↑

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Disclosure/Disclaimer
  • Recipes
  • All Things Family
  • DIY

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Clarks Condensed

Modern Day Homemaking - Cricut, Glowforge, Family Recipes, and More!

  • DIY
    • Cricut
      • Accessories and Materials
      • Cricut Machines
      • Cricut Project Ideas
      • Cricut Tutorials
      • Tips and Tricks
    • Glowforge
  • Home & Family
    • Organization and Cleaning
    • Preparedness
    • Recipes
    • Thrifty Living
      • Dollar Tree
  • Holiday and Occasions
    • Birthday
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • Gift Ideas
    • Halloween
    • Independence Day
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Parties
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Wedding
  • Latter-day Saints
Home » Holiday and Occasions » Halloween » DIY J a c k-in-the-Box Costume

DIY J a c k-in-the-Box Costume

Updated on July 15, 2020 | Published on October 16, 2013

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Posts on Clarks Condensed contain affiliate links, which I earn a small commission from. These are provided for your convenience, and the price isn't increased at all.

 

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

Soon after Jack was born, we started realizing how many stories or characters has his name in them. Fairy tales, television shows, phrases. It’s as if Jack is the most popular name!

After I made Jack’s “J a c k J a c k” costume last year, I thought it would be fun to continue this year by making another Jack-themed costume. Somewhere down the line, I got a Jack-in-the-Box stuck in my mind, and I started planning it months ago. It seemed like it would be a simple enough project, and it would be super cute.

As I thought about it, I couldn’t decide how I wanted to decorate the box. I searched around the web, and while there weren’t a ton of ideas, kept seeing two options — cutting out colored paper, or using paint. To me, it seemed like it would be tedious to cut out tons of colored circles, and I didn’t want to deal with the mess that paint always entails.

So when I saw Neon Sharpies at Target, the wheels in my brain started turning. If we spray painted the box, I could decorate it in fun shapes and bright colors, without the fuss of paper or paint. The Neon Sharpies are bright and colorful during the day, and under black light, can still be seen. They are water, smear, and fade-resistant, which is a must on Halloween, which always seems to bring bad weather. The tip of the Sharpie is also perfect for drawing thin lines, or for shading in shapes. And, best of all, they can be used on all sorts of different surfaces – paper, plastic, wood, leather…and, of course, cardboard.

Materials

  • Medium-sized packing box
  • Large can of white spray paint
  • Tissue Paper
  • Trim
  • Neon Sharpies or other tools for decorating
  • Matching ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Hot Glue
  • Tape

 

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 

Step One:

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

For Toddler Costume: Cut off all the flaps of the cardboard box, except for one on the top of the box.

For Baby Costume: Keep all of the flaps on the bottom of the box intact. Cut off all but one of the top flaps.

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 

 

Step Two: 
DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 

Using one of the flaps you cut off, duck tape it to the remaining flap on the box. This helps create a lid for the box (the tape will be covered up later.

Step Three: 
DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

Spray paint box, let it dry, and spray paint a second code. Let dry completely.

Step Four (if making for child who can walk)

Cut two pieces of ribbon that are long enough to rest easily on child’s shoulders. Hot glue to the box.

If making for a child who can’t walk, make sure the bottom of the box is sturdy, reinforcing with duck tape on the inside of the box.

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 

Step Five:

Cover the lid of the box (both the top and bottom) with tissue paper.

Step Six: 

For the tissue paper on the inside, you will need three sheets of the same color of tissue paper. Taking one sheet, fold it in half. Tape the short edge of the tissue paper to the back, left corner, and then tape the other side to the front left corner. Crinkle up as much as you want, and tape where needed to make sure it doesn’t fall off. Repeat with the front side, and the right side.

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

Step Seven:

Decorate the sides of the box with your neon sharpies (or with colored paper/paint). Write on the front “Jack-in-the-Box.”

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 

Step Eight:

Take your decorative trim, and hot glue it to the top edges of the box.

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

Final Step:

Have fun! You can put clown face paint on your child, put a cute clown/jester hat on them, and have fun with pictures (if they’ll let you.) If your child can’t walk, you’ll have to carry them around in it, as they sit in the bottom. If your child can walk, make sure the straps fit correctly.

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 

 

So, even though I thought this turned out SUPER cute… Jack was not a fan. When we first got the box, he was SO excited, and kept playing in it forever. However, the moment I wanted him to put it on, he started freaking out. The only reason I got some pictures of him not screaming is because we bribed him with treats:

DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

This is what he looked like the majority of the time:
DIY Jack-in-the-Box Costume by Clarks Condensed

 In an effort to not totally traumatize him, we probably won’t end up using this costume. We’ll definitely be saving it for future use though (hopefully next year!)



Katie

Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others – especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is currently training to be a Certified Lactation Educator. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

about

WELCOME TO CLARKS CONDENSED

Clarks Condensed provides uplifting and motivating information to share the joys of home and family living through parenting and pregnancy advice, easy DIY tutorials, recipes, and more – all with a frugal twist. Read more...

Related topics:
DIY Halloween

October 16, 2013Katie

About Katie

Katie is a Colorado-native, BYU graduated, and most importantly, wife to one and mother to three beautiful boys. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with others - especially about pregnancy, breastfeeding, cooking, and crafts. She is currently training to be a Certified Lactation Educator. She loves spending time with her family and helping others find joy in family life.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ange says

    October 17, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    So freaking adorable!

    Reply
  2. Kendra says

    October 17, 2013 at 11:24 am

    I might have a slight addiction to sharpies – there isn’t a color that I don’t want 🙂

    Reply
  3. Chelsea says

    October 17, 2013 at 8:55 am

    Time to enter a costume contest because this is the most adorable costume I’ve ever seen! SO fun + I love that you used Sharpies! I need to go grab some of the neon ones from Target now! Too fun!

    Reply
  4. Alissa says

    October 16, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    What a cute idea! I never got to dress up as a kid for Halloween so I am definitely going to dress my kids up in creative ways like this!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

about us

Welcome to Clarks Condensed

Meet The Clarks

New Posts You May Enjoy

  • The Best Online Glowforge Training Programs
  • 20 Easy World Records To Break
  • 30 Activity Day Ideas For Boys

Footer

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Disclosure/Disclaimer
  • Recipes
  • All Things Family
  • DIY

Copyright ©2023, Clarks Condensed. All Rights Reserved. Privacy policy. / Design by Pixel Me Designs.