velcro to secure if you want them to be reusable . . . or you can attach them with a stapler or bit of glue the day they are wearing the costume.

Sprinkling gold glitter on a white foam mask covered in Mod Podge

I found this white foam mask at the craft store for $1!! Simply brush Mod Podge on top, then sprinkle glitter. Let dry and shake off the excess.

Hot gluing a piece of elastic with a hot glue gun

To make the skirt, I cut a piece of elastic to fit my niece’s waist, then I added a few touches of hot glue.

The skirt was VERY easy to make. I lined up the pieces one on top of the other and trimmed the edge so that when I doubled the tulle over, it was the length of skirt I wanted.

Learn to make a DIY superhero costume for kids - the easy way! This costume is budget friendly and simple for anyone to do. Great for Halloween or Superhero Week at school!

I cut strips of all five colors at one time. The strips should be TWICE the length that you want the skirt (for example, if you want a 15″ skirt, your strips need to be 30″ long).

I attached strips to the elastic strap one by one. Make a loop halfway down the tulle strip, wrap around the elastic, and pull the two ends through as shown above. Work your way around.

Push the strips tightly together so that when the elastic is put around the waist, your DIY superhero costume skirt will be full since there are so many strips!

Your DIY superhero costume for kids is done!

We decided to go with a feather boa for our DIY superhero costume instead of a cape: 1) we wanted to be original (supergirl!) and 2) easier for kids to sit down in class without having to move anything! Adding the boa is up to you.

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5 from 1 vote

DIY Girl Superhero Costume

Learn how to make a superhero costume for kids using simple supplies! This Halloween costume easily comes together at the last minute.

Prep Time30

Active Time2 30

Total Time3

Yield: costume

Cost: $15

Equipment

Materials

T-shirt
Foam or cloth mask
1 sheet felt
10 yards tulle I got 2 yards of five colors
1 package 36" elastic
Mod Podge Gloss
Glitter
Velcro tabs optional

Instructions

Wash and dry the t-shirt as needed. Insert paper inside the t-shirt to protect the back side.
Use Mod Podge to paint a lightning bolt shape on the front of the shirt. Fill in the shape with Mod Podge and then sprinkle glitter over the top. Shake off the excess and let dry.
Cut the felt to fit the child’s wrists. Repeat step 2 on the cuffs, making smaller lightning bolt shapes.
For the wrist cuffs, either use Velcro to secure if you want them to be reusable, or attach them with glue the day of.
Spread a coat of Mod Podge on the mask; sprinkle glitter. Let dry and shake off the excess. Let dry.
To make the skirt, cut a piece of elastic to fit the child’s waist. Hot glue into a loop.
Line up the tulle pieces one on top of the other. Trim the edge so that when doubled over, it’s the desired length.
Attach strips to the elastic strap one by one. Make a loop halfway down the tulle strip, wrap around the elastic, and pull the two ends through. Work your way around the elastic.
Push the strips tightly together so that when the elastic is put around the waist, the skirt is full.
Add a boa or anything extra you desire to complete the costume!

Notes

I already had a lot of the supplies on hand and only had to purchase the tulle; costs will vary.
The tulle strips should be TWICE the length that you want the skirt (for example, if you want a 15" skirt, your strips need to be 30" long).

Would you try this superhero costume for kids? I’d love to know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out the