Introduction: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man Costume
So this is my first Instructable, so bare with me if I don't make this correct. So I was one day watching my favorite and best movie of all time Ghostbusters. I was watching Stay Puft walk down the streets and I thought that does not seem to hard to make. I had an image of what I would need and started with the what I thought would be the hardest, the head. If I could get that done the rest would be easy sailing I figured.
Materials:
Chicken Wire
Paper Mache
Foam
Spray Paint
Felt
Pillows
Cheap large shirt and pants
Chemical cleaning boots
White gloves
All in all relatively cheap, no more than a store bought costume
Materials:
Chicken Wire
Paper Mache
Foam
Spray Paint
Felt
Pillows
Cheap large shirt and pants
Chemical cleaning boots
White gloves
All in all relatively cheap, no more than a store bought costume
Step 1: The Head
I first found a good picture of Stay Puft's head online to use as a reference. I next got a thing of chicken wire. I just started bending and forming the chicken wire while connecting pieces by bending the wire together. As I put the top part onto the basic bulk shape I was shocked by how it had formed Stay Puft's shape so similarly.
I next debated on making Stay Puft's sailor cap out of something different or just make it out of chicken wire as well. I decided to give the chicken wire a try and again it came out actually looking like the sailor cap. I then attached the sailor cap wire to the head by twisting the end of the wires together.
Once the wire frame was complete, I Googled a paper mache recipe since I could not remember how to make it from those middle school years! Once I had recipe made up (hint add some cinnamon to the mixture, it makes the paper mache smell good!!), I started ripping pieces of news paper into long pieces and started laying them over the frame. I think I put two to three layers onto the frame.
Once the mache was all done, I got some high gloss white spray paint and painted the entire head. After painting I put my Stay Puft image into Photoshop and scaled the mouth and eyes to make a template. I then traced the template onto the head and cut the mouth out. I then made the eyes by coloring them in with black sharpie.
Next I got some felt that I hot glued the printed "Stay Puft" onto. I then hot glued the felt around the sailor cap and added a black button with a red piece of felt to the top.
Once the head was complete I went to building 19 to get some thick foam padding and epoxy glued them inside the head to make it so it would not fall off. It made a nice but incredibly hot fit, it even survived dancing.
I next debated on making Stay Puft's sailor cap out of something different or just make it out of chicken wire as well. I decided to give the chicken wire a try and again it came out actually looking like the sailor cap. I then attached the sailor cap wire to the head by twisting the end of the wires together.
Once the wire frame was complete, I Googled a paper mache recipe since I could not remember how to make it from those middle school years! Once I had recipe made up (hint add some cinnamon to the mixture, it makes the paper mache smell good!!), I started ripping pieces of news paper into long pieces and started laying them over the frame. I think I put two to three layers onto the frame.
Once the mache was all done, I got some high gloss white spray paint and painted the entire head. After painting I put my Stay Puft image into Photoshop and scaled the mouth and eyes to make a template. I then traced the template onto the head and cut the mouth out. I then made the eyes by coloring them in with black sharpie.
Next I got some felt that I hot glued the printed "Stay Puft" onto. I then hot glued the felt around the sailor cap and added a black button with a red piece of felt to the top.
Once the head was complete I went to building 19 to get some thick foam padding and epoxy glued them inside the head to make it so it would not fall off. It made a nice but incredibly hot fit, it even survived dancing.
Step 2: The Rest of the Body
I went to Walmart and bought an XL long-sleeved white shirt and an XXXL shirt. I did the same for the pants as well, finding white sweatpants.
For the shirt I took two pillows, one in the front and one in the back. I put them between the shirts and sewed the top and bottom of the shirt closed. I then sewed the two cuffs together and then put stuffing down the arms. About halfway up each arm I sewed the shirts together to make a "Fat Roll". I then put more stuffing up to the shoulder and sewed it shut again.
For the pants I did the same method as the shirt except I left the waist top unsewed so I could add more stuffing as needed.
I then took some felt and cut out a next area for the sailor bib. I then lined the felt with some white ribbon trim and cut a red bow tie out of felt.
For the shoes I found some chemical cleaning booties that go over your shoes and just put stuffing in them.
For the shirt I took two pillows, one in the front and one in the back. I put them between the shirts and sewed the top and bottom of the shirt closed. I then sewed the two cuffs together and then put stuffing down the arms. About halfway up each arm I sewed the shirts together to make a "Fat Roll". I then put more stuffing up to the shoulder and sewed it shut again.
For the pants I did the same method as the shirt except I left the waist top unsewed so I could add more stuffing as needed.
I then took some felt and cut out a next area for the sailor bib. I then lined the felt with some white ribbon trim and cut a red bow tie out of felt.
For the shoes I found some chemical cleaning booties that go over your shoes and just put stuffing in them.
Step 3: Final Result
Once I had the whole suit on I ended up safety pinning the waist of the pants to the ends on the shirt to hold them together while moving around. I wore some white gloves and was complete.
Everyone loved the costume and kept wanting pictures with it. I will say it is incredibly hot with all that stuffing though. I brought along some straws and was able to drink my beer through them with this on!!
All in all I made this in a few weeks working an hour or two here and there.
Hope you enjoy and if have any questions feel free to ask.!
Everyone loved the costume and kept wanting pictures with it. I will say it is incredibly hot with all that stuffing though. I brought along some straws and was able to drink my beer through them with this on!!
All in all I made this in a few weeks working an hour or two here and there.
Hope you enjoy and if have any questions feel free to ask.!