Create a Halloween costume using tape sculpture

Create a Halloween costume using tape sculpture
I will show you how to use tape sculpture to create a Halloween costume, in this case, a Great White Shark costume.  As you can see, the costume is of a shark "sounding" (like a great white leaping straight out of the water), so its head is pointing straight up, and the costume-wearer peers out through the open mouth.

If you've never heard of tape sculpture, Google the term and be amazed at some of the art that people have created out of tape.  It's also called Plastic Wrap Sculpture by some (see  www.instructables.com/id/Plastic-Wrap-Sculptures/ ).  It's a bit like papier-mache, but it's not so messy and it's light and rather flexible.  Like tape, the sculptures are usually transparent and can be illuminated from within to create some stunning things, but in my case I will paint the result.

Actually, I will just be creating the head this time - the wife sewed up the rest out of 4 yards of fabric.

 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Items needed

Items needed
Build list:

11-inch balloon, obtained from a party store or florist that creates balloon party favors. This will be plenty large enough to fit around a child's head.

Packing tape. Also called box tape or shipping tape.  This is thick plastic tape, not like your average Scotch or Sellotape. It's around 2 inches wide and is either clear or brown. Color is not important in this case - brown tape makes it easier to see the finished shape as you go, but I used clear in this case to show you the interior of the costume as I went.  Get 2 rolls.

Masking tape, 2 rolls of.

Cling film - plastic food wrap, like Saran Wrap or whatever

Paint to match your costume clothing

lots of pictures of the subject to model your costume after, or better yet a toy or model of it to get the shape in 3D

Not shown - a cardboard box to cut into shapes for the costume, and a sheet of craft foam rubber (white)

« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
3 comments
Nov 14, 2010. 1:17 PMStreex says:
Thanks for the idea! It inspired our Halloween costume this year...THE STREET SHARKS!!

Love,
Streex, Jab, The Big Slammu, and Ripster
DSCN2690.JPG
Oct 31, 2009. 4:26 PMve2vfd says:
"Plummer!  Caaandygram!"
"You're a shark aren't you?"
"No M'am, I'm just a dolphin"  

:-)

Cool shark head!  Maybe just add a grey overall and a dorsal fin and you got an awesome costume! 

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
8
Followers
10
Author:exabopper
dot-com crash casualty