DIY Gumball Machine Costume (Easy, No Sew)
I wanted a Halloween costume this year that was fun, a little unexpected, and did not require a single stitch. Enter the DIY gumball machine costume. A clear helmet full of colorful pom pom gumballs, a cozy red jumpsuit, a giant coin, a spinning lever, and a candy door that actually holds candy. It gets a smile from everyone who sees it, and it is so much easier to make than it looks.
The best part is that it is completely no sew. Everything comes together with felt, hot glue, and a few things you can order from Amazon. If you can use a glue gun, you can make this costume.
A Unique Halloween Costume Idea That Is Actually Easy
If you are hunting for unique Halloween costume ideas that do not take weeks to make, this is it. Most costumes look cute and that is it. This one is interactive. Kids want to look at the gumballs, turn the lever, and see what comes out of the candy door. And because I filled the door with foil wrapped chocolates instead of real gum, I can actually hand them out. Most kids cannot have gum anyway, so chocolates are the perfect swap.
It is also comfortable, which matters when you are walking the neighborhood with kids for two hours. The jumpsuit is soft and warm, and nothing is pinching or poking you all night.
DIY Gumball Machine Costume Supplies
Clear plastic astronaut helmet (Amazon)
Colorful 2 inch pom poms, a big variety pack
Red plush jumpsuit (funny enough, mine is actually an Elmo costume)
Red fanny pack
Gray felt sheets
Red felt or red ribbon for the coin slot loop
Giant coin (Amazon, or 3D print your own)
Cardboard, a paper towel roll, and aluminum foil for the lever
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Colorful foil wrapped chocolates for the gumballs
How To Make A DIY Gumball Machine Costume
Step One, Make The Gumball Helmet
This is the showstopper. Hot glue the 2 inch pom poms around the inside of the clear astronaut helmet, starting at the top and working your way around the back and sides. Mix up the colors as you go so it looks like a real gumball machine. Leave the front open so you can see your face and see where you are going. The pom poms are lightweight, so the helmet stays comfortable to wear.
Step Two, Make The Coin Slot Panel
Cut a rectangle of gray felt to fit the front of your torso. Cut a slit near the top and glue a small felt pocket behind it so your giant coin can sit inside like it is going into the slot. Add a red felt or ribbon loop for a pop of color. The panel can sit on top of the jumpsuit, held in place with straps or a few dots of glue on the back if your jumpsuit allows.
You can buy a giant coin on Amazon, or if you or a friend has a 3D printer, you can print one. I linked the 3D printable giant coin file I found, and it works just as well.
Step Three, Make The Spinning Lever
Cut a short section of paper towel roll and a flat oval of cardboard. Wrap both in aluminum foil, then hot glue the tube to the center of the oval so it sticks out like the handle on a gumball machine. Glue the finished lever to the gray panel just below the coin slot.
Step Four, Make The Candy Door
This is my favorite little detail. Take a red fanny pack and wear it upside down at your waist, right below the gray panel. The zipper opening now looks just like the flap on a real gumball machine. Fill it with colorful foil wrapped chocolates, and you have a working candy door you can hand treats out of all night.
Step Five, Put It All Together
Put on the red jumpsuit, add the gray panel with the coin and lever, buckle the upside down fanny pack at your waist, and finish with the pom pom helmet. Wear white or red socks or shoes and you are done.
Tips For Making Your Gumball Machine Costume
Glue the pom poms in small sections and let each section set before moving on, so they do not slide around inside the helmet. Buy more pom poms than you think you need, because a full helmet takes a lot. If you are trick or treating after dark, take the helmet off for walking across streets so you have full visibility, and pop it back on for photos and doorsteps. And keep the hot glue gun with the adults if your kids are helping.
A Fun Mommy And Me Halloween Costume Idea
My daughter went as a watermelon Airhead this year to match the candy theme, and it was just as easy, also no sew with felt and hot glue. You can see exactly how we made it in my DIY Airheads costume post. Two candy costumes together make the cutest mommy and me look.
If you are dressing up the whole crew, you will also love my easy DIY family Halloween costume post, which has been one of my most popular Halloween ideas.
And if you need something you can pull together in a hurry, I round up more ideas in my post on last minute Halloween costumes for moms.
This DIY gumball machine costume is proof that a homemade Halloween costume does not have to be complicated to be a showstopper. A clear helmet, a bag of pom poms, some felt, a glue gun, and a red fanny pack full of chocolates, and you have a costume that every kid on the block wants to come see. No sewing, no stress, and a whole lot of fun. If you make one, tag me. I would love to see your gumball machine and what candy you fill it with.
