The Lego Movie Lego Costumes

by ErinL1

49K20737

Intro: The Lego Movie Lego Costumes

We loved The Lego Movie and wanted to recreate some of our favorite characters. The costumes took a LONG time to create (about 70 hours), but the reactions were priceless.

STEP 1: Supplies

Supplies:

- Cardboard boxes

- Packing tape

- Styrofoam

- Spray Paint

- Acrylic Paint (house paint or craft paint were both used)

- Paint brushes

- Sanding materials (for the styrofoam)

- Sonotubes (from a hardward store)

- Cutting tools (for cutting cardboard)

STEP 2: Scaling the Legos

This step was time consuming because we wanted them to look like real legos. I found several images online of actual lego dimensions and scaled them to my body height. I drew out the different sections of the legos we were going to make and determined the sizes from there.

The problem came when we didn't have boxes the sizes we needed, so some dimensions were augmented to fit the boxes.

STEP 3: Making the Lego Body/legs

Once the dimensions were established, I used a box cutter and cut cardboard boxes to size. I started with one costume and made the body and legs to see if it would work.

I cut one box and used the long sides for the front and back of the body, then used three more ends for the sides and top. I used bowls and dinner plates to draw around for the head and arm openings.

We taped all the edges and made sure the tape was smooth -- smooth tape = better painted result.

Then we put kilz on each box and then spray painted the desired color.

Once the base coat dry, I kept a photo of the character on my computer up and hand painted each design without a pattern. It made it more interesting that way! The only character I used extra help was with batman, where I cut out the batman logo with my Silhouette and then traced around it and painted it.

The legs were the same process, free handing a pattern, cutting the cardboard, and taping them up. We painted the kilz first and then spray painted them their respective colors.

STEP 4: Making the Lego Heads/hair

We bought sonotubes from Home Depot and cut each tube to size for each head. For the adults, we purchased the 12" tube, and for the kids we used the 10" tube.

We put kilz on the sonotubes and then spray painted each the Lego yellow. (**read next step first)

To put the curve in at the neck, we used foam and a small piece of the 10" sonotube and put putty and spackling to smooth the edges. Then sanded the area down and repainted. (It would've been easier to curve the neck and then sand and paint!)

I pulled up different faces of each character on the internet and tried to find a face that had their mouth open enough so we would have a place to look out. I then free handed each face using a pencil and cut open where the mouth would be. I then hand painted each face and put in see-through fabric to cover the hole.

The hair, helmet, and batman mask were thanks to my brother, who happens to work where there is plenty of large pieces of styrofoam available. He rough cut the pieces and we then went about sanding them smooth (this makes an incredible mess, and we might have styrofoam in our house forever!). We also sanded the ridges into the hair to make them more like the movie characters.

We then hand painted the styrofoam and viola!

STEP 5: Showing Them Off to All Your Friends

Once finished, we went trick or treating and had a ball!

27 Comments

Diejessyoung 5 years ago

Can I please have the actual dimension you used? Also a pic of sonotube as I unfortunately have no idea what that is?

ChiaraR 8 years ago

Also, what type of place did you brother work that had access to such large pieces of Styrofoam?? I'm trying to ask around.....

kdc123abc 8 years ago

These are AWESOME!!! I'd be willing to buy a couples Lego costume if anyone is looking to sell theirs?! Had the idea of Emmett and Kragle but I love these! Please let me know!

ErinL1 8 years ago

We actually sold all of the costumes last year, but I'd be willing to try and make two for you. Depends on where you live too, as shipping them might be interesting!

ChiaraR 8 years ago

The only thing I'm not seeing is eye holes? How did they see?

ErinL1 8 years ago

Everyone looked through the mouths! I put sheer black fabric on the mouths and you could see through it.

swimforlife 8 years ago

Wow these are fabulous trying the same thing this Halloween!!!!?????

ecsaul23 9 years ago

Great job! You did an amazing job with the painting and they look soooo much like the real thing! Welcome to Instructables and congrats on the feature!

MsSweetSatisfaction 9 years ago

Oh my that's really impressive, I bet you were a big hit all over town. You should think about entering this into our Halloween Costume Contest. Or since you're new to instructables, btw WELCOME, you could enter it into our First Time Authors Challenge.

ErinL1 9 years ago

Well thank you! I did apply to the costume contest but didn't see the First Time Author's Challenge! I'll have to check it out. Thanks again.

mntbkrguy 9 years ago

Those really are fantastic I can't believe you hand painted all that detail I thought at least the zippers. staying so consistent. I voted for you they were just great!

Robibame 9 years ago

wow! I love these costumes

squidcraft 9 years ago

poor little dino what is he?

ErinL1 9 years ago

He's a little dragon that didnt want to be a lego!
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